End of the world OVERLOAD. My final reflections on IHOP endtime theology itself. Part 3. (revised intro)

Hi everyone!

Thanks for tuning in yet again. This is my last post in regards to IHOP endtime theology. Here I actually go into the theology on a very general level and post my thoughts.

This is the longest blog entry I've written. Please take your time to check in and out as you please. This is so long that I think I'm crazy and impractical to shove everything on one blog post. Oh well. Regardless, my goal in sharing my thoughts on Revelation through the IHOP lens is to pull out things in the book of Revelation that would be relevant and beneficial to evangelicals and charismatics alike in our individual faith journeys of loving Jesus. I especially write to encourage and bring new truth to those new to the book and are interested in checking it our further, but are too intimidated with the content of the book.

------

Let me first start off- for those wanting to learn and immerse themselves in IHOP culture, there is no way to do it without coming to grasps with their understanding of the Endtimes. The culture of IHOP is founded on it. I only say this because for a long time, I was part of a church that was only really exposed to the intimacy/bridal paradigm aspect of IHOP, and not any of the endtimes stuff. But for those interested in the IHOP ministry, there's no getting around reconciling or coming to a peace with the Endtime awareness that this ministry is founded on. From the teachings, the songs that are sung in the prayer room, the whole "forerunner culture"- everything is based on their endtime theology/awareness. If I can put it roughly, if Intimacy is the fuel, the Endtimes is the engine that IHOP runs on.

Let me also say- I've been warned about the theology of IHOP regarding revelation, having been told that it's a view held by a very thin sliver of bible scholars. But apart from liberal scholars who are mostly from the "anti-supernatural" camp anyway, this view, among the larger body of evangelical, conservative theology eschatologists, I don't find that to be the case. Having learned of the overall structure to Revelation, and IHOP's general interpretation of it all, there is nothing dynamically interesting or different about IHOP's view of the endtimes, that would signal a red flag, as compared to the other beliefs out there. I'm trying to see this with an objectively critical eye.

And on a positive note, I'm actually encouraged Mike Bickle discourages believing in things face value, just because he said it. He encourages the IHOP community to look into the scriptures like the Bereans in the book of Acts, and see for themselves what is truth. For all the ways he gets smeared as being a cult leader, I can respect the freedoms he promotes in being your own independent, critical thinker. After all, you take greater ownership to truth not when you're blindly being mouth fed, but when you, wrestling with your doubts come to see truth for what it is.

Another thing they mentioned in the opening class of Revelation; when you seek interpretations of this book, consider people who have credibility in the lifestyles of prayer and fasting, and have sought with the help of the Holy Spirit and the Bible, revelation. I find that pretty reasonable and actually pretty responsible. Regardless, cultural context and history is very important and responsible- but more important and MORE responsible is taking scripture, living a lifestyle of prayer and fasting, and asking the Holy Spirit to release revelation upon the Word of God. After all, didn't Jesus say, "the Holy Spirit is the wonderful counselor who will lead us into all truth?" I don't think the early church fathers envisioned everyone to go out and get M. Divs to understand scripture, which was written in a way to be accessible to the common man. Scripture was written so that anyone can read it, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, glean revelation. Yea, there's more to it, but that's the meat of it. And the insights and revelation that come from those who walk this lifestyle trump and touch my soul more than those from the academic field, which I've been. Sorry for the brute honesty, but I think it says something about receiving insight from intimacy (with God) and not the ivory tower (with books).

So, anyways, to get off all of that, all this to say- whatever I learn further into the IHOPian theology of Revelation, with the credibility of a culture of fasting, prayer, genuinely pressing into God- I think these teachings are things I can somewhat safely consider with an open mind, without the fear that they've departed from the faith and are coming way off from left field, or that they're trying to control or manipulate me.

----

Anyways, knowing Revelation brings a unity to our knowledge of the Bible and God's purposes. While it's great to focus on what God is calling us to do daily as in loving our enemies, loving Him, etc., it brings greater purpose and urgency to practice these commandments KNOWING that God has a plan for it all at the end of the age, as revealed in the Endtimes texts of the Bible and Revelation.

