PRE-402-402. Gods Miracle Mountain

402. Gods Miracle Mountain

God's Miracle Mountain

by David Wilkerson

January 26, 2004

[May 19, 1931 '96 April 27, 2011]

Isa_25:1-12 describes an incredible vision. In it, the prophet Isaiah is transported into the future, to the very last days. Bible commentators agree, this is one of the clearest pictures in Scripture concerning the end times. It'92s no mystical, foggy prediction. Isaiah shows us precisely what God intends for the nations and for his church, just prior to the end. And right now, we'92re living in the very hour Isaiah describes.

In the first five verses, Isaiah outlines what God has in store for the nations. First, the prophet sees that Satan has built up a demonic empire, enslaving whole nations. The devil has held these peoples captive for centuries, with an iron grip.

Isaiah describes this demonic work in terms of a mighty city. Satan has built a high, massive fortress with impenetrable walls. It'92s a spirit-city, filled with spiritual habitations, palaces and mansions. And it'92s populated by demonic principalities and powers. From this city, Satan controls all the nations under his authority. He has imprisoned masses of people with spirits of lust, covetousness, murder, evil of all kinds. And he has possessed their leaders, manipulating them to keep out all gospel influence.

These nations are a picture of hell'92s oppressive power. The poor have no strength. The needy are in great distress. And raging storms bring terrible destruction. Isaiah describes these storms as great blasts of intense heat. They represent fierce temptations such as humankind has never experienced. These diabolical storms sweep across entire nations with crushing power.

But then Isaiah beholds a wondrous sight. He watches in awe as God swiftly deals with Satan'92s work. The prophet cries,'93Thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built. Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee'94 (Isa_25:2-3).

In an instant, God reduces Satan'92s empire to rubble. And suddenly, the nations being held under demonic tyranny are set free. Isaiah breaks into jubilant praise at the sight: '93O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth'94 (25:1). He'92s saying,'93Lord, you'92re never taken by surprise. You'92ve done great wonders in the past, and now you have a plan for this hour. You ordained it from the foundation of the world.'94

As Isaiah watches God'92s plan unfold, it thrills his soul. He exclaims for generations to follow:'93In the last days, God is going to crush and annihilate Satan'92s power. These palaces of strange demonic beings will be brought to ruin. And the devil'92s city will be reduced to a pile of dust.'94

Now chains begin to drop off the masses who'92ve been bound. They'92re being freed from satanic prisons of fear and sin. Isaiah calls them '93a strong people,'94 meaning'93a once sin-hardened people.'94 And he tells us these same people begin to glorify God. For years they were terrified of their oppressor, Satan. But now they fear only the Lord, the one who delivered them.

In that hour, verse 4 will be fulfilled for the whole world to see:'93Thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall'94 (25:4).

I see this happening even now for millions of people all over the world. The poor in spirit are becoming strong. The needy are being rescued. And the distressed are finding an abundance of peace. Christ has become their protection, their refuge, their defender, their hiding place. When a blast of fiery temptation comes at them, it hits a holy wall surrounding them and disintegrates. Satan'92s once-fierce attacks fall harmlessly to the ground.

In verse 5, we find one of the most glorious predictions of all. The original Hebrew reads as follows: '93God will subdue the uproar of aliens'85and silence the song of the ruthless.'94 The King James reads, '93Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers'85the terrible ones shall be brought low.'94 This is describing terrorism. We already read in verse 3 of'93the city of the terrible nations.'94 The Lord is promising to bring down terrorists.

I thank God our military has caught Saddam Hussein. Yet, the truth is, even with a worldwide coalition led by the U.S., terrorism still couldn'92t be stopped. It'92s an impossible task for humans. But Isaiah makes this much crystal clear: God will act for his people. As the prophet foresees what'92s coming to the nations, he counsels,'93Don'92t fret or fear. The Lord has a plan in motion. And it'92s been in place since before creation. He'92s going to stop the alien threat, the stranger, the terrorist.'94

TV news has shown terrorists dancing on the corpses of U.S. soldiers. But God has made it known:'93Their song is about to stop. I'92m going to subdue the terrible ones.'94 Radical Islam is not a threat. The Lord has promised to bring it low. He'92s going to turn the terrorists'92 singing into mourning.

In our own time, we'92ve seen Isaiah'92s prophecy fulfilled before our eyes.

Right now, we'92re living in the biblical period known as the'93latter rain.'94 And God'92s plan has been set in motion. All around the world, the high walls of Satan'92s city are coming down.

