Sound, Quantum Physics, and Ephesians 4:14

Sound, Quantum Physics, and Ephesians 4:14

So much noise (ha!) in the Charismatic world these days about quantum physics and the importance of sound regarding the supernatural working of the Kingdom of God. I hear about it almost everywhere I go. I went to a three day Prophetic Round Table where the opening word, which set the stage for the three days, was a vision someone said they received. The vision was of circuits—circuits beyond what could be counted, laid out next to each other like a deck of cards prepared for the game of match. There wasn’t a power source, so they were all inactive. (This is a paraphrase, but closely encapsulates the vision.) The interpretation, though I thought it represented churches not being hooked up to each other and the power of God, went along the lines of sound waves and quantum physics. The “visionary” got out the white board, drew parallel sound waves—like a music staff. I spent the whole three days kind of in a blur, wondering how they could get from that vision to that interpretation, and somehow accuse God of it. That was the beginning of my adventure in what I believe to be a wind of doctrine.

 Since the Round Table experience I have heard quantum physics come up at conferences and in sermons. The correct terms would be variations of resonance anyway. (Thank you BL & SR.) Resonance phenomena occur with all types of vibrations or waves. With this in mind, let’s search out some of the scripture texts I have heard regarding the misused term, “quantum physics,” considering whether or not it would it matter anyway, if the terms were correct. As a side note, if you feel compelled to use these physics terms in the context of scripture, it would do a great service to your hearers to takes some advanced physics classes first, so as not to give Christianity a bad name through your ignorance. 

Following are some of the proof-text for messages I have heard on this subject. Using each of these Biblical accounts, people have focused on the importance of the sound in each one. As if the sound was the focus and not the act of God, Who used seemingly foolish means in each. As you read through these scriptures consider what the outcome would have been if everything was done as it was, though only through natural means, as if God was not involved. (Another side note [Thanks Bryson]: Sound is important to God—God spoke in creation, Jesus is the Word of God, instruments' sounds invoke emotions and communicate things like love and battle cries ["For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle?" 1 Corinthians 14:8].)

·      Gideon and the defeat of the Medians

·      Wall of Jericho falling down

·      1 Chronicles 25:1-7

·      Ezekiel and the Dry Bones

·      Pentecost

Gideon’s defeat of the Midians —Judges 7

Was it Gideon’s approach and the sound produced that conquered the Midianites or the power of God working through Gideon’s obedience to what God said? From Judges 7, “Then the LORD said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place.”” The Lord said, “I [the Lord] will save you.” It was not the sound of the pitchers breaking or the sounding of the trumpets—it was God Who caused the chaos in the Midian camp by using Gideon and the 300 soldiers who did it His way.

* See Below

 Joshua and the Wall of Jericho --Joshua 6

What if Joshua had just decided to march around Jericho and blow trumpets without God’s direct involvement? Just wondering. Would the Wall of Jericho have still fallen down? If the Lord had not said, “And the LORD said to Joshua, “See! I have given Jericho into your hand...do this...”” (Joshua 6) would the sound of the marching, the trumpets blasting, and the shouting have caused the Wall to fall? Interestingly, Rahab’s house, which was on the wall, didn’t fall.

1 Chronicle 25:1-7

I have heard teaching that the instruments actually create things in the atmosphere as they prophesy. Were the instruments actually prophesying in 1 Chronicles 25, as stated in messages I have heard, or were the people prophesying while they play instruments?  The three main people mentioned in 1 Chromicles 25 are Asaph, Heman, and, Jeduthun (Ethan), and their sons. These men wrote some of the psalms—many psalms are prophetic in nature. 1 Chronicles 25:1, “Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy [<05012>: To prophesy under influence of divine spirit; <05030>: spokesman, speaker, prophet. Both words are written in the Hebrew text of 1 Chronicles 25:1. It reads prophesy prophet…] with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals. And the number of the skilled men performing their service was…” “[7]So the number of them, with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the LORD, all who were skillful, was two hundred and eighty-eight” Notice verse 7 says, “…who were instructed in the songs of the LORD.” This brings clarity to any ambiguity verse 1 may have. 

Peter Paul Rubens [Public domain], 

via Wikimedia Commons

These sons of Asaph, Heman, and Juduthun were prophesying with their mouths, as they played musical instruments, singing the songs of the LORD. Furthermore, the word “prophesy <05012>” is used 102 times. Every time it is of someone speaking and not once is it said of an instrument.  Also, how would the players have known they were giving thanks and praise (1Ch 25:3) if it was the instruments prophesying? “Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied <05012> with a harp to give thanks and to praise the LORD.”

