The Hordes of Hell Are Marching
(continued)
Then another enemy division appeared and moved up swiftly. It was called Strong Delusion. They released a hail of arrows that all hit their mark. I then watched as just a few of the demons of delusion led off this once great army of glorious warriors. They were taken to different prison camps, each named after a different doctrine of demons. I was astounded at how this great company of the righteous had been so utterly defeated, and they still did not even know what had hit them. "How could those who were so strong, who have been all the way to the top of the mountain, who have seen the Lord as they have, be so vulnerable?" I blurted out.
"Pride is the hardest enemy to see, and it always sneaks up behind you," Wisdom lamented. "In some ways, those who have been to the greatest heights are in the greatest danger of falling. You must always remember that in this life you can fall at any time from any level. 'Take heed when you think you stand, lest you fall,' When you think you are the least vulnerable to falling is in fact when you are the most vulnerable. Most men fall right after a great victory."
Wisdom for the Battle
"How can we keep from being attacked like this?" I asked.
"Stay close to me, inquire of the Lord before making any major decisions, and keep that mantle on, and the enemy will never be able to blindside you as he did those."
I looked at my mantle. It looked so plain and insignificant. I felt that it made me look more like a homeless person than a warrior. Wisdom responded as if I had been speaking out loud, "The Lord is closer to the homeless than to princes. You only have true strength to the degree that you walk in the grace of God, and 'He gives His grace to the humble.' No enemy weapon can penetrate this mantle, because nothing can overpower His grace. As long as you wear this mantle you are safe from this kind of attack."
I then started to look up to see how many warriors were still on the mountain. I was shocked to see how few there were. I then noticed that they all had on the same mantle on humility. "How did that happen?" I inquired.
"When they saw the battle you just witnessed, they all came to me for help, and I gave them their mantles," Wisdom replied.
"But I thought you were with me that whole time?"
"I am with all who go forth to do the will of the Father," Wisdom answered.
"You're the Lord!" I cried
"Yes," He answered. "I told you that I would never leave you or forsake you. I am with all of My warriors just as I am with you. I will be to you whatever you need to accomplish My will, and you have needed wisdom." Then He vanished.
Rank in the Kingdom
I was left standing in the midst of the great company of angels who were ministering to the wounded on the level of "Salvation." As I began to walk past these angels, they bowed to one knee and showed me the greatest respect. I finally asked one of them why they did this, as even the smallest was much more powerful than I was. "Because of the mantle," he replied. "That is the highest rank in the kingdom."
"This is just a plain mantle," I protested.
"No!" the angel protested. "You are clothed in the grace of God. There is no greater power than that!"
"But there are thousands of us all wearing the same mantle. How could it represent rank?"
You are the dread champions, the sons and daughters of the King. He wore the same mantle when He walked on this earth. As long as you are clothed in that there is no power in heaven or earth that can stand before you. Everyone in heaven and hell recognizes that mantle. We are His servants, but He abides in you, and you are clothed in His grace."
Somehow I knew if I had not been wearing the mantle, and if my glorious armor had been exposed, that the angel's statement, and their behavior toward me, could have really fed my pride. It was simply impossible to feel prideful or arrogant while wearing such a drab, plain, cloak. However, my confidence in the mantle was growing fast.
The Return of the Eagles
Then on the horizon I saw a great white cloud approaching. Hope arose in me just by seeing it. It actually filled the atmosphere with hope just as the sun rising chases away the darkness of night. As it grew closer I recognized the great white eagles that had flown from the Tree of Life. They began landing on the mountain, taking their place on every level beside the companies of warriors. I carefully and respectfully approached the eagle who had landed near me because his presence was so awesome. when he looked at me with his penetrating eyes, I knew I could hide nothing from him. His eyes were so fierce and resolute that I trembled as chills ran through me just looking at them. Before I could even ask, he answered me.
"You want to know who we are. We are the hidden prophets who have been kept for this hour. We are the eyes of those who have been given the divinely powerful weapons. We have been shown all that the Lord is doing, and all that the enemy is planning against you. We have scoured the earth and together we know all that needs to be known for the battle."
"Did you not see the battle that just took place?" I asked with as
much irritation as I dared to express. "Couldn't you have helped
those warriors that were just taken captive?"
"Yes. We saw it all, and we could have helped if they had wanted
it. But our help would have been to restrain them. We can only
fight in the battles that the Father commands, and we can only
help those who believe in us. Only those who receive us as who we
are, the prophets, can receive the prophet's reward, or the
benefit of our service. Those who were ambushed did not yet have
the mantle that you are wearing, and those who do not have the
mantle cannot understand who we are. We all need each other,
including these here who are still wounded, and many others who
you do not yet know."
