The King of Glory

We’ve entered a time unlike any in recent history, when amidst the escalating turmoil, conflict, not to overlook the hatred of God’s people, discerning the times has become hyper-critical. Within the growing cacophony of voices, wisely discerning the times requires a dispassionate humility, a childlike faith that surpasses the ordinary …. as the subtleties in the range and intensities of developments in the spiritual atmosphere are marked by fine lines …. in which it is not only possible, but likely for first impressions to seem right when they’re wrong and wrong when they’re right.

At the core of the issue is the wisdom needed in keeping our spiritual eyes keenly focused on what the Lord is doing. Proactive listening to the Spirit. A mode requiring prayerful discernment of the Light in the midst of encroaching deep darkness. In the aggregate is the suggestion of the impending reality of the heavenly-driven process of the King of Glory opening the gates.
“Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.” Ps 24:7

This potent psalm of David underscores that the earth is the Lord’s …. and those intent on His coming, of meeting Him in His holy place involves a standard to be met for the King of Glory’s “coming.”

The King of Glory ….. the master-architect of all creation. The King of Glory …. whose ways are so much higher …. in whose presence, even the darkness seems as Light.

The glory: a word so commonly, at times almost flippantly used within believer circles. Yet, when we pause to consider it, the glory involves so much more, a dimension that is in reality beyond our human grasp.

For the first order of things, the glory is most typically used to describe the tangible, overwhelming nature of the Holy Spirit’s presence. The glory likewise accompanies the presence of His angelic messengers. It is also the presence that accompanies what we have come to refer to as the anointing. It is the very atmosphere of heaven.

Yet, meeting with the King of Glory represents a higher dimension. A quantum-level higher. A dimension requiring preparation. Preparation needed as his presence will significantly impact both the spiritual and natural realms. The preparation also bears on the expected mix of His presence with the aggregate anointing of the people of God.

Paul foresaw a time when the condition of the saints would be purified and glorious. So, the impact of this mix of the presence of God’s “coming” with the refined presence of the anointing is described by the turbulence between Light and darkness when the awaited justice that transcends time is released by this combined Presence into the heavenlies.
God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.” Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations! Psalm 82

In unusual ways, scripture has evidenced from Enoch and Noah to John’s glimpse into the time of the end in Revelation, this dynamic of justice which reflects a significant role with the alignment and prayers of God’s people.
Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. Rev 8:3

Lift up your heads, O gates …. that the King of Glory may come in.

As this alignment manifests in the heavenlies, so the conflict and turbulence will increase and manifest on the earth. Isaiah describes it:
Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice. He wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, fury to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; the coastlands He will fully repay. So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” says the LORD. Isaiah 59:14-20

The Manifestations with His Coming
As it is in heaven …. so it shall be on earth. A key manifestation of His coming will be evidenced as those who seemed as “sheep without a shepherd” proactively aligning in their coming together. The process is catalytic. It has always been and will continue to be the simple things that confound the wise.

Isaiah goes on to describe the state of the spiritual atmosphere, but with that glimpse, to highlight the catalyst in this process for the release of His coming and its impact …. the amassing manifestation of His glory on those who belong to Him.
Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. “Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Isaiah 60:1-4

So, in interpreting the developments in this season, the issue is what God is doing and specifically what God is doing in relation to His covenant people. Specifically, that means Israel; and despite the swing of deviations from its beginnings as a Jewish sect, that also means the Church.

Lift up your heads, O gates …. that the King of Glory may come in.

The process ….. the amassing of Light in the midst of deep darkness. A significant shift will manifest,as His glory is increasingly manifested upon His own …. creating a shift in identity. No more middle of the road, fence-sitting …. as the Light is distinguished from the darkness, so will the identity be of those who serve God versus those who do not. The clear distinction reflecting a unique shift in mind-set from those yielding to assimilation …. those who want to be like “everyone else.”

The process of this shift will engender greater angelic presence and activity among God’s people.

Throughout the history of God’s people there have been angelic interventions when faced with tangible manifestations of darkness. Isaiah foresaw an increase in these interventions, as developments digress into a time of deep darkness …. yet a time that would trigger the heavenly hosts and the Light, with the manifestation of God’s glory being seen upon His people.

So it will be that the Lord’s “coming” will be preceded by the responses reflected in unusual levels of spiritual authority operating in His ambassadors of Light. As Zechariah discerned, the Lord will be a wall of fire around Jerusalem and the glory in her midst as God’s people are drawn together to the central crucible of His presence.
“Up, up! Flee from the land of the north,” says the LORD; “for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven,” says the LORD. “Up, Zion. Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.” Zech 2:4-7

Approaching the Gates
As the contagion of hatred of God’s people, anti-Semitism and persecution become the norm, people of faith will be compelled to reach for the gates. The gates of Spirit and Truth yes, but the safety of the gates of community and places designated by scripture as His dwelling. Gates recognized by the patriarchs as having access to His presence where they built altars.

