In the 14th chapter of The Revelation, we are shown Christ seated upon a white cloud, wearing a golden crown and holding a sharp sickle in his hands; as represented in the topmost image. Next, we are told that an angel came "out of the temple" and commanded Christ to "Thrust in thy sickle, and reap". Here is the text verbatim:
And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. (Revelation 14:14-5)The most striking feature about that passage of Scripture, has to do with the fact that Christ is not the one giving the command! Is he not Lord of all? Is Christ not above every name that is named, not only on the earth, but also in heaven itself? Who is this, then, that gives command to Christ? moreover, to reap? Is not Christ supremely minded himself to "reap"? Then, why, apparently (according to the image given us in Scripture by the Holy Ghost), was Christ not already reaping previous to his being commanded to do so?
Let's break down the whole passage very carefully, as follows:
- Christ is "seated" on a "white cloud," and wearing a "golden crown":
- This means that Christ is above the heavens, and he is the ruling Authority;
- Christ, seated on his throne, is waiting for something to happen--which, as we know, must be according to his own will;
- At length, an "angel" appears -- from whence? -- from "out of the temple":
- There is, indeed, a "temple" in heaven, wherein Christ himself is seated:
- "The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven..." (Psalm 11:4)
- But there is another "temple", on earth: that is, the "Body of Christ";
- In BOTH temples (are they, in fact, one and the same?), there is what Scripture calls the "golden altar, which is before the throne of God": that is to say, it is the altar--in our hearts--where prayer is made unto God;
- There is, therefore, a direct connection revealed: between the "angel" which appears from "out of the temple", and the prayers of the saints. Here is further proof of that:
- "...and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying [giving command] to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates." (Revelation 9:13-4)
- A "voice" coming "from" the "golden altar" (the altar of "incense"), signifies -- PRAYER.
In the passage(s) of Scripture we have been considering, God is showing us that:In other words, God is showing us the DIRECT RELATIONSHIP between OUR PRAYERS and THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THE HEAVENLIES!
Christ is WAITING -- for the SAINTS to PRAY for REVIVAL and for a HARVEST of SOULS...before Christ will move to act.We cannot do the "reaping," as such; that is all the working of the Holy Ghost. We are but God's messengers, those whose high privilege it is to witness and lead others to Christ. Only Christ can thrust that "sharp sickle" of his Word into the hearts of men, to 'cut them down' (their 'old man') like wheat, and 'reap' their souls for God. Nevertheless, it is also our duty to God and our high privilege -- as his "priests" on the earth, to make intercession for the Church and for the cause of Christ (soul-winning).
The prayers of the godly are not -- as most people imagine those to be: mere expressions of sentiment; nor, a kind of wish-list; nor, occasional pleading for help in time of our own need. Rather, prayer is supremely holy and precious to God. Prayer is jealously and scrupulously received, and handled, and preserved, in heaven. The most powerful beings in heaven, in fact, are the ones whose honor it is to minister to God concerning the prayers of God's saints.
The prayers of the righteous are anointed by the Holy Ghost: We have "access" (in prayer) to the Father, through the Son, and by the Holy Ghost (Ephesians 2:18). Thus the Trinity of the Godhead is Personally involved in every prayer of the saints. The prayers of the righteous are according to God's will, in the context of God's plan of Redemption, and in the building up of God's Kingdom. The prayers of the saints are NEEDFUL, according to God's will. The prayers of the saints are REQUIRED, according to God's will, in order for God to move and work on earth: "Ye have not BECAUSE ye ask not." "Ask, and ye shall receive, so that your joy may be full." The prayers of the righteous are POWERFUL in heaven, as well as on the earth. In fact, those prayers could have no power at all on earth, unless, they first are honored in heaven:
Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. (Isaiah 45:11)
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)Where Jesus said that, if we will confess him on earth, then, he will confess us in heaven; and, contrariwise, if we deny him on earth, he will deny us in heaven; MEANS, that:
Christ will RECEIVE and HONOR us (our prayers) in heaven, in order as we honor him on earth; but, Christ will refuse us (our prayers) in heaven, if we refuse him on earth.Prayerlessness is REJECTION of Christ to oneself. Are you, really, praying for Revival? Are you earnestly praying for a harvest of souls? Are you truly, with all your heart, seeking unto God for a great outpouring of His Spirit?
Or, are you just talking about it every now and then? Tragically, most professing Christians don't even do so much (little) as that.
But God has a faithful remnant. And we are getting ready to EXPERIENCE the fulfillment of Isaiah 60:1-2.....
Meanwhile those, "foolish virgins" without oil in their vessels, will not be able to enter into that manifest glory of God which shall soon be revealed--and only to those who have "diligently sought" the Lord.
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