by Bill Johnson
God works with this instinct and draws us into our potential through promise and the wonder of possibility. Because of this, we live in the tension between what is and what is to come. God has given every human being a sense of hope for a better future. Some drown out that inner conviction through sarcasm, the defense mechanism of disappointment, while others silence that voice by a theology of unbelief. Still others have it stolen from them through abusive treatment by others. But it was planted there in the beginning and can be restored.
God is famous for giving sneak previews to His coming attractions. While “it is the glory of God to conceal a matter” (Prov. 25:2), He loves to reveal things to His people. That’s because He doesn’t hide things from us. He hides things for us.1 The Old Testament serves that purpose.
The Old Testament is filled with teachings and revelations that were for the practical expressions of life and worship for Israel. Yet ultimately they were things that prophesied of and spoke to the future. It dealt with everything from the coming Messiah to the new nature given to His people to God’s relationship to humankind. Each subject and promise was wonderful, but way beyond comprehension.
Seeing Beyond
The prophets were often called seers. The title wouldn’t be necessary if all they saw was what already existed. The gift was to enable them to see the unseen of their day as well as to have a knowing of the coming days.
The New Covenant era is what the prophets looked ahead to see and spoke about. They pointed to this moment in time. They were serving Israel, for sure. But ultimately, they were serving both the wild olive branch as well as the natural branch—the Gentile and Jew who would make up that mysterious people called the Body of Christ (see Rom. 11:17-24; Eph. 3:4-9). They were serving those who would be alive in the last days, which started at the resurrection of Christ. And this is now 2,000 years later, the last of the last days.
Born to Dream
Make at least a mental list of the kings and prophets who are your heroes, the ones who actually dreamed of the day we live in: Solomon, David, Isaiah, and Daniel. The list goes on and on. And yet there’s not one of them who saw what was coming and did not have an ache in their hearts to be able to taste of that reality—a reality that we now enjoy. The primary focus of their dream was twofold: 1) to have a new heart with a new nature, and 2) to have the Spirit of God live in and rest upon each believer. Those two ideas were beyond comprehension for everyone, even the 12 disciples. Jesus had to instruct them that the Holy Spirit being here with them would even be better than having Him, the Son of God, with them in the flesh (John 16:7). Yet there wasn’t one of them that wouldn’t have chosen to have Jesus remain in the flesh if the option had been given to them. Without knowing it, they were on the edge of something that had been the inner focus of many of the greats who had gone before them—a tipping point, as some would describe it.
For I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them (Luke 10:24).
Prophets and kings, the who’s who of biblical days, had an awareness of a superior reality that was coming. And as much as they longed to be a part of it, it was forbidden. That privilege was reserved for you. Those great history-makers stand in the cloud of witnesses watching with both excitement and wonder as the mystery of Christ unfolds before their eyes. Of course, we did nothing to earn the privilege. It is the choice of the Sovereign One. Having said that, I recognize that it brings us to a deep place of responsibility and accountability because we have access to something that these kings and prophets missed out on. Sobering indeed.
Let’s assume for a moment that Solomon is one of the kings of which Jesus spoke in the Luke 10 passage—a safe assumption, I think, considering the nature of his wisdom and his prophetic insights. Think about what it must have felt like for this uniquely privileged man to long for our day. He had all the possible wealth this world could offer, enough to make that of the wealthiest of this day pale in comparison. His impact on nations caused leaders who hated him to serve him. He was feared because of this wisdom that seemed to come with Presence, for wisdom is a person (see 1 Cor. 1:30). Enemies sat in silence because of it. Nations talked about him. Even kings and queens traveled great distances just to hear him speak. They would even try to trick him with life’s most difficult questions, yet he would answer them all. His skeptics became fans. There was nothing he could dream of that he couldn’t have. That is, except for one thing—the future.
Kings and prophets, the ones most mindful of unseen realities, were given sneak previews of what was coming. And every one of them would give anything they had to taste of what we have been given.
David was no doubt one of those referred to in this passage. He was both king and prophet. “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David…because he was a prophet…he looked ahead and spoke” (Acts 2:29-31). It’s what prophets do. They see beyond their day and speak accordingly.
The king and the prophet is the apostle/prophet combination of the Old Testament. To imply that apostles are kings only works when we see kings by God’s design—highly favored to serve more effectively—the least of all.
Hunger Increased
All of the face-to-face encounters were ahead of time in the sense that that level of intimacy was to become normal only after the blood of Jesus was shed. Even Gideon had to pinch himself to make sure he was still alive after his encounter with God (see Judg. 6:22-24). He seemed surprised to find out he actually was. The Old Testament is filled with people who got to taste of things ahead of time. Sneak previews.
