All experiences in Heaven are, well, beyond-beyond: this particular revelation is one of them. There was a good deal of music in it – thereby making it as delightful as it was instructive.
I hope you are as blessed by it as I am sharing it with you.
VISION
I found myself back in Paradise, seated alone on a high hill.
Now from that place of solitude on the hill in Paradise, my heart cried out, “O, God, I long for You alone. Do what You will with me, for I am Yours. Yours alone! Yours alone!” There was such a longing in my heart’s cry that I expected to see Him charging over the hilltop on a white horse in response, but He did not.
Instead, silence.
PASSING PRAISE
Then, almost imperceptibly at first, I heard voices in the distance singing praises to God. The music came closer, but I could see no one. Instruments joined the song that now sounded as if it were being sung by a multitude of voices. The praise was rolling along like a flash flood in a wadi. Although I could see no one, the praise seemed to be passing before me on this hill and moving in the direction of the path below. My ears caught the words of the singing:
Let my life extol the living God,
The Father of all light.
From the ends of the earth through the universe,
Extol His mercy and might.
Forever is not long enough
To praise His glorious name,
The forever of forever
To shout His glory and fame.
O celestial court, throw down your crowns
’Neath the ruler of the earth.
Living creatures, sing your songs
To the King of the universe.
O joy unspeakable, joy foretold,
Ever new and ever old,
Before the Father’s throne be bold
To lift your songs of praise.
ANGELS RIDING PRAISE
Then I saw one angel after another join themselves to this praise, seemingly riding along on it. They would rise when the music would
rise, and sink down when the music lowered, like the tail of a kite. Evidently, they could see the praise, although I could not, because they looked as though they were touching it and being carried along.
Then, from near me on the hill, came the clear, pure sound of a flute. I turned to see an exquisite angel dressed in green playing the instrument. Her eyes were closed in worship, and I knew that the music she was playing was joining the praise passing before my eyes.
The angel sat cross-legged on the ground playing a golden flute. Her hair was a rich auburn and plaited into seven large loops that were interlaced with gold. She wore a gossamer, green undertunic bound with a golden girdle, and a cloak with long sleeves, which was also green.
Within the sleeves of the outer garment were oversized pockets containing all manner of instruments used in the arts—all of gold.1
There were various musical instruments, paint brushes, musical scores, ballet shoes, a quill pen—all within the sleeves. Her neck and hands had a slight tint of gold and so did the small portion of her bare feet that I could see. 2
Secured around her head was a golden cord; in the center of the cord was a small golden box. The box was in the middle of her forehead and similar to a frontlet for the housing of Scripture. 3
Eventually she lowered the flute and opened her eyes peacefully, as one might who is still rapt in contemplation. Then turning her face toward me, she smiled. “Praise Him,” she said. Her voice was gentle and melodious, and her eyes a limpid green.
I was too disquieted in spirit to share her peace, for thoughts were racing through my mind—with no resolution.
THE ANGEL JUDY
She smiled again, knowingly this time, but did not address my private conflict. “I am Judy,” she said, “one who praises.”
“Hello, Judy,” I said without much enthusiasm, “I am Anna.”
“I know who you are,” she smiled, “for I am assigned to you to assist you in praise of our God.” 4
“Assigned to me for praise?” I asked. Then excitedly I gestured toward the space in midair, “I saw…”
“Yes,” she said, “angels traveling on praise.” 5
“Traveling on praise?”
“Yes,” she reiterated, placing the flute into one of her oversized pockets.
“I do not understand.”
“Praise has in it part of the heart and part of the spirit sent forth, and so it is tangible to us in this world of true light, life, and spirit. To us here, praise is as substantive as a trolley on Earth, you might say. You join yourself to it, and it will carry you along. It can take you for a ride,” she laughed liltingly, “and the one joined to it adds to it.”
HOW COULD THIS BE?
I turned my eyes to look out over the valley. “How could this be?” I questioned within myself. Then I began to think, “Yes, yes, I can under-
stand that. I know that if someone leads worship with an anointing on Earth, it can lift you in spirit to that person’s level of praise. The other’s anointing carries you with it, and you add your voice to the worship being raised to God. Yes, I can see that.”
“Since all such praise travels to the Father,” she continued, “it is like catching a ride on a passing trolley and enjoying the ride to the throne room. If the angels do not ride all the way there, still they have added an imprint to the praise. Therefore, they too have participated, if ever so briefly.”
