Introduction
This is a perspective I received as we were praying to Jesus at South Perth Church of Christ during the W.A. Cities Consultation with Rhonda Hughey on the 30th October 2004. It was a highly disturbing experience and one that I believe calls for a mature and biblically based response.
The Heavenly Wrath of Jesus
“See to it that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much les will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven.” (Heb 12:25).
Paul tells us that at this very moment “the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who suppress the truth” (Rom 1:18). Then follows a terrible list of depravities and sins of humanity that God “gave them over” to (Rom 1:24, 26, 28). These include the very evils, such as sexual immorality of every kind that we are familiar with in this and every other Western city. From a heavenly perspective the ultimate power over men and women is not their wills nor the control of Satan but the “wrath of the Lamb” (Rev 6:16). Abounding crime, divorce, drug use etc. is a punishment from God for the essential evil of idolatry (Rom 1:18-32). (In other words, the punishment for sin is deeper sin.)
The mystery of this judgement, which is never perceptible from the plane of the earth, is that the powers of evil are released by the heavenly Christ. “Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals….and there was a white horse… a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering and to conquer…When he (the Lamb) opened the second seal…its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth….When he opened the fourth seal…they were given authority over a quarter of the earth, to kill with the sword, famine and pestilence…” (Rev 6:1 – 8). “The beast was given a mouth…it was allowed to exercise authority…it as allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them…It was given authority over every tribe…” (Rev 13:5- 8).
The one who is currently enacting his displeasure upon the earth through the space given to all manner of wickedness is he “who will be revealed from heaven with blazing fire with his powerful angels …punish those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” (2 Thess 7- 8). The one who is coming back as a jealous husband for his bride the church is him of whom John spoke in a passage dedicated to the marriage of the Lamb, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like flaming fire, and on his head are many crowns …He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven followed him…Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations….He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty” (Rev 19:11-15).
The Jesus, who comes with the fire and vengeance of God at the End, is the same one who today is enacting the wrath of God from heaven in the midst of our city. This is an insight of such gravity that it can only be given to and received by a heavenly – minded people (Col 3:1-4), those who recognize that they will reign as the bride with Christ forever. Such a destiny requires the deepest maturity. A heavenly revelation like this demands a heavenly response – this is focused intercession.
Intercession Turns Away Wrath
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the …spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6:12). There is only one thing that can interpose between the Lord pouring his wrath out from heaven through the principalities and powers upon the residents of the world – it is the prayers of the saints. Only as the prayers of the saints are offered up on the heavenly altar as sweet smelling incense before the throne of God (Rev 8:1- 5) can his holy anger (Isa 10:17) be turned away.
(Technically, this is what is known as “propitiation”, and a particular word group is used throughout the New Testament to express how the death of Jesus transforms the wrath of God into the favour of God e.g. Rom 3:25; Heb 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10. The NIV translates these texts as “sacrifice of atonement.”)
The cloud of incense that envelopes the prayers of the people of God is none other than the aroma of the sacrifice of the cross that is being expressed through their lives. Paul, who saw his sufferings as “completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of the church” (Col 1:24 compare Phil 2:17) explains that the cross was “a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph 5:2). It is sacrificial prayer that releases the power of the cross in the heavenly realms so that the wrath of God is turned away, the powers of evil are bound and the Holy Spirit is poured out to bring revival and transformation.
This praying into the heavenlies requires a certain quality of praying. It is only as the intercessors of this city offer themselves, as Jesus did, as living sacrifices that bring pleasure to God (Rom 12:1- 2) can the cycle of sin and judgement be broken. This means a “participation in the sufferings” of Christ (Phil 3:10). Only the agony of Jesus expressed in intercession can penetrate the heavenly regions and turn curse into blessing.
A City of Refuge
There is a promise with this however. “We who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope that is set before us. We have this hope…that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus …on our behalf…has entered…a high priest” (Heb 6:18- 20). Jesus the heavenly intercessor within the holy of holies is the refuge we have from his own wrath outworked against evil upon the earth. The promise is that as the intercessors of this city (which in the perfect will of God is the whole church of Perth) are united in heavenly oriented and empowered prayer with Jesus, this city itself will become in him a city of refuge from the slayer of men. This is the purpose of God and the challenge for a completely Christ – centred mode of praying.