The interaction of the prophetic and music is easy to see from Scripture. Following are two examples. However, many of the Psalms are prophetic themselves, tying music and prophecy together.

1Sa 10:5-6 has parallel terminology with the Spirit of God coming upon people [Saul] when instruments played, leading to prophesying. “After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying <05012>.Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy <05012> with them and be turned into another man.”

2 Kings 3:15-16 [Elisha speaking] “But now bring me a harpist.” While the harpist was playing, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha and he said, “This is what the LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches…””

The Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel 37 and Pentecost in Acts 2

Both of these were mentioned in passing, emphasizing the importance of the sound in each. “There was a noise, and suddenly a rattling” when Ezekiel began to prophesy to the dry bones. I actually love that when God moves there is often noise and rattling. Heaven seems to be a pretty noisy place—except that ½ hour in Revelation. But, this has nothing to do with the need for noise or sound, or quantum physics for that matter, and everything to do with God, His Word, and the reaction of the natural world to His Voice. Sound waves are a product of God, not a substitute for God.

Pentecost had a sound as of a rushing mighty wind. I kind of like that the Holy Spirit can be noisy. I am noisy. He is noisy too. I know that must sound juvenile, but come on people, does there have to be some extra quantum sound associated with the Holy Spirit being poured out? Think about it…Here it is at last—Pentecost’s fulfillment, I think God wanted to make a little noise. When Passover was fulfilled the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. I think that was noisy too.

* I, Svickova [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Can You Hear the Trumpet Call to Prayer

Can You Hear the Trumpet Call to Prayer

With 9/11/14 less than a week away and the numerous warning the USA has received, it is time we hear the trumpet call to prayer.

"Gucastatue" by svickova - Own work (own picture). 

Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution

- Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - 

The Lord deposited a visual in my spirit of a trumpet being lifted up to sound an alarm. Over and over again the trumpet was lifted up and set to sound. The Lord has a message for His church from Nehemiah 4:19-20. 

“Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!” ” 

The “there” is prayer—join in prayer.

Like Nehemiah and the Jews we will probably hear voices telling us, “the task is too difficult” and “God will not hear us.” But, God is a big God, the task isn’t too difficult for Him, and we must pray for our nation concerning the threats against her.

Though the United States has a great army that we are most thankful for, it has been the Lord Who has protected and blessed us. [“No king is saved by the multitude of an army; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength.” Psalm 33:16] God has been our Protector, our protection. But we, as a nation, have torn down our protective wall as we have turned away from the Lord and served other gods. Now, we hear the threats of our enemies. They want to destroy us. It is all over the media—chatter from ISIS planning large scale terror attacks on September 11, and the possibility of ISIS using the 11 missing jets from Libya as weapons against us. Our response must be prayer to the only One Who can help us.

When you read this, hear it as a trumpet sounding an alarm, not as judgment. An alarm that must be answered with prayer and repentance. We, like Israel of old, have sinned against God. If you can, get together with others to pray before Thursday, September 11, or pray by yourself—to pray for our nation.

From Nehemiah 4 we also see that Nehemiah [:13] “…stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.” Lowest points and exposed places are the vulnerable areas on the wall and can relate to targets in the United States—the vulnerable places where the enemy could slip in for a terror attack. Pray especially for the vulnerable areas of our nation, like boarder states.

Verse 4:16 says from that day on the workers carried swords as they worked, while others stood guard with weapons—that is, everyone was engaged and equipped. We, as Christians, have weapons that are spiritual. And although ISIS’ threats are very real, it is ultimately a spiritual battle. God hears when His people pray. Prayer is the greatest weapon. The answer Nehemiah gave to the Jews was, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” We are not just praying for ourselves, we are fighting for the generations that will come after us. Let us not be like Hezekiah who said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good!” For he [Hezekiah] said, “Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?” 2 Kings 20:19

God Bless America, 

Land that I love. 

Stand beside her 

and guide her, 

through the night, 

with Your Light, 

from Above! Amen!

Prayer is a Bulldozer

Prayer is a Bulldozer

Life is full of, let’s call it, “life’s junk.” We can feel overwhelmed with decisions we need to make or have made. Then there are people. Difficult people we deal with every day or maybe people we avoid due to pains or relationship problems—maybe we are the difficult one? Money troubles that awaken us at night—there just doesn't ever seem to be enough.  How about Fear? The list could go on and on and on.