In regards to such scripture, especially the passages in the bible outside of Revelation such as Jesus' own words in regards to the end times-many times, after reading those chapters, I would be completely confused and just move on to Jesus' other teachings. But now having studied Revelation, I find my theology more well rounded and unified, and find that I have a grid now for understanding the words of Jesus and the prophets in regards to the end of the age. A more holistic view of God and His purposes emerges. Again, it's great to focus on the now, but it provides urgency, direction and purpose to know what's going to happen in the future as well.

With that introduction aside, let me just say- Revelation was written for the common layperson to understand. Alot of people panic and get lost in the flurry of signs and symbols thrown all over the place. But let me assure you: Revelation itself is more literal than you think it is. Especially the last section Revelation of the different judgments poured out on the earth and the antichrist.

There are clear portions of revelation in which Jesus Himself defines things as symbolic. E.g the seven stars in His hands, Him amidst the seven lampstands. And He describes the symbolism of that Himself in Revelation. But there are portions of Revelation that we might be tempted to ascribe to symbolism-but should consider taking literally. For example, when it comes to the trumpet judgments, John describes a mountain "all ablaze" being thrown into the sea. For things like that, I think it's a stretch to brush that off as symbolic and allegoric and not accept it literally as to what John probably saw- an asteroid hitting the sea that he didn't have the scientific wherewithal to describe.

Don't get me wrong, there are definitely some aspects of Revelation it's clear to take symbolically (the dragon (satan), beast with 10 horns, 7 heads), but those too, John prefaces them by declaring that a "sign appeared from heaven". So there is some distinction within the book itself of things which should be taken symbolically, and things which should not. My point is, with all that said, Revelation is more literal than you think! You don't need sophisticated master degrees in theology to understand a book that was written for a very simple people, the early NT church, whose extent of higher education was in just avoiding illiteracy.

-----------------

So basically, the book of Revelation is split into 4 parts.

Part 1- Chapters 1- John's calling to preach the book
Part 2- Chapters 2,3- The 7 Letters to the 7 major churches of that time
Part 3- Chapters 4,5- Jesus takes the scroll (God's battle plan for the endtimes)
Part 4- Chatpers 6,22- God's battle plan

Again, it's beyond the scope of a single blog entry to detail all the fine nuances of this theology. So the way I'll go about this is not comprehensively nailing every verse and theme, but rather listing some interesting pointers in the distinct 4 parts, in hopes that you get something out of it too. What I'm about to share are things that I agree with-in fact, I found everything taught here to be receivable without me screaming heresy. Surprising, are some of the teachings, but more so it's because I've never been exposed to something already in the Bible, rather than the content itself being heretical.

Part 1, chapter 1- John's calling to preach the book

One thing really big here in IHOP is meditating on the revelations of Christ through scripture. Well, in the 1st chapter of Revelation, we have the biggest treasure-trove-collection of names/descriptions Christ gives about Himself more than anywhere else in the Bible. In fact, just within the 1st chapter are 52 distinct aspects of Jesus on display. "Faithful witness, Firstborn from the dead, Ruler of the Kings of the Earth, Alpha, Omega, First, Last, Jesus, Christ, etc." Jesus shares these aspects about Himself when He reveals Himself to John on the island of Patmos. Needless to say, John's blown away.

My reflection

When I learned of how packed Revelation 1 was, it stunned me. Here, in the first chapter, Jesus is revealing Himself directly, in no uncertain terms. Coming from a school of prayer which is Godwards focused and about proclaiming who God is over our circumstances, this is most practical to apply in my own prayer/devotional life with Jesus. Revelation 1 is a gold mine of truths and aspects in which Jesus DIRECTLY reveals Himself and invites us to engage with Him, and seek greater revelation through fasting, meditation and prayer. It's amazing how much the Holy Spirit will guide you into revelation as you fast, pray and meditate over these terms. This is something that will revitalize our prayer lives as we fix our eyes on the revelation of Jesus, given by Jesus Himself.

Part 2, chapters 2-3 - The 7 letters to the 7 churches

Here are the 7 letters to the churches, in which Jesus encourages, rebukes, and promises rewards to these churches. IHOP believes that the exhortations to these churches can also be applied to the endtime church. In that regard, one thing that's really encouraged around here, is living with a sense of urgency and taking heed the warnings of Christ to these churches. Also, letting the promise of the rewards Christ offers (26 of them in the 7 letters), be a motivating factor in living that way. Mike Bickle exhorts that we'll all stand before the judgment seat in the end, in which we'll be obliged to offer an "offering of love" to the Lord (what we've done with our lives, in love), and receive the rewards He promises us.