Think about what has happened to Communism. Literal walls have come down in Germany, Russia and throughout Eastern Europe. Now the Bamboo Curtain is slowly coming down as well, in China and Mongolia. Millions of people who once lived under Satan'92s tyranny are being freed. And many are hearing the gospel preached for the first time. A'93strong people,'94 once hardened in sin, are now praising God.

I tell you, we'92re living in a special time. I'92ve never seen anything like it in my fifty-plus years of ministry. Last year our team conducted a crusade in Nigeria, and 500,000 people came on a single night. There is a hunger for God that has to be unprecedented. I'92m seeing things happen I never would have dreamed possible.

One of those wonders is taking place in Iran. Several decades ago, my book The Cross and the Switchblade was printed covertly there. An estimated 25,000 copies have been in circulation. Also, the Jesus film has been shown in secret to hundreds of groups. Now hundreds of thousands of Iranians are being saved through gospel messages like these.

I recently received a stirring report about a Teen Challenge drug program in a Middle Eastern nation I'92m not allowed to name. This Islamic country is riddled with alcoholism and drug addiction. Government officials admit the problem is over their heads. Yet, through the delivering power of Jesus Christ, that Teen Challenge program has produced hundreds of graduates who have been saved, delivered and set free.

One graduate is now the overseer of a Pentecostal denomination there. He says that the nation'92s drug czar recently attended Teen Challenge'92s graduation ceremony. The prominent Islamic leader heard dozens of young men stand up and testify of how Jesus healed them of their addictions. (What the czar probably didn'92t know is that over one hundred graduates have gone on to start churches in that nation.) The government now recognizes Teen Challenge as the most successful drug program in the country.

It'92s happening all over the world in unbelievable ways: Satan'92s walled city is coming down!

Isaiah next prophesies about what God has in store for his people in the last days.

Now God turns Isaiah'92s attention to the church. He shows the prophet a lavish, supernatural banquet taking place on a mountain:'93In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined'94 (Isa_25:6).

Do you get what Isaiah is saying here? This marvelous feast will take place just prior to Jesus'92 return. At that time, God'92s people won'92t be mourning, wallowing in fear, stressed out and defeated. They won'92t appear as frail, skeletal figures of spiritual leanness. No, Christ is going to return to find his people feasting on'93fat things full of marrow.'94

God himself has prepared this feast. And right now, the banquet is already in progress, in this final hour. The Lord is telling us, in essence,'93I'92ve saved the best wine for last. And now I'92m pouring it forth for my people. They'92re feasting on wonderful things in my presence.'94

I see this incredible feast taking place as I travel all over the world. Young men and women of God are hungry for a gospel that touches them deep in their spirits. They'92ve rejected the gospels of hype, crowds and professionalism. They seek only to be shut in with Jesus, to receive revelation from him. And they'92re coming forth from prayer with a fire that stirs everyone around them.

Now, the mountain where this feast takes place is very significant. It represents a holy place, a house where the presence of Christ is manifest. It'92s a place where God'92s people commune and sup with him, worshipping him in spirit and in truth. This mountain of God'92s presence is an important concept for his people. Why? Everything the Lord is doing in these last days is closely tied to his presence. And his feast of fat and wine can only take place where Jesus'92 presence is manifest.

Now, when I speak of Christ'92s manifest presence, I'92m not talking about something mystical and otherworldly. When-ever Jesus makes himself known, everyone present senses it. The Psalmist says the hills melt like wax in the Lord'92s presence (see Psa_97:5). Simply put, every spiritual wall and fleshly blockade evaporates when Jesus makes himself known. Christ'92s presence is so real when it'92s manifested, you can almost touch it.

So, what about your church? Is the tangible, piercing, manifest presence of Jesus evident in your midst? Do the people melt before him, weeping over their sin and rejoicing in the awesome peace he brings? Do they go to their knees in all-consuming adoration of him? And do they leave the place with the special glow of having been in Christ'92s presence?

What about in your home? Do visitors sense the presence of Jesus in your household? Does the aroma of his holiness permeate your family, your marriage, your relationships? Are there tears of intercession by family members, cries of brokenness, a sincere desire to make all wrongs right? Or, does the flesh rule?

Believe me, there is a spiritual mountain that'92s high and holy. And it is found only in the secret closet of prayer. It doesn'92t matter how large or small your congregation is. All that'92s important in God'92s eyes is the manifest reality of his Son. Christ'92s presence has to be fully apparent to the eye, the heart, all the senses. If it isn'92t, then none of the glorious works Isaiah predicts will touch such a place.

Nor will those works reach a home where Christ'92s presence has departed. They can never happen if his presence isn'92t desired, sought and cultivated. Such a home will instead be marked by confusion and despair.