For the Christian, God has provided a bulldozer. A bulldozer that will doze away all the “life’s junk.” It's called prayer. Am I saying, that prayer fixes things? Not necessarily. Prayer itself fixes nothing. But prayer connects us to a God Who does fix things. Being connected to God, not only as Savior but also as Lord and Friend, brings a “Yet none of these things move me” calming. 

Col 2:19 says there are those who have “lost connection with the Head.” Not that they have lost their salvation, what they have lost is their connection. The NASV and the NKJV both translate "connection" as “not holding fast" to the Head. In Psalm 73, Asaph—both choir director and prophet during David’s time, wrote [2] “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped…[17] Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood…” Verse 17 is the pivot in this psalm. Asaph is wrapped up in his perspective until he goes into the sanctuary, then he understands and his whole perspective throughout the rest of the psalm is different.

Prayer is a means to an end, and not the goal in and of itself—it is not a duty, prayer is a privilege. Prayer connects us to God through relationship; there He shares His secrets with us; there He transforms our perspective to His; there live begins to make sense again. There, in His sanctuary, the “life’s junk” gets bulldozed. What is left reveals a path, our path, in the midst of what once looked impassable and daunting. 

Go into His sanctuary. Hear what He has to say. Allow His secrets to change your perspective. He is waiting.

Why I am Not a Preterist: Part 4

Why I am Not a Preterist: Part 4

Revelation 10:7 (NASV) “but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.”

Let’s dissect Revelation 10:7.

Greek Lexicon: “Then”: 2532 και kai kahee “apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force.” (“Then” connects and thrusts forward.) This is during the days when the 7^th angel (one with the 7^th trumpet) is about to sound (literally “trumpet”), that—THE—mystery of God is finished. Look at this in view of 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17,

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”  

And, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

This sounds like “during the days when the 7^th angel is about to sound” the end of the age has come, not the end of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Note in 1 Corinthians 15 the words “last trumpet.” This literally means “the last trumpet.” The 7^th angel blows the 7^th and last trumpet. At the last trumpet the Lord descends, the dead are raised, those alive are changed and caught up (or caught up and changed) to meet the Lord; Thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Another thought — what is “the mystery of God” that would be finished, which “He preached to His servants the prophets”? God has a number of mysteries, but my opinion is that it is speaking of the mystery found in Colossians 1:25-27 (tied also to 1 Corinthians 2 mystery),

“I have become its [the Gospel’s] servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness — the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

There are hints of this mystery even in the Garden of Eden. But to say that this mystery or any of God’s mysteries — mystery of the Kingdom: Mark 4:11, mystery of the church: Ephesians 3, mystery of Christ: Colossians 2, mystery of the Gospel: Colossians 4—were finished, as Revelation 10:7’s mystery was finished seems absurd if placed into Preterists’ time frame of 70 AD. But, if placed at the end of the age and the return of Jesus Christ, then it fits with the rest of scripture, and even with the above scriptures concerning the timing of the last trumpet.

Oil: The Commodity of the Kingdom

Oil

We should not overlook and think it a coincidence that oil is such a prominent commodity in the world system. Wars, nations, wealth, powers: civilization itself revolves around oil. Is this not the commodity of Heaven: the Kingdom? The Anointing of the Holy Spirit is likened to oil. His Anointing ought to be sought after, purchased with our time and devotion; after all It is what was the difference between the 5 wise virgins who went into the Wedding of the Lord and the 5 foolish who did not. See Matthew 25. Let’s be ablaze and burning with the Holy Spirit. Let’s keep out lamps filled. Let’s be like the olive trees in Zechariah with their branches dipping in the golden oil. Let’s pay the price for the Oil of God.

Why I am Not a Preterist: 3

Why I am Not a Preterist: 3

If the Book of Revelation was to be fulfilled, as proposed by Preterists, in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome, namely Titus the son of Vespasian, why did Jesus only address churches in Asia Minor [present day Turkey] instead of Jerusalem? It just doesn't make sense to me. Think about it…If Jerusalem was about to be destroyed and the whole Book of Revelation was a prophecy about its destruction, why did Jesus address churches in Asia Minor instead of prophesying to churches in Jerusalem? Furthermore, if the Book of Revelation is only about Jerusalem’s fall to Rome, how do the Asia Minor churches fit into that theme?