My reflection
Here's another nugget of valuable truth that I've never really thought about- this idea that I'll stand before the Lord at the end of my life, for Him to judge what I've done with my life and receive my rewards. The judgment seat of Christ is another one of those theological hurdles that I found uncomfortable to ponder, and thus, put on the back burner of my mind because I didn't like to think and take seriously the reality that at the end of my days I'll stand before the Lord to give an account of my life. It didn't help however, as with Revelation, I've never really heard messages preached on the judgment seat of Christ.

Granted, we'll all be saved...but what will we offer up to the Lord on that day? And what will we receive? Here we're not talking about so much about judgment in the sense of being punished, but what's taught here at IHOP is rather judgment in the sense of an athletic evaluation leading to a reward, as in the Greco-roman context of olympic games. in which before the judgment seat of judges, athletes would win rewards. So if we, the endtime church stay true to the challenges listed out in the letter to the 7 churches (all common threads of discipleship to be found in scripture), there are specific rewards Jesus mentions in these 7 letters, that we can expect to receive, e.g "the crown of life, eating from the tree of life" etc. Thus the expecation of rewards at the end of the age in front of the Judgement seat of Christ is something that motivates us to faithfulness and unhindered love. And these rewards aren't so much hand-me-downs from God's infinite supply of heavenly "reward pencils", but these rewards are the expressions of God's heart and how He is moved by our faithfulness to Him, in overcoming the challenges of the enemy in loving Him faithfully.

Part 3- Jesus takes the scroll

Chapters 4-5 (especially 4), includes the most vivid description of the throne room of God to be found anywhere in the Bible. Jesus, white hair and head, eyes burning with fire-seated on a throne and surrounded by 24 elders, 4 seraphim, an emerald rainbow; all this with an expanse of sea of glass before Him, surrounded by thousands and thousands of angels with lightning and peals of thunder emanating from His throne. You get my point. Read it for yourself!!

My reflection
When I read of the description of the throneroom of God, I have to stop, pinch and tell myself, that what I have on my desk, the words that leer out at me, are activities that are taking place in heaven as I'm reading the Word. This is real stuff. I find that meditating and visualizing this and "seeing" this worship taking place an awesome way of encountering the Lord. Close your eyes in worship, and see yourself on the sea of glass in front of His throne, in full glory with His angels. It'll do something to your heart, to say the least.

Part 4 - ch. 6-22 The Battle Plan

Herein lies the brunt of Revelation. The scroll which Jesus takes in the scenes of ch.4-5 is ultimately God's battle plan in terms of how to take the antichrist and his establishments down, and establish His own Kingdom. This last section goes from detailing the 7 seals on the scroll Jesus receives, to the 7 trumpet judgments, and then to the final 7 bowl judgments. This section is where we see much of the heavy cataclysmic events Revelation has become so famous for such as the earth quakes, heavenly bodies falling onto earth, the earth getting rearranged, many people dying. But despite these judgments, what we need to understand is that in the end, God desires to save the most amount of people, in the least severest way. With all the wickedness that will have abounded through the form of the worldwide antichrist government, these judgments are really to clear and purge the earth of evil, save the persecuted church from the antichrist systems of the world and remove in general, all that would hinder the love of Christ, as the millenial era (1000 year reign of Christ after He returns) inaugurates. What's great however, is that while John is startled at what's about to happen, throughout this section of Revelation angels are present to provide commentary to these events reassure him of God's greater purposes, and that the Church will be protected from many of these calamities, just like the Hebrews were protected from the judgments of God upon Pharaoh and Egypt in the book of Exodus.

Eventually after all this, we see the summation of all things- a new earth, a new heaven, and the coming down of the New Jerusalem whereupon God is now with men and He'll be here forever.

My reflection

Obviously, I can't go through each section, as if this post isn't long enough. But I will comment on the closing movement of Revelation.

In the end, in Revelation 21, John writes, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people and God Himself will be with them and be their God."

