The Judge Pardoned Him Because We Prayed in the Courts of Heaven

We have come to and are a part of is the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem.

Revelation 21:9-10 unveils the bride of Christ, the Lamb’s wife, as being this city.

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.

The angel wanted to show John the Lamb’s wife. Perhaps John expected to see a beautiful woman. Yet when it was revealed, it was city coming down from heaven. We know that the Lamb’s wife is the church. So the city that is being seen is the corporate people of God. The bride of Christ and the heavenly Jerusalem are synonymous with each other. It speaks of the different functions and operations of the same people. On one hand the wife of the Lamb is called to great intimacy with the Lord and to rule with Him. On the other hand we are an operating city that has the power to extend the rule of the Kingdom of God. Matthew 5:14 shows Jesus referring to His disciples as a city.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

A city on a hill is this heavenly municipality or the hill of Zion. We are not to be hidden but to be releasing influence into all the earth! We as the people of God have this function. It is only out of our unbridled intimacy with Jesus that our function as the heavenly city is realized. Jesus actually warned the church at Ephesus about losing her first love. Revelation 2:2-5 shows Jesus cautioning this church about having good things in place but obviously having lost the most important thing—a love relationship with her lover and husband.

I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

It is possible to be doing all the right things but be disconnected with the One who loves us and who we are to love the most. Jesus warned that so serious was this issue that if it wasn’t corrected, it would cause this church to forfeit its authority. The lampstand would be removed. Revelation 1:20 tells us that the lampstands are the churches.

The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

To lose the lampstand would mean you ceased to be a church by heaven’s standard. The earth would still call it a church, but heaven wouldn’t recognize it. The authority that God intended to be carried by this church would be forfeited and negated. The function to be a city set on a hill would be removed because the intimacy that was to be had with the Lord had been lost. It is the intimacy with Jesus that makes us a functioning city set on a hill that cannot be hidden.

We are also told that this heavenly Jerusalem is the mother of us all in Galatians 4:26. As the bride of Christ, this heavenly city from its union with Him conceives and gives birth to the purposes of God.

But the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

The Jerusalem from above that is free is speaking to the fact that we have been delivered from the bondage of the law. We no longer seek to please God by obeying the law but by walking in the freedom and liberty of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:13-15 gives us insight into how we get free from the bondage and fear of rejection associated with the law.

For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

As we come under the dictates and power of the Holy Spirit, He will strengthen us to deal with the deeds of the body that are against the will of God. We put them to death through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We do this, not because of a sense of right and wrong from the law, but by revelation of the Holy Spirit. This is what is being referred to as being led by the Spirit. From a loving relationship with God as our Father, we fulfill His will in a place of safety and confirmation that we are His children. It is the Holy Spirit who fashions His nature in us and causes us to long for what He longs for and hate what He hates. When the church with this revelation and awareness comes into union with the Lord, we produce the right things in the earth. Of course conception, pregnancy, and finally birthing are all the things that qualify someone to be a mother. As heavenly Jerusalem we are to be bringing forth the purposes of the Lord in the earth. This will involve travail, which speaks of prayer, intercession, and supplication before the Lord. This means that we as the people of God are to bring forth the intent and desire of the Lord by being His womb in the earth. Travail and intercession are a part of functioning in the Courts of Heaven. I have watched as people have entered deep groanings as we step into the Courts of Heaven. Almost without exception, whatever they have desired has been done. This is because the intercession of the church/city/Lamb’s wife is speaking in the Courts of Heaven before His Throne.

I remember one occasion when a young man who was not given to emotion asked to be taken before the Courts of Heaven. He was facing the very real possibility of spending time in jail because of a probation violation. As I helped him come before the Courts of Heaven and repent, it became known that violence was an accusation against him. Suddenly without warning this young man began to travail, cry, and groan in prayer and repentance. I knew that the Lord had granted him repentance that would allow something unimaginable to happen when he stood before the natural judge.

I was in the courtroom the day this young man went before the judge. I knew what had happened in the spirit realm and was wondering how it would play out in the natural court setting. As the young man’s lawyer began to speak, the judge was looking over the paper. The District Attorney had asked that the young man spend ten days in jail and then pay fines and be placed by on probation. This had been agreed upon by the young man and the lawyers. However, as the judge looked over the paperwork and heard the argument being presented, he said, “I don’t like this. This is a slap on the wrist for what has been done.” It looked like things were not going to go well for this young man. I was wondering what had gone wrong. I was sure it would have gone another way. Suddenly the judge stopped, looked at the young man, and said, “Here’s what I’m going to do. No jail time. Your driver’s licensed is restored. (It had been revoked.) Finish your original time on probation.” Then the judge said, “Go home to your wife, get your education, and if I ever see you in the court again, woe be to you.”