The Heart of the Eagle
By talking to the eagle I started very quickly to think like the
eagle. After this short discussion I could see into the eagle's
heart and know him like he knew me. The eagle recognized this.
"You have some of our gifts," the eagle noted, "though they are
not very well developed. You have not used them much. I am here to
awaken these gifts in many of you, and to teach you to use them.
In this way our communication will be sure. It must be sure or we
will all suffer many unnecessary losses, not to mention missing
many great opportunities for victory."
"Where did you just come from?" I asked.
"We eat snakes," the eagle replied. "The enemy is bread for us.
Our sustenance comes from doing the Father's will, which is to
destroy the works of the devil. Every snake that we eat helps to
increase our vision. Every stronghold of the enemy that we tear
down, strengthens us so we can soar higher and stay in the air
longer. We have just come from a feast, devouring the serpents of
shame who have bound many of your brothers and sisters. They will
be here soon. They are coming with the eagles we left behind to
help them find the way, and to protect them from the enemy's
counterattacks."
These eagles were very sure of themselves, but not cocky. They
knew who they were, what they were called to do. They also knew us
and they knew the future. Their confidence was reassuring to me,
but even more so to the wounded that were still lying all around
us. Those who had recently been too weak to talk were actually
sitting up listening to my conversation with the eagle. They
looked at him like a lost child would look to his parent who had
just found him.
The Wind of the Spirit
When the eagle looked upon the wounded his countenance changed as
well. In place of the fierce resolution I had stood before, toward
the wounded he was like a soft, compassionate old grandfather. The
eagle opened his wings and began to gently flap them, stirring up
a cool refreshing breeze that flowed over the wounded. It was not
like any other breeze I had ever felt before. With each breath I
felt I was gaining strength and clarity of mind. Soon the wounded
were standing and worshiping God with a sincerity that brought
tears to my eyes. Again I felt a profound shame at having scorned
those who stayed on this level. They had seemed so weak and
foolish to those of us who were ascending the mountain, but they
had endured much more than we had and remained faithful. God had
kept them and they loved Him with a great love.
I looked up at the mountain; all of the eagles were gently
flapping their wings. Everyone on the mountain was being refreshed
by the breeze they were stirring up, and everyone on the mountain
was beginning to worship the Lord. At first there was some discord
between the worship that was coming from the different levels, but
after a time everyone on every level was singing in perfect
harmony. Never on earth had I heard anything that beautiful. I
never wanted it to end. Soon I recognized it as the same worship
that we had known in the Garden, but now it sounded even more full
and rich. I knew that it was because we were worshiping in the
very presence of our enemies, in the midst of such darkness and
evil that surrounded the mountain, that it seemed so much more
beautiful.
I do not know whether this worship lasted hours, days, or minutes,
but eventually the eagles stopped flapping their wings and it
stopped. "Why did you stop?" I asked the eagle that I had been
talking to.
"Because they are now whole," he replied, indicating the wounded
who were now all standing and appeared to be in perfect condition.
"True worship can heal any wound," he added.
"Please do it again," I begged.
"We will do this many times, but it is not for us to decide when.
The breeze that you felt was the Holy Spirit. He directs us; we do
not direct Him. He has healed the wounded and begun to bring about
the unity that is required for the battles ahead. True worship
also pours the precious oil upon the Head, Jesus, which then flows
down over the entire body, making us one with Him and each other.
No one who becomes one with Him will remain wounded or unclean.
His blood is pure life, and it flows when we are joined to Him.
When we are joined to Him we are also joined to the rest of the
body, so that His blood flows through all. Is that not how you
heal a wound to your body, by closing the wound so that the blood
can flow to the wounded member to bring regeneration? When a part
of His body is wounded, we must join in unity with that part until
it is fully restored. We are all one in Him."
The euphoria from the worship was still prevailing so that this
little teaching seemed to be the most profound that I had ever
heard, even though I had know it and taught it myself before. When
the Holy Spirit moved every word seemed glorious, regardless of
how elementary it was. It also filled me with so much love that I
wanted to hug everyone, including the fierce old eagles. Then,
like a jolt, I remembered the mighty warriors who had just been
captured. The eagle sensed this but did not say anything. He just
watched me intently. Finally, I spoke up; "Can we recover those
who were just lost?"
The Wounded Heart of the King
"Yes, it is right for you to feel what you do," the eagle finally
said. "We are not complete, and our worship is not complete, until
the whole body is restored. Even in the most glorious worship,
even in the very presence of the King, we will all feel this
emptiness until all are one, because our King also feels it. We
all grieve for our brothers in bondage, but we grieve even more
for the heart of our King. Just as you love all of your children,
but would be grieved for the one that was sick or wounded, He too
loves all of His children, but the wounded and oppressed have most
of His attention now. For His sake we must not quit until all have
been recovered. As long as any are wounded, He is wounded."