Having spent years working with the persecuted, on one level, discerning the gates begins as an identity-thing. A response to the backlash of being identified as God’s people. The gates represent a spiritual place of safety and strength, but simultaneously, a place of commitment, where Spirit and Truth can reign and flourish.

A darkness enveloped Joseph’s brothers defiling their integrity, due to their transgressions, against Shechem and the sons of Hamor. In contrast, Joseph was a godly carrier of God’s Light, prophetically astute and the favorite of their father.

Because of these combined factors, Joseph was sold into slavery at the place of Shechem and at the end of his days, according to tradition, was taken from Egypt and buried at Shechem. Shechem, which means strength, was the place, having left his family and country, that Abraham had arrived at (the place of the Moreh tree), where he built an altar, at which he declared God’s word in bringing him to this land of promise.

The point underscores the significance men of old held for “the gates,” where they built altars. The issue underscores the importance of wisely reaching for the gates of safe places when making significant advancement in God’s agendas …. and when encroaching darkness is amassing against God’s people.

The Listening Heart
At the forefront of Joseph’s consistent disproportionate accomplishments was his overriding astuteness in listening to God. His influence as God’s voice, together with his prophetic anointing, observed by Pharaoh, became the catalyst of change that, despite the impending famine, brought the gates of safety to Egypt. God was Joseph’s foremost priority and passion …. and source of insight ….. the basis for his integrity, response to people and circumstances and hope for the future. Joseph consistently viewed his circumstances from God’s perspective and plan.

Joseph is a model for the season we’ve entered because his Light dispersed the darkness, giving him a perspective and authority that, despite his sometimes dicey circumstances, kept its focus and priority on what God was doing. Key to this perspective was Joseph’s listening heart …. not only to God, but through the filter of the Spirit, in discerning the dynamics operating in the people and circumstances around him …. while, wisely and prophetically becoming a voice of influence.

Lift up your heads, O gates …. that the King of Glory may come in.

His Coming: the Atmosphere of His Presence
If it has not been clear yet, we’ve been describing a process ….. the process of the coming of the King of Glory …… a process preceded by the Light of His presence being lived by the sons of Light …. who pay the cost to change the spiritual atmosphere around them.
[The angel said to the angel] speaking to me, “Run, speak to this young man, saying: ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. For I,’ says the LORD, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ” “Up, up! Flee from the land of the north,” says the LORD; “for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven,” says the LORD. Up, Zion. Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. Zech 2:4-7

Prophetically and tangibly, we’ve entered a time of greater conflict …. of a greater polarization between Light and darkness than this generation has seen manifesting since the second World War. These times are uniquely described in Matthew 24 by Jesus as times of wars and rumors of wars; a time when nation will rise up against nation with disruption happening, along with tribulation, hatred and convincing, but false voices …. with rampant deceptions and betrayals … with many who simply give up hope.

Such were the descriptions of the signs of His coming. The manifestations of these signs would signal that it would be in that generation. Yet, He admonished …. “let not your hearts be troubled for your redemption draws nigh.” “Blessed are the servants whom the Master will find doing when he comes.”
For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the West, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Matt 24:27

There is a dynamic and expectation manifesting in the spiritual atmosphere. A dynamic reflecting a war-time mind-set ….. one that draws a line in the sand and takes a stand. One that recognizes that we are at the cusp of the conflict of all ages that requires decision-making, a coming together of like-minded believers, and sacrifices that conform with a wise discerning response of the times.
For thus says the Lord of Hosts: He sent Me after glory to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye. For surely I will raise my hand against them and they will become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me. Zech 2:8-9

At the crux of responding with a listening heart and discerning what God is doing will be keeping our eyes on the glory ….. keeping our eyes on the gates ….. as the preparations align for the King of Glory to enter.
Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east and behold the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters and the earth shone with his glory. Ezek 43:1-2

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Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner of the Joseph-calling and God’s economy message, being an international voice for the higher dimensions of spiritual game-changers and intercessors since the mid-90s. As founder of Global Initiatives Foundation, the Strategic Intercession Global Network [SIGN] and designer of the God’s Economy Entrepreneurial Equippers Program and the Jewish Business Secrets YouTube series, Mr. Ruddick’s messages equip leaders and economic community builders with strategy where God’s light is dim in diverse regions around the globe.

He is author of “The Joseph-Daniel Calling;” “Gods Economy, Israel and the Nations;” “The Heart of a King;” “Something More;” “Righteous Power in a Corrupt World;” “Leadership by Anointing;” and “Mantle of Fire,” which address the mobilization of business and governmental leaders with destinies to impact their communities. They are available in print and e-versions from www.Amazon.com, www.apple.com/ibooks and www.BarnesandNoble.com.

Global Initiatives Foundation (www.strategic-initiatives.org) is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 non-profit whose efforts mobilize economic community builders imparting influence and the blessings of God. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to 3838 South Wabash Street, Denver CO 80237 or by credit card at https://strategic-initiatives.org/donate/

Since early 1996, the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN) has mobilized prophetic intercessors and leaders committed to targeting strategic-level issues impacting the Body on a global basis. For more information go to https://strategic-initiatives.org

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