Because our God is great, He has no problem writing out His own priorities and His end-times plan, not only for us to see, but also for our adversary/His adversary to see. The real marvel is the sheer blindness and stupidity of wickedness – that our adversary would even think there was some ray of hope of success in defying God. But then again, that same logic ought to be applied to our own susceptibility to the deceit of sin. Meanwhile, for our purposes, let’s look at what the eternal and immovable Word of God tells us about worship and the end times plan. I believe it will assist us not only in prioritizing worship, but also in understanding the insidious plans that will be waged against worship, from all directions.
BOTTOM LINE: In many ways, it is all about worship. Needless to say, worship is not simply guitars and songs. It is a lifestyle and a heart-attitude. THAT SAID, music has proven itself to be a doorway into the soul of man, so we definitely ought to understand and embrace the element of music-based song-generated prophetic worship as being key to this conversation.
WHAT DOES THE GOOD BOOK SAY ABOUT WORSHIP?
Jesus tells us this – God is looking for those who will worship in spirit and in truth – two critical elements necessary for the only worship that satisfies God:
John 4:23-24
23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Jesus Himself came from the tribe of Judah. The worship tribe:
Psalms 78:67-69
67 Moreover He rejected the tent of Joseph, And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,
68 But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved.
69 And He built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He has established forever.
Satan not only understands the priority of worship, but is so incensed by the possibility of people worshipping God, that he lies even to Jesus and offers Him all, if our Lord were to worship him:
Matthew 4:8-10
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
(To which our Lord reiterates a worship-command from the OT)
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
Paul understood that Anti-Christ would eventually sit in the temple, demanding worship, since world-power will not be sufficient to satisfy his demonized tapeworm for godly position. Remember, from the last post (Prov 28:16 – “a ruler without understanding is a great oppressor”). That applies, in spades, here. Satan fancies himself a ruler, as will the one called the son of perdition:
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Meanwhile, Isaiah tells us that huge end-times victory will be achieved specifically via prophetic worship.
Tophet, by the way, is another name for the Valley of Hinnom outside the walls of Jerusalem. It was a former place for the sacrifice of innocent children. It will eventually be redeemed by the blood of guilty kings who come to war against Jerusalem, and against God.
Isaiah 30:27-33
27 Behold, the name of the Lord comes from afar, Burning with His anger, And His burden is heavy; His lips are full of indignation, And His tongue like a devouring fire.
28 His breath is like an overflowing stream, Which reaches up to the neck, To sift the nations with the sieve of futility; And there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, Causing them to err.
29 You shall have a song As in the night when a holy festival is kept, And gladness of heart as when one goes with a flute, To come into the mountain of the Lord, To the Mighty One of Israel.
30 The Lord will cause His glorious voice to be heard, And show the descent of His arm, With the indignation of His anger And the flame of a devouring fire, With scattering, tempest, and hailstones.
31 For through the voice of the Lord Assyria will be beaten down, As He strikes with the rod.
32 And in every place where the staff of punishment passes, Which the Lord lays on him, It will be with tambourines and harps; And in battles of brandishing He will fight with it.
33 For Tophet was established of old, Yes, for the king it is prepared. He has made it deep and large; Its pyre is fire with much wood; The breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, Kindles it.
That (verse 33) “Tophet prophecy” corresponds to some final verses of Psalm 110:
Psalms 110:5-6
5 The Lord is at Your right hand;
He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath.
6 He shall judge among the nations,
He shall fill the places with dead bodies,
He shall execute the heads of many countries.
Isn’t it wonderfully ironic that the wholeness of the scriptures actually begin making sense if/when one begins accepting them for what they say? The plan of God is intended to be revealed to us, as long as we wisely and soberly turn from doctrines that satisfy a portion of text, but not all of the text of God.
The prophet Daniel (affirmed by Jesus, who tells us to actually go read Daniel when the Abomination is spotted in the temple) tells us much about Anti-Christ.
First, the affirmation of Daniel by Jesus:
Matthew 24:15
15 “ Therefore when you see the ‘ abomination of desolation, ’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand)
There was a PARTIAL FULFILLMENT of some of Matthew 24 during the destruction of the temple in 70AD, but by no means a complete fulfillment. Time does not allow me to go into that fullness of explanation right here, but let’s simply look at one word: “Immediately” (in Greek: “eutheos” – it means Forthwith. Straightway. Just following). It does not mean 2,000 + years later.
Contrary to widespread popular doctrine, the most troubling times of demonic activity have yet to occur. We therefore have the Lord speaking of His prompt and highly visible return (which inarguably did not happen in 70AD):
Matthew 24:29-30
29 “ Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
So now that we know Daniel has been affirmed by Jesus, what does Daniel tell us about the times ahead? Will there be trouble? Will some saints lose their lives? Will these be times of glory for those of understanding? Will there be intrigue, deception and deceit even within the body of believers?
Daniel 11:29-36
31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.
32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering.
34 Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue.
35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.
36 “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.
Verse 36 sounds much like 2 Thessalonians, which we read before:
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
What is this leading us to conclude?
1. The Word of God will come to pass. All will be fulfilled.
2. Righteousness, humility and the fear of the Lord will be our only safe place.
3. Troubling times lie ahead.
4. Times of great exploits in the Lord lie ahead.
5. Prophetic worship, in spirit and in truth, is key. In fact, Isa 30 tells us that through such prophetic worship, demonic strongholds will fall (one huge reason why the Lord said He’d rebuild the tabernacle of David in the last days).
6. We therefore must conscientiously enter into that place of prophetic worship, and at the same time anticipate resistance to us entering that place.
7. We win.
All scripture NKJV
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