Faith That Moves Mountains
Sitting down by the eagle, I thought deeply about what he said.
Finally I asked, "I know that Wisdom now speaks to me through you,
because I hear His voice when you speak. I was so sure of myself
before that last battle, but I was almost carried away with the
same presumption that they were carried away with, and could very
easily have been captured with them if Wisdom had not stopped me.
I was going out of hatred for the enemy more than wanting to set
my brothers free, though that was part of my motive. Since first
coming to this mountain, and fighting in the great battle, I now
think that most of the right things I did, I did for the wrong
reasons, and many of the wrong things I did, I had good motives
for. The more I learn, the more unsure of myself I feel."
"You must have been with Wisdom a long time," the eagle responded.
"He was with me a long time before I began to recognize Him, but I
am afraid that most of that time I was resisting Him. Somehow I
now know that I am still lacking something very important,
something that I must have before I go into battle again, but I do
not know what it is."
The great eagle's eyes became more penetrating than I had ever
seen them as he responded, "You also know the voice of Wisdom when
He speaks to you in your own heart. You are learning well because
you have the mantle. What you are feeling now is the true faith."
"Faith!" I shot back. "I'm talking about serious doubts."
"You are wise to doubt yourself. But true faith depends on God,
not yourself, and not your faith. You are close to the kind of
faith that can move this mountain, and move it must. It is time to
carry it to places that it has not gone to before. However, you
are right. You are still lacking something very important. You
must yet have a great revelation of the King. Even though you have
climbed to the top of the mountain, and received from every truth
along the way, and even though you have stood in the Garden of
God, tasted of His unconditional love, and have seen His Son many
times now, you still only understand a part of the whole counsel
of God, and that only superficially."
I knew that this was so true that it was very comforting to hear
it. "I have judged so many people and so many situations wrongly.
Wisdom has saved my life many times now, but the voice of Wisdom
is still a very small voice within me, and the clamor of my own
thoughts and feelings are still far too loud. I hear wisdom
speaking through you much louder than I hear Him in my own heart,
so I know I must stay very close to you."
"We are here because you need us," the eagle replied. "We are also
here because we need you. You have been given gifts that I do not
have, and I have been given gifts that you do not have. You have
experienced things that I have not experienced, and I have
experienced things that you have not known. The eagles have been
given to you until the end, and you have been given to us. I will
be very close to you for a time, and then you must receive other
eagles in my place. Every eagle is different. It is together that
we have been given to know the secrets of the Lord, not
individually."
The Doors of Truth
The eagle then lifted up from the rock on which he had been
perched, and soared over the edge of the level on which we stood.
"Come," he said. As I approached him I saw steps that led down to
the very base of the mountain. There was a small door.
"Why have I not seen this before?" I asked.
"When you first came to the mountain you did not stay on this
level long enough to look around," he answered.
"How did you know that? Were you here when I first came to the
mountain?"
"I would have known if I had not been here, because all who miss
this door do so for the same reason, but in fact I was here," he
responded. "I was one of the soldiers you so quickly passed on
your way up the mountain."
It was then that I recognized the eagle as a man whom I had met
soon after my conversion, whom I had actually had a few
conversations with. He continued, "I wanted badly to follow you
then. I had been on this level for so long that I needed a change.
I just could not leave all of the lost souls that I was still
trying to lead here. When I finally committed myself to doing the
Lord's will, whether it was to stay or go, Wisdom appeared to me
and showed me this door. He said it was a shortcut to the top.
That is how I got to the top before you did, and was changed into
an eagle."
I then remembered that I had seen doors like this on a couple of
the levels, I had even peeked into a couple of them and remember
how amazed I had been at what I saw. I did not venture into any of
them very far, because I was so focused on the battle and trying
to get to the top of the mountain. "Could I have entered any of
those doors and gone right to the top?" I asked.
"It is not quite that easy," the eagle remarked, seeming a little
irritated. "In every door there are passage ways, one of which
leads to the top." Obviously knowing my next question, he continued.
"The other ones lead to the other levels on the mountain. The
Father designed each so that everyone would choose the one that
their level of maturity dictated that they needed."
"Incredible! How did He do that?" I thought to myself, but the
eagle heard my thoughts.
"It was very simple," continued the eagle as if I had spoken my
thoughts out loud. "Spiritual maturity is always determined by the
willingness of one to sacrifice their own desires for the
interests of the kingdom or for the sake of others."
I was carefully noting all that was said. I somehow knew that I
must enter the door before me, and that it would be wise for me to
learn all that I could from someone who had been there before and
had obviously chosen the right door to the top.