Every Christian household ought to be an elevated place, a mountain of separation from the world and the flesh, a holy banqueting hall with Christ. Yet this doesn'92t happen in many Christian homes because they'92ve been defiled by filth. Lewd, vile wickedness is allowed in through TV, movies and the Internet.

How amazed the angels must be as they witness such evil in households that ought to be cultivating Jesus'92 presence. Multitudes of Christians now spend their time dabbling in Internet porn, renting sensual videos, drinking in corruption on TV. Then they go to movies and actually pay to hear Christ'92s name blasphemed. And they wonder why the pale of spiritual death hovers over their home.

It'92s the Holy Spirit'92s work to bring and maintain the presence and power of Christ, in our churches, our homes, our hearts. But multitudes continue to grieve the Spirit with our idolatry. I ask you: how can Isaiah'92s vision of glorious blessings and freedom take place in an atmosphere of lustful indulgence? What sense does it make for us to pray for unsaved loved ones when our own homes are defiled?

God intends to work an amazing array of miracles that will overwhelm our minds and hearts. And he'92s had all this planned since before the world existed. If he has devised such a covenant plan, then it must and will happen. Yet some aren'92t going to make it to the banquet table. Those who have grown lukewarm, lovers of ease, people who'92ve given themselves to the world'92s pleasure-madness '97 none of these will be at the feast.

Note Isaiah'92s description of those who are present:'93In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined'94 (Isa_25:6). This speaks of a people who aren'92t satisfied with just the milk of God'92s Word. These servants love their Lord'92s reproof. They hunger for meaty truth, a godly word from tested, tried shepherds, a message set on fire by the Holy Ghost. And they seek God'92s Word daily for themselves, thirsty to taste his refined, aged wine.

Now we come to the miracles Isaiah predicted for God'92s people in the last days.

'93He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations'94 (Isa_25:7). Here are two marvelous prophecies. And the first one involves the Jews. The veil Isaiah refers to here is the spiritual blindness that has covered Jews'92 hearts since Moses'92 time. The apostle Paul speaks at length of this blindness:

'93When (they) shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away'94 (2Co_3:16).'93Blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in'85. There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob'94 (Rom_11:25-26).

Paul believed what Isaiah prophesied about Israel: that the Deliverer would cast off their veil of blindness. A Jewish remnant was going to turn to the Lord and obtain his mercy (see 11:30). Beloved, this prophecy is being fulfilled right now. Around the world, Jews'92 eyes are being opened to Christ. One secular magazine reports that Jews are now taking a new look at Jesus. I say,'93Hallelujah!'94 That'92s all it takes, just one look.

But Isaiah'92s prophecy also has another meaning. It has to do with your immediate family. It applies to every spouse, every child, every family member who'92s had a veil of spiritual blindness cast over them by Satan. I receive many letters from parents who write of their children being blinded by the enemy. They raised their young ones in a Christian environment. But now they'92re confused and bewildered, saying,'93I don'92t understand what happened. They just don'92t believe. Nothing I say gets through. I can'92t seem to reach them.'94

Paul says the god of this world has blinded these young ones. They'92ve lost faith because the enemy has shut out the light of the gospel to them. Therefore, it doesn'92t do any good for a parent to try to look deeper for a reason behind it. It'92s all the work of Satan. He wants to keep that child bound, confused and in sin. The problem goes way beyond counseling, preaching or parenting strategies. It'92s going to take a miracle, plain and simple.

Remember, the Bible says the enemy seeks out the precious life (see Pro_6:26). He'92s looking to plant seeds of bitterness and unforgiveness in their hearts and minds. That'92s how he turns gentle, loving souls into slaves to sin. And we simply can'92t reach anybody who has a veil over his heart. Lectures only harden them.

No, our battle must take place in the Spirit. After all, we'92re up against a spirit from the god of this world. And that wicked spirit is affected only by our feast on the mountain. It'92s going to require the presence of Christ in our lives such as we'92ve never known it. Only Jesus'92 manifest reality will melt Satan'92s bondage like wax, rendering it powerless against our loved one.

Any rebellion, drugs or partying are all veils of hindrance. Moreover, there can be no change in your child until he has a willingness to forgive. And that requires an encounter with the melting power of Christ'92s presence. It'92s time for you to gather with Jesus at the feast. Isaiah tells us God will swallow up and cast aside all demonic veils.

