2 Prophetic Visions: Warring with Rhythm and Dance

There are two scriptures that have always stuck out to me as I think about spiritual warfare:

Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage (Ephesians 6:12 TPT).

In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

These verses point to the truth that we are in a battle, but through Christ we are not defeated.  If you are a believer and are walking with the Lord, the darkness of this world does not like the light you carry.

Christians tend to have one of two beliefs when it comes to spiritual warfare.

Belief #1

The first belief is that through the resurrection of Christ we have gained complete victory and access to Heaven. By His stripes we have been healed, and we can walk in freedom. That’s truth!

Although I believe this is completely true, there is a danger in it. We can become lethargic, believing that because Christ was victorious against the enemy we do not need to do our part in combat. Time and time again, I see such people getting hit by the schemes of the enemy, and they are almost inept in the face of his attacks. Yes, we carry Jesus within us and so can claim victory as His sons and daughters. It’s our inheritance to walk in His light and freedom! But while the enemy is still here on earth, his main purpose is to do everything he can to steal this freedom and snuff out the light of Christ. So if you are stepping out and bringing the light of Christ to a darkened world, you will experience resistance from the enemy. His main goal is to silence your voice and hold you in oppression.

Belief #2

Then there is the other belief I have seen many camp out in. Everything seems to be warfare. Can you think of someone like this? The enemy is always out to get them, and they are constantly in battle mode. It’s true that there is a battle, but the problem with this mindset is that it often wrongfully sees the enemy and his demons as so much larger than our God. Scripture says:

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you (Romans 16:20).

Although the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy our freedom, healing, and light, the Lord reigns! No demon is larger than God. Our focus should not be set on the enemy’s attacks but on Christ Jesus who reigns over all. But to pretend that there is no ongoing spiritual war is ignorant.

So then, what do we do as light-bearers in a darkened world to overcome the enemy through Christ Jesus? I had a recent vision about this:

The Warrior’s Vision

I saw myself soaring over a landscape with Jesus. As I soared closer, He showed me a battlefield. I could see hundreds upon thousands of people fighting in a battle against demonic, oppressive spirits. They were all on the ground fighting from a position of defense. The oppressive spirits were bigger and stronger than the people, and the people were losing. Then I saw the King of Glory, Jesus Himself, dressed in His royal robes, ride up on a huge white horse. “Rise up!” He commanded the people. Suddenly, horses appeared for every person on the field, and I saw the people mount the horses, dressed in completely new armor. They were ready to win this battle.

“You are not under the curse, but above it. Find your weaponry, for you have lost it.” Looking at the battlefield, I realized that I was marching. Why am I marching? I thought. Before me was a clash of power. I saw the enemy’s workers sending out assaults against the King’s soldiers. I saw the Lord’s warrior angels fighting the demonic forces to protect the King’s beloved ones there.

As the battle thickened, my spiritual ears opened and I could hear the sound of battle—the clash of swords upon swords, shields smashing against armor, shrieks of pain as people’s bodies were wounded by the enemy’s arrows and claws, and also shrieks as the demons were stabbed and overcome by the King’s army. Back and forth, back and forth the battle continued.

Then, a loud alarm shrieked. The sound was disgusting! I felt instantly nauseated when I heard it. It was unlike any earthly sound I have ever heard. For a brief moment, I saw the enemy seated on a nasty-looking beast, and then his image shifted away. He could move and change form with ease. After that moment, I couldn’t trace him with my eyes, but I could feel his Presence still there leading his army. But he was hidden from my sight.

When that alarm sounded, I felt terror pulse through my body so much that I couldn’t move. Fear paralyzed me. The King’s army scattered in disarray. As soldiers were separated from the group, I saw how they became more vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks. Smaller demons rose up and could pick them off one by one.

Then I heard the King’s voice: “Time to release the drummers, Ana. Set the beat. Give the direction for My beloveds. We’ve gotten off course. Shift your focus. We are winning! Find the beat of My heart. Find the pulse of Holy Spirit and stay with it. Rise up. Grow louder in your declarations and prayers. Don’t you know the power of prayer? As you step into the authority My Son has given to you, the sound of Heaven is released.”

Then I was marching in the front line of battle, carrying a drum. In the natural, I have no idea how to play the drums. But I found myself in Heaven, setting a beat. I was hearing the sound from the Father and repeating it back on my little instrument. It was slow and steady at first, and then as the army of Christ joined with me it grew loud and faster. Our sound broke louder than the clash of the enemy’s assaults. And we grew strong! I learned to tune my ears to listen more to the sound that the Father was making than the battle that was happening before me, and I could match His beat. We became victorious as we matched His sound. The enemy’s army had to back off.

The Throne Room Dance

One day, I saw myself in a vision right up in the throne room of Heaven. I was wearing a beautiful, spotless white wedding dress. I could see Jesus in the center of the room, but from afar. I began running toward Him, but the weird thing was that I kept looking back. That’s when I noticed that instead of wearing gorgeous shoes to match the beauty of my wedding dress, I was actually wearing some old running shoes.

As I kept looking back, the feeling I had was that I just couldn’t catch Jesus in this season and that I had to just catch my breath as I ran.

Next, I saw Jesus walk toward me. He extended His hands to me, and in them I saw a beautiful pair of ballet slippers.

“Dance through it. Worship and dance freely in the throne room,” I heard Him say to me. So I took off my running shoes and replaced them with the slippers for dancing.

As I began to dance in the throne room, I saw and also felt the most bizarre thing. As I danced, bright and vibrant colors danced around me. I was moving with the wind of Holy Spirit’s Presence, and it felt amazing. All sorts of different hues of colors were being released, and I was captivated by them as I danced.

The second thing was that I felt a bizarre change. There’s that phrase light as a feather—well, that’s how I felt. I felt light, just full of joy. Time seemed to stop as I danced and danced. Forgetting all the heaviness I was carrying previously from stresses of the day, I just danced, watching the colors and watching Jesus smiling at me.

“Oh, my King,” I looked at Jesus, smiling. “I just love You.”

I suddenly found myself face to face with Jesus. He was right there. Jesus then looked through me. He looked right into my eyes. Those eyes will just stop you in your tracks! His eyes were a beautiful sapphire blue color, but as I looked at them deeply I saw they were full of fire. Light seemed to glimmer and gleam right out of them. I have never seen eyes like this before in all my life. His eyes were alive and full of love.

Then He tenderly spoke to me.

“I see you. I see you,” was all He said, but at that I was undone.

There is a scripture I love to meditate and chew on.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name (Psalm 100:4 NIV).

For so long, I have known this scripture in the New International Version. But look at it in The Passion Translation:

You can pass through his open gates with the password of praise. Come right into his presence with thanksgiving. Come bring your thank offering to him and affectionately bless his beautiful name!

The password of praise! Wow! That does put things in perspective, doesn’t it? Gates are the barriers that allow (or block) the passage or entrance of outsiders. But if you have a key to that gate, you can break through that barrier.

Our praise, worship, adoration, and thankfulness unlock our ability to step into a deeper measure of His Presence.

You and I are part of the end-time warrior Bride who is marching on the front lines of the battlefield and dancing in the Father's throne room. The enemy is scared of you! Do you know that? The Lord is raising us up to be a fearless Bride, recklessly abandoned to and in love with Jesus. Now it is time for us to rise up and pick up our weapons, march against the enemy as the warriors we were created to be, and flow in the dance of praise for the victory He has already won!

Ana Werner