Our text in Isaiah 14 is a prediction of the fall of Lucifer. God promised to attack his strength (Isa. 14:10). A viol is like a violin but not completely one. Note also the term ‘noise’ used in reference to viols (Isa. 14:11). A noise is different from a sound; violins make sounds. Viols are properties with which God made certain angels. It is similar to the preparation which the Lord used in the account of Ezekiel 28 for the making of the pipes and tabarets of Lucifer (Ezek. 28:13). Lucifer was created with a pipe and a tabaret. A tabaret is a bowl/large base covered with skin. A string is also attached to it. A viol is a spiritual instrument which is different from the gifts of the Spirit. It is not a nature itself but a type of power that accompanies a nature. When Lucifer’s creation was completed, pipes were installed in him to work in conjunction with his tabarets. Both the pipes and the tabarets made up his workmanship. One is a noise and the other is a sound. Each has a peculiar meaning and function.
The book of Revelation presents another creature of God in this same class as Lucifer (Rev. 1:9-10). The voice John heard which sounded like a trumpet is a pipe; it was the voice of a man. John saw another being who was referred to as, ‘one like unto the son of man’ (Rev. 1:11-13). This phrase does not connote that this being was Jesus, but that the being was like a man - one having the stature of a man. The voice of this man was described as the sound of many waters (Rev. 1:15); this was a noise. Hence, this being had two things; the sound of the tabaret and the voice of a trumpet. A trumpet is a pipe with definite twists which emits sounds based on how it is operated. If it were a straight pipe, it would be a flute. Thus, when a pipe is referred to, it does not only imply a flute, but a pipe that is built to emit different sounds. God kept voices - the voice of the trumpet and the voice as of many waters - in these beings which John saw. This stirred up curiosity in his heart. The purpose of a voice is for calling. There are many voices; and each has different sounds. When an instrument does not give a distinct sound, a definite meaning cannot be deduced from its voice.
Hell is full of spiritual worms (Isa. 14:11). Worms emanate from a substance that is spoilt. Thus, when God called the attention of Satan to his worms, He was telling him that he would decay. Satan had become spoilt but was yet to bring forth maggots. Thus, God declared to him that he would further degenerate into bringing forth maggots. God was going to do this by moving hell towards him and bringing him closer to hell. Satan is a spirit and also does not want to suffer corruption. Although he had corrupted his wisdom, he did not want to come into the end of the work of corruption, which is to break and disintegrate. God has declared that worms will spread under him and cover him. This is a prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled.
The viols of Lucifer were large instruments. Viols speak of two things: one is to pipe, to make sound; the other is to violate, as in violence. The viol of Satan became a force of contention against God, using for evil what God deposited in him for good. Hence, we see him contend against Michael, the angel of God. Satan used this instrument to fill his midst with violence. The pipes/pomps refer to a swelling of pride. One who has pomp and a base can keep pride as an edge over a people for a long time. This is the instrument Satan uses in the world to cause men to violate God’s standards. They make a lot of noise and affronts against the church; just to change laws and make evil things seem right. It is the manner of the working of this pomp that make men advocate for gay rights, being backed up by the strength of the adversary.
The workmanship of Lucifer refers to how the constituents of his being operate. Pipes and tabarets are spirits. These instruments formulated a kind of character in Satan. Lucifer ascended into heaven after his first fall from hell, through his pipes and tabarets (Isa. 14:12). The ambitions of Satan were listed in Isaiah 14:12-14; and he will give them also to any one who cares to listen to him. Satan constantly offers his pomps to saints to fill them up with his air or breath. His pomps gain access to the saints through ‘valves/inlets’ which typify areas of weakness. Accepting his air is detrimental to our ascension. He carries out his pumping activity by conversing with the saints; especially when they respond to him as he speaks. One who has been pumped by Satan exhibits a kind of confidence and boldness which is as a result of that access that the person is privy to. Hence, we continually have to fight and refuse his suggestions. Satan speaks words that make the saint feel ‘too important’ or unique, especially when he does something that portrays so. No one can resist such attacks of Satan without a higher force of resistance within him.
Satan exalted himself above measure. He inspired a man, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above God (2 Thess. 2:3-4). Opposing and exalting represent products of viols and pomps, which are instruments of Satan for contending against God. Another man Satan inspired was the prince of Tyre (Ezek. 28:1-2). Tyre was not Babylon or Persia; it was Phronecia - a small city near Israel. Ezekiel discerned that Satan was using this prince because he had found his ground most conducive to accomplish his evil desires. This Scripture tells us the character of the seat of Satan - a heart that speaks in this manner (Ezek. 28:2). This kind of heart is lifted up and claims to be God and sitting in the seat of God. This is similar to the extremities that accompany the teaching of new creation realities; men claiming to be seated with God and to be God. Satan can set (i.e. tune) the heart of a man into something like the heart of God. This was what he did to the heart of the prince of Tyre. The only person who is seated with God is Jesus, the Son of God; and He did not attain that position until He had been fully raised.