"I did not go directly to the top, and neither have I met anyone
who has," the eagle continued. "But I went there much faster than
most because I had learned so much about self-sacrifice while
fighting here on the level of 'Salvation.' I have shown you this
door because you wear the mantle and would have found it anyway,
but the time is short and I am here to help you mature quickly.
There are doors on every level, and every one leads to treasures
that are beyond your comprehension. They cannot be acquired
physically, but every treasure that you hold in your hands you
will be able to carry on in your heart. Your heart is meant to be
the treasure house of God. But the time you reach the top again,
your heart will contain treasures more valuable than all of the
treasures of the whole earth. They will never be taken from you,
but they are yours for eternity, because you are God's. Go
quickly. The storm clouds are now gathering, and the great battle
is near."
"Will you go with me?" I pleaded.
"No," he responded. "This is where I now belong. I have much to do
to help these who were wounded. But I will see you here again. You
will meet many of my brother and sister eagles before you return,
and they will be able to help you better than I at the place where
you meet them."
The Treasures of Heaven
I already loved that eagle so much that I could hardly stand to
leave him. I was glad to know I would see him again. Now the door
was drawing me like a magnet. I opened it and entered. The glory
that I beheld was so stunning that I immediately fell to my knees.
The gold, silver and precious stones were far more beautiful than
anything I had ever seen on the earth. The room was so large that
it seemed to be without end. The floor was silver, the pillars
gold, and the ceiling was pure diamond that emitted every color I
had ever known and many that I had not known. Angels without
number were everywhere, dressed in different robes and uniforms
that were of no earthly origin.
As I began to walk through the room, the angels all bowed in
salute. One stepped forward and welcomed me by name. He explained
that I could go anywhere and see anything that I wanted in the
room. Nothing was withheld from those who came through the door.
I could not even speak I was so overwhelmed by the beauty. I
finally remarked that this was even more beautiful than the Garden
had been. Surprised, the angel responded, "This is the Garden!
This is one of the rooms in your Father's house. We are your
servants."
As I walked, a great company of angels followed me. I turned and
asked the leader why they were following. "Because of the mantle,"
he said. "We have been given to you, to serve you here and in the
battle to come."
I did not know what to do with the angels so I just continued
walking. I was attracted to a large blue stone that appeared to
have the sun and clouds within it. When I touched it the same
feeling flooded over me as when I ate the fruit of the Tree of
Life. I felt energy, great mental clarity, and love for everyone
and everything being magnified. I started to behold the glory of
the Lord. The longer I touched the stone the more the glory
increased. I never wanted to take my hand off of the stone, but
the glory became so intense that I had to look away.
Then my eyes fell on a beautiful green stone. "What does that one
have in it?" I asked the angel standing nearby.
"All of these stones are the treasures of salvation. You are now
touching the heavenly realm, and that one is the restoration of
life," he continued.
As I touched the green stone I began to see the earth in rich and
spectacular colors. They grew in richness the longer I had my hand
on the stone, and my love for all that I saw grew. Then I began to
see a harmony between all living things on a level that I had
never seen before. Then I began to see the glory of the lord in
the creation. It began to grow until again I had to turn away
because of the intensity.
Then I realized that I had no idea how long I had been there. I
did know that my comprehension of God and His universe had grown
substantially by just touching these two stones, and there were
many, many more. There was more in that one room than a person
could have absorbed in a whole lifetime. "How many more rooms are
there?" I asked the angel.
"There are rooms like this on every level of the mountain that you
climbed."
"How can one ever experience all that is in just one of these
rooms, much less all of them?" I asked.
"You have forever to do this. The treasures contained in the most
basic truths of the Lord Jesus are enough to last for many of your
present lifetimes. No man can know all that there is to know about
any of them in just one life, but you must take what you need and
keep proceeding toward your destiny."
I started thinking about the impending battle again, and the
warriors who had been captured. It was not a pleasant thought in
such a glorious place, but I knew I would have forever to come
back to this room, and only had a short time to find my way back
to the top of the mountain, and then back to the battle from
again.
I turned to the angel. "You must help me find the door that leads
to the top."
The angel looked perplexed, "we are your servants," he responded,
"but you must lead us. This whole mountain is a mystery to us. We
all desired to look into this great mystery, but after we leave
this room that we have come to know just a little about, we will
be learning even more than you."
"Do you know where all of the doors are?" I asked.
"Yes, But we do not know where they lead. There are some that look
very inviting, and some that are plain, and some that are actually
repulsive. One is even terrible."
"In this place there are doors that are repulsive?" I asked in
disbelief. "And one that is terrible ? How can that be?"
"We do not know, but I can show it to you," he responded.
"Please do," I said.