The judge actually gave him more mercy than was being asked and set him free. This all happened because the travail of God spoke in the Courts. Heaven was able to render a verdict and decision that allowed this young man freedom and liberty. The mercy of God as Judge was manifested in a natural court. The young man and everyone knew it. Even the young man’s lawyer who had said they did not want this particular judge on the case was amazed. He had been afraid this judge would not be kind. This lawyer said he had never seen anything like this happen. This was all a result of the Courts of Heaven and the travail of the mother of us all before the Lord to bring forth His purposes.

The next spiritual activity mentioned in this spirit dimension is an innumerable company of angels. There is much angelic activity in the legal realm of the Spirit. Whether we see them or not, they are present. We are told that angels have many functions. We know according to Hebrews 1:13-14 they are ministering spirits to minister to those who belong to God.

But to which of the angels has He ever said:

“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?

Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

The Lord sends His angels to help us in our weakness. Remember in Luke 22:42-44 when Jesus was in the garden prior to His crucifixion, He was wrestling with what was about to happen. As He came to the place of agreement with the will of God, angels appeared and strengthened Him.

Saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Notice that He was able to pray more earnestly. It would appear that the presence of the angel gave Jesus added inspiration and power to pray. What Jesus was about to do on the cross and in the resurrection had to first be birthed in the realm of the spirit. Through His struggle and with the angelic help, the assignment was accomplished. Angels come to help us fulfill the will of the Father. They clearly are also here to do the bidding of the Lord. Psalms 103:20-22 gives us insight into some of the things angels do as well.

Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

The terms angels, hosts, and works all refer to this angelic activity. The term angels means a messenger. It is the Hebrew word malak. The word host is the Hebrew word tsaba. It means a mass of entities organized for war—an army. The word works is the Hebrew word maaseh. It means an action, a product. Angels are messengers who are sent with information, directions, and commands we are to obey. This happened to Philip in the desert. Acts 8:26-27 reveals Philip going into this desert place because an angel sent him there.

Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship.

Philip ended up leading this man to salvation. This one who had great authority returned to the palace of the Queen of Ethiopia. It is said that through his influence the entire palace and royal court came to know the Lord. This was because an angel came to Philip with a message. Angels are messengers sent to us from the Lord. Angels are also a mass together that form a host. They are an army sent to wage war. We see where God sent His angel against the armies of Sennacherib. II Chronicles 32:19-21 shows the Lord releasing His angel to cut off and destroy the leaders and army attacking Israel.

And they spoke against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth—the work of men’s hands. Now because of this King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and cried out to heaven. Then the Lord sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned shamefaced to his own land. And when he had gone into the temple of his god, some of his own offspring struck him down with the sword there.

Through the prayers of the prophet and the king, God sent an angelic warrior who defeated a king and his seemingly insurmountable army. This is the power of the armies of heaven. Nothing can withstand them or stand against them.

The third word work, in regard to angelic activity, speaks of angels being the created beings of God. They are His product and creation. They also are sent to do His activities. We are told that the angels, the host, and the work all do the bidding of the Lord. They do His word. They heed His voice. They do His pleasure. They establish His dominion. The angelic realm is a very active and involved realm with the purposes of God. They are passionate about doing His will.

Angels also are sent from the Courts of Heaven. This innumerable company of angels is the representative of the Courts. This happened in the days of Zechariah when he was contending for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. The temple’s construction had come to a standstill. It had been in this place for as much as 17 years. There were several things that allowed this, but two stand out in Zechariah 5:1-4. We see a flying scroll carrying judgments against thieves and liars.

Then I turned and raised my eyes, and saw there a flying scroll.

And he said to me, “What do you see?”

So I answered, “I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits and its width ten cubits.”

Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth: ‘Every thief shall be expelled,’ according to this side of the scroll; and, ‘Every perjurer shall be expelled,’ according to that side of it.”

“I will send out the curse,” says the Lord of hosts;
“It shall enter the house of the thief
And the house of the one who swears falsely by My name.
It shall remain in the midst of his house
And consume it, with its timber and stones.”

The one who is showing Zechariah these things is an angel. Zechariah 4:1 shows this angel coming and awakening Zechariah to a new place in the spirit world.

Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep.