The emphasis of today’s teaching is to bring us up the heights. However, this height is humility. True height is only accomplished by going down, deflating oneself until one becomes ‘flat’. It is only a man who is ‘flat’ that God can raise up.
The prince of Tyre had wisdom beyond that of Daniel. He was an economic guru who ruled nations by his prowess in this regard. After a while, he became the prince of trade on the earth. Through his wisdom, he engaged in great trafficking and businesses by which he became rich (Ezek. 28:5). His heart became lifted up because of his riches. Riches can make a man’s heart wrongly lifted up. This is why the Lord will not allow certain levels of wealth to come into our hands. We see God’s judgment upon the prince of Tyre in the verses that follow (Ezek. 28:7-10). The superior of this prince is the king of Tyre (Ezek. 28:12-17). This king also had the same issue as the prince of Tyre - a heart that was lifted up beyond measure (Ezek. 28:17). This tells us that he was the originator of the virus that causes the heart of one to be lifted up.
Lucifer nursed and still nurses a desire to ascend into heaven, exalt his throne above the realm of God’s dominion, sit upon the mountains of the seraphims in the sides of the north and eventually sit as the Most High (Isa. 14:12-14). This is not just an occurrence in the past, but a current ambition of his. Lucifer does not have regard for the stars of God. He will use his pomp to ascend. However, God has promised that those pomps will be brought down to hell and be eaten by worms. Lucifer will sell pride to the angels and ascend by their allegiance to him. This is the manner of operation of Satan: he similarly studies a believer till he finds out his weakness and uses that weakness against him. He may use fellow believers to offer pride to a particular believer by speaking words that make his heart lifted up. If such a believer accepts his offer, he loses his place. For some others, especially those in ministry, he may use rich men to offer them money in the disguise of being financial supporters of his ministry; just to bring them down.
Satan cannot stand against the angels of God in the realms he desires to ascend and take over. He subtly praises them to make them exalted and this leads to their downfall. He offers them a false peace, which is war in reality (peaceful but negative). Anyone who does not contend firmly for his ground (seat) in the spirit will be overtaken. This exhortation is coming to us today, because as we go up and are beginning to access some doors of revelation (realms in the spirit), the enemy will do anything to stop us. He will use a language that is compatible with any darkness within us, to bring about our downfall. In addition, this teaching is bringing a cleansing to us by creating an awareness in us that these things are possible.
Safety lies in submitting to one another (1 Pet. 5:5). Heeding to this instruction is an acquisition of the character of staying under God. When the Lord instructs a wife to submit to her husband and she obeys, she does so for her own good. The Lord also instructs the husband to love his wife. To love her is to cover her - to cover her weakness. To love one’s wife is true humility and love is better expressed when the other party offends, violates laws, does things that are contrary or is not meeting up with God’s expectation. Submitting to one another treats us through each other in order that we may stand healthy before God. The law of submission also applies to our relationship with spiritual authorities. When children honour their parents, they do so in obedience to the law of submission just as the Lord Jesus Christ submits to God the Father. We must hate pride and fight it with all that is within us. Pride stinks.
Most High means ‘El-Eyon’. As such, the peak of the Most High in the heavens is above heights. When Satan said he would ascend above the heights, it means he wants to rise (Isa. 14:13-14). He knows those high points. God is referred to as the Most High because He is over heights. Melchizedek was a priest of the Most High God. Gods dwell in the heights but there is One who is higher than the heights - God is higher than the heights.
Satan violated the law of exaltation. Violation means to oppose. Satan also wanted to exalt himself above God. However, he should have considered it impossible for a creature to exalt himself above his Creator.
When God pitched Himself in the heights, He pitched Himself in the height of greatness. The beams of His chamber are rooted in the waters. He rode upon the wings of His wind; the wings of the wind are His chariots (Psa. 104:1-3). Right under the water are clouds of chariots - clouds who are His chariots. The wings of the wind are clothed with clouds. To say that God is very great means that He is very high.
Between God and creatures are chambers which are made with beams. Chambers are a place of light. There are pillars under God that hold the heavens. The upper part are the heavens stretched like a curtain; while the lower part are waters. Waters that come out of the throne are the base of God’s own dimension. We need the water to rise above the chambers in order to get to the heavens that are stretched out like a curtain. There is a firmament above the pillars. The pillars typify the required growth we need, to get to where God is dressed with light.
The jasper is God’s covering (glory), while the sardine is His nature (Rev. 4:3). The light around Him is jasper light. Right over the chambers are heavens. The heavens or firmaments are curtains (veils). Therefore, the height of the curtain is higher than the pillars. Right under the water are cherubims. They are the clouds under the waters. Cherubims may seem to be around God but they are actually under the water. When the chambers are planted in the waters, the waters will rise. Resurrection or exaltation is not by oneself; it is the water that should get the job done. This means that we should not exalt ourselves but let the water of life raise us up. The key of exaltation is the water because it rises and goes down. The water rises to take the sons of the sanctuary. It is through the water that we break into the veil of the holiest of all.