The sound of a single violin began to pass by. The violin was playing a tender, unaccompanied melody. A single angel was traveling with the adoration bring expressed through this instrument and was adding to it. 6
“Some praise on Earth is like a quiet stream, as is this,” she smiled.
From a distance I could hear the sound of many voices singing. The sound was moving swiftly in our direction.
“Some worship is like a tidal wave,” she said. “All of it gives to the angels a joy they would not have if mankind did not lift up praises to God.” 7
The sound was coming more quickly now, rolling toward us. As it drew nearer, I could sense my spirit rising to join such exalted worship. It lifted us spontaneously to our feet. Judy raised her hands, tilted her head back, and joined the song:
Angels in their glory
Can never touch the flame,
The fire, pure incandescence,
That burns within Your name.
Let them gaze in wonder,
In awe, as they proclaim:
“Holy God, though ever new,
Eternally the same.”
Frightened, frozen, fettered,
Those who seek to fight,
Numbed and gnawed and naked,
Those who choose the night.
But we are covered by His love,
Beneath His banner stand,
Hidden in the Rock above,
Sheltered by His hand.
Angels in their glory
Can never touch the flame,
The fire, pure incandescence,
That burns within your name.
Let them gaze in wonder,
In awe, as they proclaim:
“Holy God, though ever new,
Eternally the same.”
In an ecstasy of devotion, Judy rose into the air from her place on the hill and began to move toward the passing praise.
“Take the path to find the Lord,” she called, and she was swept along in the tidal wave of worship surging toward the throne.
The disappearing praise continued to engage my spirit. Finally I opened my eyes and realized that she had given me the answer I needed. I hurried down the hill to the path and began running in the direction of the vanishing praise.
SIDE NOTES
Gold is a symbol of Christ Jesus or the manifestation of the glory of that which honors God (Song of Sol. 5:11; Job 23:10). It is the one metallic element described in the Garden of Eden, indicating the value and beauty of the earth He had brought into being (Gen. 2:11-12).
God assigns angels and other heavenly beings to serve on Earth “those who will inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14; Gen. 48:16; Exod. 23:23).
The living church of Christ Jesus is being watched with great anticipation by the host of heaven, both the redeemed there and the angels (Heb. 12:1).
FOOTNOTES
1. Ezekiel 28:13 describes Lucifer in heaven before he betrayed God. The end of the verse may be translated “and the gold, the workmanship of your tambourines and flutes, was prepared in you the day you were created.” Apparently he was connected in some way with worship in heaven. These musical instruments were “in” him, no doubt as part of his attire.
2. All the sacred objects in the tent of the tabernacle were of pure gold, for only the most precious metal was to be used to represent God in His dwelling place among the Israelites (Exod. 25:17-18, 24, 37:25-26). This is true on Earth because it is true of the original tabernacle in heaven (Rev. 8:3).
3. Bound to the foreheads of the Israelites were little boxes, known as phylacteries, that contained verses of Scripture (Deut. 11:18). God instituted this custom in order to remind them that the truth of His words were to be impressed upon their minds and their hearts, so that they were on their lips wherever they were and whatever they were doing (Deut. 11:19). His Word says that all creation is to praise Him continuously (Ps. 148:2, 34:1).
4. Angels may be assigned to a human being for life (Matt. 18:10), or for a certain period of time (Acts 7:38), or for one visit (Luke 1:26). The service rendered by angels includes assistance to believers in developing spiritual gifts and callings (Judg. 6:12-16). Judy is a feminine form of the biblical name Judah, which means “praise”. A life of praise is so important for those who follow the Lord that God assigns angels to help believers express it in blessing God and in binding His enemies (Ps. 34:1; 149:6-9).
5. Praise is to be offered to the Father through the Son by the Holy Spirit in believers. The Son’s words of praise to His Father contain something of the divine nature, heart and life (John 6:63; Heb. 2:11-12). Therefore this true praise is substantial, active, alive and visible in the spiritual realm (Heb. 4:12). Worship in the Spirit of God by the believers on Earth is joined to the praise in heaven because their resurrected, human spirits here are one with the spirit of the Lord Jesus there (Phil. 3:3; 1 Cor. 6:17; Eph. 2:6).
6. Praise to God may come from the playing of a musical instrument (Ps. 150:3-5). It is possible “to prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals,” that is, to speak messages from God with their sounds (1 Chron. 25:1).
7. Paul says that “the anxious longing of the creation [including angels] waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God” in the last times (Rom. 8:19; 1 Pet. 1:5-6). Jesus said that “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). How much more do they exalt when the church worships (Rev. 7:9-11).