Have you ever gone to see a movie because the advertisement made it look so funny, but when you saw it, you noticed all the funny moments in the movie were already in the trailer? It’s a great disappointment. The movie never got any better than that 60-second spot. God is not like that. He entices and draws us into faith for the impossible, and then completely outdoes Himself. It’s just the way He is. He gives a glimpse of something to come, knowing that even those who saw it coming would be surprised when it actually did. His coming works are represented in words and pictures, but can never be fully contained in them. He surpasses all description and everyone’s anticipation of good. He is extreme in all the right ways.
We have been given one of the greatest privileges of all time—abound with hope in a time of hopelessness. That is a light on a hill. Even so, many who have been given the honor to steward hope have allowed the pressures of this life to derail them from their purpose. And the one who is to be a fountain of hope actually mirrors the hopelessness of those without Christ. This is especially true as it pertains to the last days. When they consider the future, they can only really get happy about the fact that Heaven is near. And they should. That is to be the great hope for every believer. But our assignment should concern us more than our destination. We must be known for hope for the day we live in, as the purposes of God are always great. He will do everything needed, according to His promises for His victorious bride. When Jesus said there would be wars and rumors of wars, He wasn’t giving us a promise (see Matt. 24:6). He was describing the conditions into which He was releasing His last days army of transformational people.
Prophetic Snap Shots
Consider just a few things that they saw that told them of the greater that was coming. Besides the prophets’ promises that the Messiah would come, the earth would be filled with His glory, and Israel would rise to a restored place of prominence, there were the experiences, the symbols, the types and shadows that all spoke of something coming that was greater. For example:
They sacrificed sheep recognizing that a lamb was coming who would forever atone for sin. God would provide for Himself a Lamb.
All the furniture of Moses’ Tabernacle was laid out in the shape of a cross. They sacrificed at this Tabernacle when the cross was not even yet a form of corporal punishment.
Each piece of furniture
spoke of the Messiah, representing something distinct about the nature and function of Christ, i.e. table of showbread—Jesus the Bread of Life; candlestick—Jesus the Light of the World, etc.
Abraham instinctively sought for a city whose builder and maker is God (see Heb. 11:9-10). That cry for the coming Kingdom came before there were any prophecies concerning it or even teachings from the rabbis.
David learned something in the Presence of God that couldn’t be taught from the Law—God really didn’t want the sacrifice of bulls and goats. He longed for the sacrifice of the heart—brokenness and yieldedness (see Ps. 51:17).
David found out that God inhabited praise (see Ps. 22:3 KJV).
Only priests could carry God’s presence. He wasn’t to be put on ox carts or anything man made (see Exod. 25).
This list is endless in possibility, profound in its impact. God gave insights way ahead of time. When He shows us what’s coming, it’s not so we will strategize and plan. It’s so we’ll get hungry and draw into our day what was reserved for another day.
They had a sense that something was coming that was glorious beyond description. I do believe one of the primary works of the devil is to get us to discount the moment we live in. As long as we idolize another era we’ll be blind to the importance of our own.
Past, Present, and Future
I was very active in sports, especially in my teen and early adult years. Whether it’s baseball, tennis, or golf, a swing has three basic components. There is the backswing, the point of contact, and the follow-through. Disciplined and skilled athletes learn to be consistent in those three things. Metaphorically speaking, the backswing is our history while the point of contact is the moment we live in. The follow-through is the destiny/future according to promise.
Our backswing is God’s personal history and accomplishments for us through Christ. We inherited His history as though it were ours all along. He took what we deserved so we could receive what He deserved. The point of contact is this moment we’re in, realizing that God has a unique purpose for our lives. It’s not only about the future. It’s also about the moment we are in that is so magnificent, that only unbelief and introspection can rob me from its fullness. The follow-through is a future filled with hope because the history is so solid and secure. The follow-through is in the same arch as the backswing. In other words, when the backswing is right and the point of contact is right, the follow-through is predictable. One sets up the other. He has gone ahead of us, fully securing the future for us. Faithfulness keeps us in sync with His perfect plan. Whenever God gives us a promise, it’s because He has gone into our future and brought back the word necessary to get us there.
Throughout the Bible, God is creating a desire within the hearts of His people not only for Heaven as a location, but Heaven as the realm of His present rule. (Kingdom is broken down into two words—king’s domain.) It is right and good to long for Heaven as my home. But it is my responsibility to equally long for His rule here and now. God’s job is to get me to Heaven. My job is not to go to Heaven; my job is to bring Heaven to earth through my prayers and obedience.
The House Is a Gate Is a House
One of my favorite pictures of the Church is found in the Old Testament story of Jacob in Genesis 28. Perhaps it’s the abstract nature of the story that draws me to it. I’m not sure. But I know there is a promise of something so significant here that it will take a very special generation to draw it out completely.