Yet this promise gets even better. Every trace of spiritual death in your family is going to be swallowed up as well: '93He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces'94 (Isa_25:8). You may ask, '93Can I really believe this? No more tears over my loved one? No more spiritual death gripping my child? I can'92t imagine it. This promise can'92t be for today. It must mean when Christ reigns in eternity.'94 No! The next verse is proof that this prophecy is for today: '93And it shall be said in that day'94 (25:9). This is a'93now'94 prophecy. God intends to fulfill it in our lifetime, in this very hour.

In the coming days, many are going to come under the power and presence of Christ. Those who return to him fully '97 who repent, who forgive, who go to the mountain to feast with him '97 will see all their tears turned into joy. Around the world right now, vast rivers of tears are flowing from those who'92ve already been set free. After centuries of satanic bondage, people are being loosed from the chains. And they'92re crying tears of repentance and praise for their Deliverer.

Isaiah was so excited by what he saw, he nearly exploded in amazement. He prophesied that when we begin to see God'92s miraculous works in our midst, we'92ll cry,'93This is the Lord. We waited on him, and he sent us his salvation'94 (see 25:9).

'93And the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth'94 (25:8). The word rebuke here comes from a Hebrew root suggesting'93railing, disgrace.'94 This speaks of satanic powers that mock and rail against devoted believers. Such attacks come especially when we'92re praying for a loved one to be rescued from a demonic stronghold.

Maybe you'92ve heard these railing rebukes from hell. They taunt you, saying,'93You boast that God answers prayer. Well, where'92s his answer? You'92ve fasted and prayed for your child for years, but you still haven'92t gotten through. After all this time, nothing has changed. He'92s never going to get saved.'94

Then you hear this accusation: '93It'92s your fault. You planted the seeds of rebellion in him. It was you who hardened his heart.'94 Beloved, this is the devil'92s foremost rebuke against God'92s people. We are never to listen to it. Instead, we'92re to stand on God'92s sure Word to us:'93The rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth'94 (25:8)

Isaiah'92s prophecy closes with a prediction that'92s almost too incredible to believe.

It gets even better. Isaiah foresaw the humiliation of Satan. He also watched as God brought down all the power and pride of wicked principalities.'93In this mountain shall the hand of the Lord rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill'94 (Isa_25:10). Isaiah makes it clear: Satan'92s humiliation happens on the mountain, in the place of prayer and worship, where Christ'92s presence is manifested.

Moab here was an actual enemy of Israel. But it became a symbol representing all that was evil and satanic. God was telling his people,'93I'92m going to cast Satan into a sewage pit. You'92re about to see your railing enemy defeated.'94 Now, this doesn'92t refer to the future event when God will chain the devil and cast him into a hellish prison. No, this humiliation will be witnessed in our lifetime. And it will be seen only by those who wait on the Lord, seeking him on the mountain, and have his presence manifested in them.

Satan will still reign in the wicked world. But a holy remnant is going to see him humiliated in their hearts and homes. God will stomp him down into a mire of sewage. And the devil will frantically try to swim out of it:'93He that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim'94 (25:11). In Hebrew, this image suggests twisting, turning wiles. Simply put, when Satan knows your loved one has begun turning to Jesus, he'92ll use every wile to maintain his devilish grip. But we'92re not to worry: God will trample him under again.

In the end, the Lord will bring down every wall of Satan'92s city-like stronghold: '93The fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust'94 (25:12). Can you imagine it? Maybe you can'92t. Do you have difficulty believing for such an incredible thing in your life? I exhort you to stand on Isaiah'92s prophecy.'93Believe his prophets, so ye shall prosper'94 (2Ch_20:20).

Peter preached that Isaiah'92s vision was already being fulfilled in the church at Jerusalem.'93Those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord'94 (Act_3:18-19). Peter reasoned that if the prophecies about Christ had been fulfilled to the letter, then all other prophecies would come to pass. And that included times of refreshing by being in the Lord'92s presence.

Isaiah referred to such times of refreshing (see Isa_28:12). These are times when God chooses to revive and heal. And he does it not because we'92ve earned it, but for the glory of his own name. Peter saw this fulfilled at Pentecost: Christ'92s presence was manifested, bringing revival and refreshing to a crowd of thousands. Multitudes were set free, including whole families. We see this later when Peter brought Jesus'92 presence into Cornelius'92 house, and the entire household was saved.

Right now, I believe we'92re in the very beginning of the last reviving. We'92re going to see families brought out of captivity. Millions of backsliders will have their veils removed. And wayward sons and daughters will be restored to their parents.

What is our part? We'92re to do as Daniel did when he read Jeremiah'92s prophecy and discerned the times:'93I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes'94 (Dan_9:3). Daniel did what we'92re all called to do: to come to God'92s holy mountain. May every devoted servant of Jesus Christ in these last days meet there!

By: David Wilkerson