The chapter goes forward to describe the dimensions of the city. It describes the New Jerusalem as being roughly 1,260 miles wide, long, deep and high. Which means, it's about half the size of the US in length and width, and it's height would stretch into space itself. Imagine that! A glorious and massive golden city descending down from heaven like a celestial spaceship. It's like sci-fi! It's freaky and blows your mind, but it's the truth and it's written in the Bible. With exact measurements. You can't call this stuff symbolic when they have exact measurements. (Just like the tabernacle of God in the Old Testament was described in its exact dimensions, so this NEW tabernacle of God is described.) This city will come down, the tabernacle of God, and we'll get to be with God forever here.

I don't know about you, but this is one of the most bewildering and astonishing truths that I've learned in Revelation thus far. I was never taught in sunday school about a New Jerusalem that's to come down from heaven. I just thought that at the end of it all, we'd all be in heaven with Jesus and that would be the end of that. But according to Revelation, the plan of Jesus is to come back DOWN to the earth to STAY and make all things new, and that this New Jerusalem will come down "as a bride beautifully prepared for her husband". Like Matt Gilman's song, I find myself "longing for the New Jerusalem" now. I seriously can't wait for that day to behold this marvelous continent to descend from heaven, where we'll get to be in the presence of God forevermore. If you thought coming to IHOP was a blessing, wait until you get a hold of this place, where God HIMSELF dwells on earth with men forever. Everyone's going to want to get in.

Ok. Again, realizing the plan of God for the future, helps make sense of life in the now. In regards to our lives on earth, we need to understand that it's just a brief internship for a greater reality- where we get to be priests and kings, ruling with Christ for eternity in the millenial kingdom (a 1000 year span in which Jesus rules the earth right after the antichrist systems and infrastructures are taken down), and then the New Jerusalem.

And this leads me to believe that the way God is moving today-where we're seeing the release of signs and wonders all around the world in ways that rival and eclipse the book of Acts-this is just a first fruit and an appetizer of a greater reality to come- the actual Kingdom of God as described in the closing chapter of Revelation. The ways we're seeing the Kingdom of God break out all around the world- when Jesus comes back, His Kingdom will be manifested in its fullest measure, and with the New Jerusalem, heaven will LITERALLY be on earth, together as one.

Even this whole new renewal and intimacy movement championed by IHOP-this is just a precursor to the church arising as a whole, as the bride of Christ, to a time where Jesus will be loved like He is worthy- the sole owner and receiver of our fascinations, desires and love. In that day, Jesus will have to Himself a people who do not compromise their heart with lesser loves and interests but are wholeheartedly abandoned in lovesickness for Him. So the whole "One Thing" & "Intimacy", this is just the beginning of a church beginning to arise in greater love and devotion to Jesus. This is the direction the church is moving towards, to the final summation of everything after Jesus comes back, and there's no turning back!

................

Ok, I think I'm about done. For those wrestling with this the first time-it can be overwhelming and freaky. For me, these concepts were over my head. I had to let my heart and mind simmer in these biblical realities for a while before they made some sense to me. I hope you can see these truths for yourself as you study the Word.

As I mentioned, I'm leaving out SO MUCH of what this book has to offer. And I'm still trying to understand and grasp its content better myself. What I've shared are just some beginner level insights and convictions I've gained from studying the book, knee-deep. But I hope it's tickled your fancy to study and take seriously this book yourself, because this book is relevant to our time. And it's a shame that as a church we haven't studied this book more and espoused the revelations in the book. (no pun intended).

Thanks for taking the time to read. PLEASE let me know what you think!! Whether you agree, disagree, got something out of this. You'd motivate me as well to keep writing these insanely long posts, although I'm not sure if you want that after reading this! ;) Bless you.

******

Here are some resources for you to check out in regards to IHOP endtime theology (a view I'm beginning to accept as my own more and more as I do my study, as you may begin to tell)-

1. www.mikebickle.org - this is Mike Bickle's online library of teaching, videos, and some free books. His teachings and videos are all free. You can hear him speak on revelation yourself.

2. "The Book of Revelation Study Guide" by Mike Bickle - this is the entire book of Revelation (NKJV), with Mike's notes. Although it isn't a super thick comprehensive tome, it's a good study guide and roadmap to the book.