Prophecy “Re-Heated” (Ps 87 for today)
“He has founded his city on the holy mountain.2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.3 Glorious things are said of you, city of God: 4 “I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me—Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush—and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’” 5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her.”6 The Lord will write in the register of the peoples: This one was born in Zion.”7 As they make music they will sing, “All my fountains are in you.” … the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. (Ps 87; Gal 4:26)
The Prophecy of Psalm 87
Background: Ps 87 is neglected but intensely prophetic. I am “reheating” it here after more than 20 years, for in Scripture prophecies often have multiple applications, plus the fact that prophets see telescopically means temporal distortions, beyond Scripture, are inevitable. Further, I believe this word is more applicable today than when first “seen”.
I was driving along the banks of the Swan River between Fremantle and the centre of Perth. It was a typical spring day, the sky was perfectly clear and bright blue, the sun was shining brightly, and dolphins were playing in the river. Suddenly and unexpectedly, I had a tremendous sense of the pleasure of God over our city. Below is a portion of a prophetic teaching I wrote at the time.
We are transiting from a city of inflow to a city of outflow via an emerging missionary identity in the church. The Lord’s pleasant dwelling place has extended beyond historic Israel (Psalm 106:24) to wherever the people of God “live together in unity” (Psalm 133:1) across the globe. This unity is rapidly emerging as Christians across Perth embrace the fullness of their identity in Christ (Eph 1:22-23). The manifest restoration of the glory and power of the kingdom of Christ (John 17:21-23; Matt 6:13 KJV) will convert our “bottom of the world/most isolated city on the globe” mentality so that Perth emerges, spiritually, as a genuine world- city.
The time is coming when the reality spoken of in Psalm 87:4, 5, 6 (see above) will become true for the church in this city. Just as the psalmist prophesies that various Gentile nations, once dreaded foes of Zion, will claim birth in Jerusalem, so the identified spiritual home of a multitude of resident people – groups will become the Church of the city of Perth. Immigrants will no longer think of their spiritual homeland as Oceania, S.E. Asia, Europe, Africa, Americas or…neither will the Indigenous people of the land “now called Australia” be marginalised on the fringes of Church. Believers will no longer look first to overseas locales for leadership, apostolic-prophetic or otherwise. It will be said of the work of the Holy Spirit of God in Perth: “All my fountains are in you.” (Psalm 87:7). Nothing will be felt lacking for the work of God from within the church in this city via its shared missionary call.
The church in Perth will take its place amongst cities networked across the globe, not principally by electronics, but in “one heart and purpose” (Jeremiah 32:39; Acts 4:32) to see the world reached for Christ. A universal Christ-centred world – church is being built today from heaven above not from the earth below (Galatians 4:26; Col 3:1-3). Sharing in the missional unity of the Father and the Son (John 17:20 -23), we are being immersed in the heart of their Oneness in Spirit, Perth will become a global hub city with spokes of concrete human outreach in all directions across the world. (Something first revealed to me in Buenos Aries Airport in 1995.)
A post – multicultural church will emerge, NOT that different cultures will be assimilated into a homogeneous whole, but by an intensely deeper experience and expression of our union “in Christ”. Here all believers, whatever their origin, will sincerely love one another from the heart (1 Pet 1:22). This transparent love will transcend cultural barriers of race, age, and personal spiritual preference/spirituality. The many – coloured unity of the Gentiles, called “to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” (Eph 3:9-10 cf. Gen 37:3 LXX) will reach back to its point of origin in the Spirit, i.e. Jerusalem, and “provoke Israel to jealousy” leading to many Jewish conversions across the world (Romans 11:13 – 14, 25 -27). This is a prelude and preparation for the Return of Messiah.
Men, women and young people of outstanding character, gifting, clarity and insight will emerge from within the Church of Perth. Jesus has the keys for kingdom expansion in his hands, and these keys are people who love this city and presently reside in it. They are different from the multitude of teachers who frequently, and generally ineffectively, pass through our metropolis, for they are “spiritual fathers/mothers” whose heart resides in Perth (1 Corinthians 4:15 cf. Mal 4:4-6).
As the church begins to live as one, with many visible differences but no divisions, God’s people will progressively discover their unique identity in Christ. As the Father moves his people forward, they will together discover the fullness of their miraculous corporate oneness in Jesus. This will image to the wider nation something that it has never been fully sure of, what it means to be “truly Australian.” Those being impacted by the power of the kingdom of God will not primarily gain their identity from past history or via other nations but will experience what it means to be “truly Australian” through participating in a Church made up of the dynamic interplay of the redeemed gifts of all nations (Revelation 5:9-10 cf. Gen 10-11). Aboriginal spiritual sensitivity, African jubilation, Chinese business prowess, Mediterranean passion, Asian discipline, Indian submission, Filipino gentleness, local Aussie down – to – earthiness, and many other redemptive gifts, will all be offered on the one altar of Christ (Rom 12:1-2). It will be extremely powerful and character shaping!
As the church grows in this identity it will be Spirit-enabled to lead the nation into discovering its destiny and eternal glory in the Lamb of God (Revelation 21:26). Only in this way can a nation like ours be adequately discipled. It is this exciting prospect of a mission focused, Christ – centred and many – coloured destiny that we may anticipate and pray for in the coming year.