We walked for quite a time, passing treasures unspeakable, all of
which I had great difficulty not stopping to touch. There were
also many doors, with different biblical truths over each one.
When the angel had call them "inviting" I felt that he had quite
understated their appeal. I badly wanted to go through each one,
but my curiosity about the "terrible door" kept me moving. Then I
saw it. "Terrible" had also been an understatement. Fear gripped
me so that it took my breath away.
Grace and Truth
I turned away from the door and retreated fast. There was a
beautiful red stone nearby, which I almost lunged at to lay my
hands on it. Immediately I was in the Garden of Gethsemane
beholding the Lord in prayer. The agony I beheld was even more
terrible than the door I had just seen. Shocked, I jerked my hand
away from the stone and fell to the floor in exhaustion. I badly
wanted to return to the blue or green stones, but I had to
regather my energy and sense of direction. The angels were quickly
all around me serving me. I was given a drink that began to revive
me. Soon I was feeling well enough to stand and begin walking back
to the other stones. However, the recurring vision of the Lord
praying compelled me to stop.
"What was that back there?" I asked.
"When you touch the stones we are able to see a little of what you
see, and feel a little of what you feel," said the angel. "We know
that all of these stones are great treasures, and all of the
revelations they contain are priceless. We beheld for a moment the
agony of the Lord before His crucifixion, and we felt briefly what
He felt that terrible night. It is hard for us to understand how
our God could ever suffer like that. It makes us appreciate much
more what an honor it is to serve you whom He did it for."
The angels' words were like lightning bolts straight to my soul. I
had fought in the great battle. I had climbed to the top of the
mountain. I had become so familiar with the spiritual realm that I
hardly noticed angels any more, and I could speak on nearly equal
terms with the great eagles, yet I could not bear to share in even
a moment of the sufferings of My King without wanting to flee to a
more pleasurable experience. "I should not be here," I almost
shouted. "I, more than anyone, deserve to be a prisoner of the
evil one!"
"Sir," the angel said almost shyly. "We understand that no one is
here because they deserve it. You are here because you were chosen
before the foundation of the world for a purpose. We do not know
what your purpose is, but we know that it is very great for
everyone on this mountain."
"Thank you. You are most helpful. My emotions are being greatly
stretched by this place, and they have tended to overcome my
understanding. You are right. No one is here because they are
worthy. Truly, the higher we climb on this mountain, the more
unworthy we are to be there, and the more grace we need to stay
there. How did I ever make it to the top the first time?"
"Grace," my angel responded.
"If you want to help me," I then said, "please keep repeating that
word to me when ever you see me in confusion or despair. That word
I am coming to understand better than any other, and it always
brings great illumination to my soul."
"Now I must go back to the red stone. I know now that is the
greatest treasure in this room, and I must not leave until I am
carrying that treasure in my heart," I said with more resolution
in my words than I felt in my heart at that time, but I
nevertheless knew that it was true."
The Truth of Grace
The time that I spent at the red stone was the most painful that I
have ever experienced. Many times I simply could not take any more
but had to withdraw my hand. Several times I went back to the blue
or green stones to rejuvenate my soul before I returned. It was
extremely hard to return to the red stone each time, but my love
and appreciation for the Lord was growing through this more than
anything I had ever learned or experienced.
Finally, when the presence of the Father departed from Jesus on
the cross, I could not stand it anymore. I quit. I could tell that
the angels, who were also experiencing what I was, were in full
agreement. The willpower to touch the stone again simply was not
in me anymore. I did not even feel like going back to the blue
stone. I just laid on the floor weeping over what the Lord had
gone through. I also wept because I knew that I had deserted Him
just like His disciples. I failed Him when He needed me the most,
just like they did.
After what seemed like several days, I opened my eyes. Another
eagle was standing beside me. In front of him were three stones,
one blue, one green, and one red. "Eat them," he said. When I did,
my whole being was renewed, and both a great joy and great
soberness flooded my soul.
When I stood up, I caught sight of the same three stones set into
the handle of my sword, and then on each of my shoulders. "These
are now yours forever," the eagle said. "They cannot be taken from
you, and you cannot lose them."
"But I did not finish this last one," I protested.
"Christ alone will ever finish that test," he replied. "You have
done well, but you must go on now."
"Where to?" I asked.
"You must decide, but with time getting shorter I will suggest
that you try to get to the top soon," the eagle replied as he
departed in an obvious hurry.
Then I remembered the doors. I immediately started toward the
doors that had been so appealing. When I reached the first one it
simply did not appeal to me anymore. Then I went to another, and
it felt the same. "Something seems to have changed," I remarked
out loud.