This angel is unveiling many things to the prophet Zechariah. One of them is this whole judgment against what is stopping the restoration of God. We should know that many times people experience a beginning place of restoration. However, it seems to stop. This can be because something in the spirit world is granting a legal right to the devil to resist the complete breakthrough that is desired and needed. Through Zechariah’s efforts in the Courts of Heaven, and I am sure others as well, a verdict had been rendered. The scrolls that the angel was showing Zechariah were the verdicts, decisions, and judgments of God against liars and thieves. That which was being used to hold up the restoring process of God was being dealt with. Liars and thieves were holding up the recovery of the Lord. Remember that lies had stopped the building process in the first place. In Ezra 4:12-13, we see people against the restoration of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple perjuring themselves before the King Artaxerxes. They convince the king that if Jerusalem is rebuilt, it will rebel against him.

Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem, and are building the rebellious and evil city, and are finishing its walls and repairing the foundations. Let it now be known to the king that, if this city is built and the walls completed, they will not pay tax, tribute, or custom, and the king’s treasury will be diminished.

Based on this accusation, the king issued a decree to stop the building of the city. Ezra 4:21-24 shows the response of the king to have the building of the city cease. The lies that were told by those who hated the purposes of God caused the intent and desire of the Lord to be frustrated.

Now give the command to make these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given by me.

Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings?

Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease. Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

This was what God was judging when the verdict of the scrolls shown by the angel was released. However, there was also a judgment against thieves. This was against the people of God who were using the resources meant to build the temple for the building of their own house. Haggai was also a prophet who prophesied during this time period. In Haggai 1:2-7, we see this prophet confronting the people concerning they themselves living in luxury while the house of God was in ruins.

“Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.”’”

Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!

“You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”

Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!”

By this time the house of God and its construction has been at a standstill for quite some time. The people have taken the wood and the material that could have been used to build God’s house and have built their houses instead. The prophet is pointing out the result of this is lack, need, and not enough. They are not flourishing; they are simply surviving. This is because they have in essence stolen and misappropriated funds that were designated for the house of God. They are admonished to consider their ways. It would seem that what Zechariah the prophet was seeing concerning the scroll with judgments on one side against perjurers and judgment on the other side against thieves involved these issues. The angel had come to Zechariah to help bring the judgment of God against that which was stopping His process. The scroll, however, was a flying scroll. This means that even though a judgment from the Courts of Heaven had been issued and rendered, it had not landed in the earth. It would seem that the angelic unveiling it and the prophetic cooperating with this realm could land the scroll against that which was resisting God’s restoration.

“Even though a judgment from the Courts of Heaven had been issued and rendered, it had not landed in the earth.”

We need this today. We need to perceive what the angelic is unveiling. We need the awakening from the angelic to perceive the judgments we have secured from the Courts of Heaven against God’s passion being fulfilled. It would appear that once the prophetic perceives what our activity in the Courts has released, decrees and declarations can cause these to be enacted and put in place. This will cause anything and everything that is standing against the desire of God for our inner life or even a nation and culture to be revoked and removed. We learn to prophetically cooperate with the angelic and their operation in and from the Courts of Heaven.

We are also told that we have come to the general assembly. This term translated from the Hebrew word paneguris means a mass meeting or a universal companionship. This speaks of the worshipers who are upon the Sea of Glass in heaven as revealed in Revelation 15:2-4. We see worshipers upon this place in heaven, where the song of Moses is being sung.

And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:

“Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints!
Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested.”

We also see this Sea of Glass in Revelation 4:6 where the four creatures are worshiping the Lord perpetually.

Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

Connected to this are the 24 elders who are also worshiping and crying worthy is the Lamb in Revelation 4:9-11. From the Sea of Glass there is constant and ongoing worship.

Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

“You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.”

As this worship proceeds from the Sea of Glass and the general assembly, it resonates through the whole of creation. Revelation 5:11-14 shows the worship beginning and impacting all the creation.

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

Notice that the worship that originated at the Throne with angels, creatures, elders, and the tens of thousands times tens of thousands fills that which is in heaven and earth. Real worship always has its conception in heaven. When we worship in the earth effectively, it is because we are touching the worship of heaven. Worship creates the atmosphere that the Courts of Heaven operates in. This is why the four creatures and all others worship around the Throne. The Throne is the place of Courtroom operation. Decisions are made and judgments are rendered. As we worship in the earth with the worship born from heaven, we are able to step into the dimensions of the Courts. We are actually bringing into earth the atmosphere and operation of the Courts. We also are stepping into this dimension where decisions made determine what happens. May we each and all become worshipers of the King and declare His glory from out of heaven.

“Real worship always has its conception in heaven. When we worship in the earth effectively, it is because we are touching the worship of heaven.”