The first part of Psalm 104 is the realm of the holiest of all. A flaming fire cannot be an angel but an angel can be a flaming fire (Psa. 104:4). An angel can be a minister of the sanctuary. This therefore means that cherubs also have access to the holiest of all. Creatures are allowed at the base of the waters. Every person that is at the bottom of the water can pierce through the veil. This means that they also have a path to everlasting life and their own reward; but not that of God. This is why God places them at the bottom.
Creatures like angels are at the base (at the waters) but they cannot use the waters to go up because angels are creatures that have a permanent estate. There are things they cannot come into again because they are already made so. Anytime a thought of coming above their estate comes into being, it means that they want to do what Lucifer did; they want to be exalted above their place.
The heaven that was stretched like a curtain in Psalm 104:2 is just a realm in the heights of God. God dwells in a different heaven from that of angels. His heaven starts from where their heaven ends. This heaven is not the heaven of creatures, neither are the chambers or waters that of creatures; however, they are permitted to stay by the waters. There is a relationship between cloud and water. Clouds are waters in the heights. God placed clouds under His water which cannot be accessed unless you are a man of height.
Elyon, Elohim, Elshaddai are names. The water is a name. One end of the chambers are waters while the other end is a firmament. You cannot travel from one end to the other except through these chambers. The water is the stature of the Father; it is an everlasting stature. Beams also signify trees. Trees connote age; something that is high. God grew trees between the waters and the heavens. Everlasting life is what starts the waters. At the end of everlasting life, there is a veil: which is the entrance to eternal life.
He veiled eternity with a curtain so that the everlasting will not spring into eternal life except you are taken up into eternal life. This is height and in each realm there is meat (food). There is everlasting meat that does not perish (John 6:51). What He gives is Christ. If God wants to make you high and give you heights, He will teach you heights and give you meat for the heights. He who is clothed in light after the heavens eats certain things. The food after the heavens is not for quenching hunger and thirst.
Water is the beginner of every course (Isa. 55:1-2). When one has completed the course of something good, which is Christ, he can then incline his ear to hear. Then, God will teach him everlasting life after he has heard Christ. They teach us everlasting life through the water of Christ.
There are two waters of life: Christ the water and God the water. Christ is both life and water just like God. You must have transacted with the water of Christ before you can get to the water of God after which you will be called to come up hither. You need to be caught up to God and to His throne. As soon as everlasting life gives birth to the manchild, he must be caught up to God and to His throne (Rev. 12:5). To be caught up to God is to be caught up to life eternal.
A priest is one who has gained height. A very high priest is the priest of the Most High God. This was the final calling of Melchizedek. This is how we make our calling and election sure. Our calling is to be priests of eternal life- priests in glory.
There are three major statures of Christ - Christ the fullness (from the feet to the head). This is typified as follows: from the loins to the shoulder and neck is everlasting life; between the neck and the shoulder is the veil, which is what divides everlasting life and eternal life; the loins and the leg divides Christ and everlasting life. They put the girdle on the breast of priests; they are priests of everlasting life.
The neck is a pillar that holds the head; it is the transition between the body and the head. Between the neck and the shoulder is the realm of eternal power. From the loins to the leg is the realm of the power of God. The neck is what separates us from God. God spread heavens in between the shoulder and the head. The head region is raw eternal life. The Godhead has fullness, which is everlasting life. Their leg is Christ.
If they want to give you height, they will take you up from everlasting to everlasting; and then to the eternal realm. There is a heaven in God that separates eternal life from life everlasting; it is a firmament. There are up to three veils that cover the ark; it is the only one that makes the boundary between the holy and holiest of all. This tells us that there is still a separation between the ark and he who is approaching it. The ark has its own veil. The ark is the seat of eternal life.
They are moving the wisdom of eternal life to us. We will get the understanding of this by precept. We should master everlasting life first. Eventually, we will get the understanding of eternal life. It is a work behind the veil; they will catch us up. When eternal life has occurred, nothing stops you from sitting on the throne. However, this is not an immediate process. You will come into eternal life faster than you come into everlasting life. Therefore as you keep coming, you will get to a point where you will sit on the throne.
God is going to make our souls to be souls of eternity. We must not make the mistake of going ahead of the waters; so that the reward can be sure. Those who are by the water might not all learn at the same speed. Therefore we should allow the water to carry us and fulfill its course. Jesus and the Father will help us. We will be caught up by Them. Satan will not leave the heavens until men rise to that height. What will cut him is when men are caught up to God.
God wants us to be aware of the presence of ministering spirits in our meetings so that we will be aware that the things we are hearing are of God and not of man; and so that we will be convinced of the reward. Through the words we have heard, we have digested substances and eaten things which we do not see.