"You have changed," the entire troop of angels replied at once. I
turned to look at them and was amazed at how much they had
changed. They no longer had the naive look they had before, but
were now more regal and wise-looking than any of the angels I had
seen. I knew they reflected what had also taken place in me, but I
now felt uncomfortable just thinking about myself.
"I ask for your counsel," I said to the leader.
"Listen to your heart," he said. "That is where these great truths
now abide."
"I have never been able to trust my own heart," I responded. "It
is subject to so many delusions, deceptions, and selfish
ambitions, that it is hard to even hear the Lord speaking to me
above the clamor of it."
"Sir, with the red stone now in your heart, I do not believe that
will continue to be the case," the leader offered with
uncharacteristic confidence. I leaned against the wall, thinking
that the eagle was not here when I needed him the most. He had
been this way before and would know which door to choose. As I
pondered, the "terrible door" was the only one that I could think
of. Out of curiosity I decided to go back and look at it. I had
departed from it so fast the first time that I had not even
noticed which truth it represented.
As I approached it I could feel the fear welling up inside of me,
but not nearly as bad as the first time. In great contrast to the
others, it was very dark around this door, and I had to get very
close to read the truth over it. Mildly surprised, I read THE
JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST. "Why is this truth so fearful?" I asked
aloud, knowing that the angels would not answer me. As I looked at
it I knew that it was the one I should go through.
"There are many reasons that it is fearful," the familiar voice of
the eagle responded.
"I'm glad you came back," I replied. "Have I made a bad choice?"
"No! You have chosen well. This door will take you back to the top
of the mountain faster than any other. It is fearful because the
greatest fear in the creation has its source through that door-the
holy fear of God. The greatest wisdom that men can know in this
life, or in the life to come, are found through those doors, but
very few will go through them."
But why is this door so dark?" I asked.
"The light of these doors reflect the attention that the church is
presently giving to the truths behind them. The truth behind that
door is one of the most neglected of these times, but it is one of
the most important. You will understand when you enter. The
greatest authority that men can receive will only be entrusted to
those who will go through this door. When you see Christ Jesus
sitting on this throne, you too will be prepared to sit with Him
on it."
"Then this door would not be so dark and forbidding if we had just
given more attention to this truth?"
"That is correct. If men knew the glory that is revealed behind
that door, it would be one of the most brilliant," the eagle
lamented. "However, it is still a difficult door to pass through.
I was told to return and encourage you because you will soon need
it. You will see a greater glory, but also a greater terror than
you have ever known. But know that because you have chosen the
difficult way now, it will be much easier for you later. Because
you are willing to face this hard truth now, you will not suffer
loss later. Many love to know His kindness, but very few are
willing to know His severity. If you do not know both you will
always be in danger of deception and a fall from His great grace."
"I know that I could never come here if I had not spent the time
that I did at the red stone. How could I keep trying to take the
easy way when that is so contrary to the nature of the Lord?"
"But now you have chosen, so go quickly. Another great battle is
about to begin, and you are needed at the front."
The Judgment Seat of Christ
I gazed one final time around the huge room inside of the
mountain. The treasures of the truth of Salvation were kept here.
It seemed that there was no end to their expanse or beauty. I
could not imagine that the rooms which contained the other great
truths of the faith could be any more glorious. This helped me to
understand why so many Christian never wanted to leave this place.
The large gems which represented the different aspects of
Salvation all exuded a glory far beyond any earthly beauty. It was
wonderful beyond description, and I knew that I could stay here
for eternity and never get bored.
The eagle who was standing next to me almost shouted: "You must go
on!" Then more calmly he continued, "There is no greater peace and
safety than to abide in the Lord's salvation. You were brought
here to know this because you will need it where you are now
going. But you must not stay here any longer."
The eagle's statement about the peace and safety touched something
in me. I thought about the courageous warriors who had fought in
the battle from the first level of the mountain, "Salvation." They
had fought so well and delivered so many, but they had also all
been badly wounded. Then the eagle again interrupted my thoughts
as if he were listening to them.
"God has a different definition of peace and safety than we do. To
be wounded in the fight is a great honor. That is why the apostle
Paul boasted of his beatings and stonings. There is no courage
unless there is real danger. The Lord said He would go with Joshua
to fight for the Promised Land, but over and over exhorted him to
be strong and courageous because he was going to have to fight,
and there would be dangers. It is in this way the Lord proves
those who are worthy of the Promises-they love God and His
provision more than their own security. Courage is a demonstration
of true faith. The Lord never promised that His way would be easy,
but it would be worth it. The courage of those who fought from the
level of Salvation moved the angels of heaven to esteem what God
has wrought in the fallen race of men. They took their wounds in
the terrible onslaught, but they did not quit, and they did not
retreat. Even so, by climbing the mountain you were able to fight
with an authority that ultimately freed even more souls. Many more
souls will fill these rooms, to the great joy of heaven, if you go
on."