Then Jacob departed from Beersheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place. He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. …Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” …He called the name of that place Bethel (Genesis 28:10-12,16-17,19).
This is the first mention of the house of God in the Bible. One of the more meaningful principles of Bible interpretation is that the first mention of something in Scripture carries extra weight. It sets a standard for a subject that the rest of Scripture will support and add to. The rather strange part of this example of the house of God is that there is no building there. It’s not a tabernacle or tent that is movable, neither is it a temple that is permanent. It is God with man on the side of a hill. It’s a great picture of reality from God’s perspective. It’s the house of God.
The elements of this story are simple—open Heaven, Father’s voice, angels ascending and descending, and ladder on the earth reaching to Heaven. This in its entirety is a picture of the church. But the most astonishing part is the conclusion Jacob made from this revelation. This is none other than the house of God, the gate of Heaven. Did you catch it? The house of God is the gate of Heaven.
Gates are simple but interesting items that are a part of our daily lives. Perhaps you have one that takes you from your front yard to the public sidewalk, or your backyard to the driveway. A gate is a transition place that takes you from one realm or place to another.
This picture is quite profound. The Church is the eternal dwelling place of God. And at this moment in time it is a building built on the edge of two worlds. We are dual citizens of both Heaven and earth. As such, we are not only those who are to pray for God’s Kingdom to come, we are the tools who are often used by God to release that reality into this one. I’m not sure that we are to always know the magnitude of what we’re doing or the impact we are having. But it’s helpful to understand that our obedience always releases His world into this one in a way that is more substantial than we ever thought possible.
Surprising Instructions
God had revealed so much to the prophets, not only through their prophetic words, but also in their heavenly experiences. As stated, I believe it was written in the hearts of prophets as well as the average person that there was more, much more than had ever been considered possible. It’s the nature of humanity to crave, dream, and desire. You can’t crave for something sweet if something sweet doesn’t exist. In the same way, the hunger for more in God testifies that more actually exists and is available. That’s what drove Abraham to look for the unseen. “He was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10). It was the inner conviction that something substantial, more real, eternal, and built by God Himself is available for all.
Jesus spoke to His disciples in a very strange way. He said, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). You’d think He would be saying, If it were so, I would tell you. Or, Because it is so, I have told you. Why was His approach so opposite to our thinking? He had no need to promise them what they had an inner awareness of. He is speaking to an assumed awareness of heavenly realms that exists in the heart of every person. He is acknowledging that reality. His job would be to tell them that their inner awareness, their inner dream, was not true and had no basis in reality if it were not so.
Jesus is the Light that enlightens everyone who comes into the world. Everyone has received this enlightenment. But busyness, shame, and pride keep us from being in touch with the understanding of the unseen that God has put into the consciousness of every person born on this earth. What we do with this insight is up to us.
The Prophets’ Prayer
I can only imagine the nature of the prophets’ dreams. They not only had the inborn awareness of more, some of them had caught glimpses of what was coming. And some even saw Heaven, the throne of God, and the mysterious angelic realms. The overall hunger was for God’s world to have an effect on this one. Isaiah even prayed, “Rend the heavens and come down!” (Isa. 64:1). It was a prophetic word in the form of a prayer.
Anointed prayer always has a prophetic nature to it.
The cry for Heaven to influence earth had once again exploded from the heart. This time it was a prophet. God had already set the stage to answer this and instructed Isaiah to pray and declare it.
ENDNOTE
1. This concept is developed in my book, Dreaming with God, Chapter 10, starting with page 169.
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Answers to Ancient Cries
The cries for God, some from the righteous and some from the unrighteous, have sounded through the ages. I grew up hearing there was a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person. I believe it.
This longing for God is seen in so many ways, including the drive to make things better in life. I’ve traveled all over the world. And one thing that exists in every people group I’ve seen is the desire to discover new things and make what exists better. This passion is firmly rooted in everyone.
God created us with desires and passions and the capacity to dream. All of these traits are necessary to truly make us like Him. With these abilities, we can discover more of God, our purpose in life, and the beauty and fullness of His Kingdom. When these abilities exist unharnessed by divine purpose, they take us to forbidden fruit. It was a risk God was willing to take in order to end up with His dream—those made in His image, who worship Him by choice, who carry His Presence into all the earth.
Isaiah represented the cry of all humanity when he prayed, “Rend the heavens and come down!” It was known somehow that the realities of Heaven and earth must be closer to each other. In this prayer, the cry for Heaven to influence earth had once again exploded from the heart. This time it was from a prophet. God had already set the stage to answer and instructed Isaiah to make the prayerful declaration. It was a prophetic word in the form of a prayer.