I then turned and looked at the dark and forbidding door over
which was written: The Judgment Seat of Christ. Just as warmth
and peace had flooded my soul each time I looked at this door.
Everything in me wanted to stay in this room, and nothing in me
wanted to go through that door. Again the eagle answered my
thoughts.
"Before you enter the door to any great truth you will have these
same feelings. You even felt that way when you entered into this
room to the treasures of salvation. These fears are the result of
the fall. They are the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good
and Evil. The knowledge from that tree made us all insecure and
self-centered. The knowledge of good and evil makes the true
knowledge of God seem fearful, when in fact every truth from above
leads to an even greater peace and security. Even the judgments of
God are to be desired, because all of His ways are perfect."
By now I had experienced enough to know that what seems right is
often the least fruitful path, and sometimes the road to tragedy.
Throughout my journey, the path on which it seemed that the most
was risked was the path that lead to the greatest reward. Even so,
each time it seemed that more was being risked. To make the choice
to go on therefore got harder each time.
"It takes more faith to walk in the higher realms of the Spirit,"
the eagle stated, seeming a little more irritated. "The Lord gave
us a map to His kingdom when He said, 'If you seek to save your
life you will lose it, but if you will lose your life for My sake
you will find it.' Those words alone can keep you on the path to
the top of the mountain, and will lead you to victory in the great
battle ahead. They will also help you to stand before the Judgment
Seat of Christ," he added, looking toward the door.
I knew I had to go. I knew that I should remember this glorious
room and the treasures of salvation, but I also knew that I should
not look back to them again. I had to go on. I turned and with all
of the courage I could muster, opened the door to the Judgment
Seat of Christ and stepped through it. The troop of angels that
had been assigned to me took positions all around the door, but
did not enter.
"What's the matter? Aren't you coming?" I demanded, badly wanting
the security of their company.
"Where you are going now you must go alone. We will be waiting for
you one the other side."
Without responding, I turned and started walking before I could
change my mind. It was the hardest thing I had ever done. I was in
the most frightening darkness I had ever experienced. The most
terrible fears rose up within me. Soon I began to think that I had
stepped into hell itself. I thought about retreating, but when I
looked back I could see nothing. The door was closed and I could
not even see where it was located. Resolving that I now had to go
on, I moved slowly, praying for the Lord to help me. As I did,
peace began to grow in my heart.
I then noticed that the dark was no longer cold, but began to feel
comfortable. Then I started to behold a dim light. Gradually it
became a glorious light so wonderful that I felt that I was
entering into heaven itself. Now the glory increased with every
step. I wondered how anything this wonderful could have an
entrance so dark and forbidding. I wanted to savor every step
before taking another.
Soon the path opened into a hall so large that I felt that the
earth itself could not contain it. The beauty of it could not even
be imagined by human architects. I had never experienced anything
like what filled my soul as I beheld this room. At the far end was
the Source of the glory that emanated from everything else in the
room. I knew that it was the Lord, and I was a little bit afraid
as I began to walk toward Him. I did not even think about how
great the distance was. It was all so wonderful that I felt that I
could walk forever and enjoy every step. In earthly terms, that
somehow did not relate here, it would have taken me many days to
reach the throne.
My eyes were so fixed on the glory of the Lord that I had walked a
long time before I noticed that I was passing multitudes of people
who were standing in ranks to my left (There were just as many to
my right but they were so far away that I did not notice them
until I reached the throne). As I looked at them I had to stop.
They were dazzling, more regal than anyone I had ever seen. Their
countenance was captivating. Never had such peace and confidence
graced a human face. Each one was beautiful beyond any earthly
comparison. As I turned toward those who were close to me they
bowed in a greeting as if they knew me.
"How is it that you know me?" I asked, surprised at my own
boldness to ask such a question of them.
"You are one of the saints who is fighting in the last battle," a
man close by responded. "Everyone here knows you, and all of those
who are now fighting on the earth. We are the saints who have
served the Lord in the generations before you. We are the great
cloud of witnesses who have been given the right to behold the
last battle. We know all of you, and we see all that you do."
I then noticed someone I had known on earth. He had been a
faithful believer, but I did not think he had done anything of
significance. He was so physically unattractive on earth that it
had made him shy. Here he had the same features, but was somehow
more handsome than any person I had known on earth. He stepped up
to me with an assurance and dignity that I had never seen in him,
or anyone, before.
"Heaven is much greater than we could have dreamed while on
earth," he began. "This room is but the threshold of realms of
glory that are far beyond the ability we had to comprehend. It is
also true that the second death is much more terrible than we
understood. Neither heaven or hell are like we thought they were.
If I had known on earth what I know here I would not have lived
the way that I did. You are blessed with a great grace to have
come here before you have died." he said while looking at my
garments.
I then looked at myself. I still had the old mantle of humility
on, with the armor under it. I felt both foul and crude standing
before those who were so regal and beautiful. I began to think
that I was in serious trouble if I was going to appear before the
Lord like this. Like the eagles, my old acquaintance could
understand my thoughts, and he replied to them:
"Those who come here wearing that mantle have nothing to fear.
That mantle is the highest rank of honor, and it is why they all
bowed to you while you passed."
"I did not notice anyone bowing to me," I replied, a bit
disconcerted.
"It is not improper," he continued. "Here we show each other the
respect that is due. Even the angels serve us here, but only our
God and His Christ are worshiped."
I was still ashamed. I had to retrain myself to keep from bowing
to these glorious ones, while at the same time wanting to hide
myself because I looked so bad. Then I began lamenting the fact
that my thoughts here were just as foolish here as they were one
earth, and here everyone knew them! I felt both stained and stupid
standing before these who were so awesome and pure. Again my old
acquaintance responded to these thoughts.
"We have our incorruptible bodies now, and you do not. Our minds
are no longer hindered by sin. We are therefore able to comprehend
many times what even the greatest earthly mind can fathom, and we
will spend eternity growing in our ability to understand. This is
so that we can know the Father, and understand the glory of His
creation. On earth you cannot even begin to understand what the
least of these here know, and we are the least of those here."
"How could you be the least?" I asked with disbelief.
"There is an aristocracy here. The rewards for our earthly lives
are the eternal positions that we have here. This great multitude
here are those whom the Lord called 'foolish virgins.' We knew the
Lord, and trusted in His cross for deliverance from damnation, but
we did not really live for Him, but for ourselves. We did not keep
our vessels filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit. We have
eternal life, but we wasted our lives on earth."
I was really surprised by this, but I also knew that no one could
lie in that place.
"The foolish virgins gnashed their teeth in the outer darkness," I
protested.
"And that we did. The grief that we experienced when we understood
how we had so wasted our lives was beyond any grief possible on
earth. The darkness of that grief can only be understood by those
who have experienced it. Such darkness is magnified when it is
revealed next to the glory of the One we failed. You are standing
now among the lowest rank in heaven. There are no greater fools
than the ones who know the great salvation of God, but then go on
living for themselves. To come here and learn the reality of that
folly is a grief beyond what an earthly soul can experience. We
are those who suffered this outer darkness because of this
greatest of follies."
I was still incredulous. "But you are more glorious and full of
more joy and peace than I even imagined, even for those in heaven.
I do not feel any remorse in you, and yet I know that here you
cannot lie. This does not make sense to me."
Looking me straight in the eyes, he continued, "The Lord also
loves us with a love greater than you can yet understand. Before
His judgment seat I tasted the greatest darkness of soul and
remorse that can be experienced. Though here we do not measure
time as you do, it seemed to last for as long as my life on earth
had lasted. All of my sins and follies which I had not repented of
passed before me, and before all who are here. The grief of this
you cannot understand until you have experienced it. I felt that I
was in the deepest dungeon of hell, even as I stood before the
Lord. He was resolute until my life had been completely reviewed.
When I said I was sorry and asked for the mercy of His cross, He
wiped away my tears and took away the great darkness. He looked at
me with a love that was beyond anything that you can now
understand. He gave me this robe. I no longer feel the darkness or
bitterness that I knew as I stood before Him, but I remember it.
Only here can you remember such things without continuing to feel
the pain. A moment in the lowest part of heaven is much greater
than a thousand years of the highest life on earth. Now my
mourning at my folly has been turned into joy, and I know that I
will know joy forever, even if I am in the lowest place in
heaven."
I began to think again of the treasures of salvation. Somehow I
knew that all that this man had told me was revealed by those
treasures. Every step I had taken up the mountain, or into it, had
revealed that His ways are both more fearful and more wonderful
than I had known before.
Looking at me intently, my former acquaintance continued. "You are
not here to understand, but to experience. The next level of rank
here is many times greater than what we have. Each level after is
that much greater than the previous one. It is not just that each
level has an even more glorious spiritual body, but that each
level is closer to the throne where all of the glory comes from.
Even so, I no longer feel the grief of my failure. I really
deserve nothing. I am here by grace alone, and I am so thankful
for what I have. He is so worthy to be loved. I could be doing
many wondrous things now in the different realms of heaven, but I
would rather stay here and just behold the glory, even if I am on
the outer fringes."
Then, with a distant look in his eyes, he added, "Everyone in
heaven is now in this room to watch His great mystery unfold, and
to watch those of you who will fight the last battle."