Heavenly Hosts = Yehovah’s Army
When the Scriptures refer to the “heavenly host,” we usually think of “choirs of angels.” The word “host” in the Bible meant “army”. We see this here:
Joshua 5:13-15 MKJV
And it happened, when Joshua was beside Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked. And, behold, there stood a Man in front of him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, Are You for us, or for our foes? (14) And He said, No, but I have come as the Commander of the armyH6635 of Jehovah. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth. And he worshiped and said to Him, What does my Lord say to His servant? (15) And the Commander of Jehovah’s army said to Joshua, Take your shoe off your foot, for the place on which you stand is holy. And Joshua did so.
H6635 – Original: צבאה צבא – Transliteration: Tsaba’ – Phonetic: tsaw-baw’ – Definition: 1. that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host, 1a. army, host, 1a1. host (of organised army) 1a 2. host (of angels) 1a 3. of sun, moon, and stars 1a 4. of whole creation 1b. war, warfare, service, go out to war 1c. service
– Origin: from H6633 – TWOT entry: 1865a,1865b – Part(s) of speech: Noun Masculine
– Strong’s: From H6633; a mass of persons (or figurative things) especially regularly organized for war (an army); by implication a campaign literally or figuratively (specifically hardship worship): – appointed time (+) army (+) battle company host service soldiers waiting upon war (-fare).
It is an important truth: the hosts of Heaven are worshiping armies.
Indeed, no one can do warfare who is not first a worshiper of Yehovah.
In Times of Tribulation, Our Centre is in Worship
One does not have to penetrate deeply into the Revelation of John to discover that both Yehovah and the devil are seeking worshipers:
Revelation 7:11 MKJV
And all the angels stood around the throne, and the elders, and the four living creatures, and they fell before the throne on their faces and worshiped God,Revelation 13:4 MKJV
And they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with it?Revelation 14:6-7 MKJV
And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those dwelling on the earth, even to every nation and kindred and tongue and people, (7) saying with a great voice, Fear God and give glory to Him! For the hour of His judgment has come. And worship Him who made the heaven and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.Revelation 14:11 MKJV
And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. And they have no rest day or night, those who worship the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.
Time and time again the line is drawn between those who “worship the beast and his image” and those who “worship Yehovah”.
In the last great battle before Yeshua (Jesus) returns, the outcome of every man’s life shall be weighed upon a scale of worship: In the midst of warfare and conflict to whom will we bow, Yehovah or Satan?
Yet, while this warfare shall culminate in the establishment of Yehovah’s kingdom on earth:
Revelation 11:15 MKJV
And the seventh angel sounded. And there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ. And He will reign forever and ever.
We must realize the essence of this battle is the central issue in our warfare today.
Will we faithfully worship Yehovah during satanic assault and temptation?
True worship must emerge in the context of our lives now. For no man will worship through the great battles of tomorrow who complains in the mere skirmishes of today.
You will remember that the Lord’s call to the Israelites was a call to worship and serve Him in the wilderness:
Exodus 7:16 MKJV
And you shall say to him, Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, Let My people go so that they may serveH5647 Me in the wilderness. And, behold, until now you would not hear.
H5647 – Original: עבד – Transliteration: `abad – Phonetic: aw-bad’ – Definition: 1. to work, serve; 1a. (Qal); 1a1. to labour, work, do work 1a2. to work for another, serve another by labour 1a3. to serve as subjects 1a4. to serve (God) 1a5. to serve (with Levitical service) 1b. (Niphal) 1b1. to be worked, be tilled (of land); 1b2. to make oneself a servant;1c. (Pual) to be worked 1d. (Hiphil) 1d1. to compel to labour or work, cause to labour, cause to serve 1d2. to cause to serve as subjects; 1e. (Hophal) to be led or enticed to serve
– Origin: a primitive root – TWOT entry: 1553 – Part(s) of speech: Verb
– Strong’s: A primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication to serve till (causatively) enslave etc.: – X be keep in bondage be bondmen bond-service compel do dress ear execute + husbandman keep labour (-ing man) bring to pass (cause to make to) serve (-ing self) (be become) servant (-s) do (use) service till (-er) transgress [from margin] (set a) work be wrought worshipper.
Indeed, when Moses first spoke of Yehovah’s loving concern, we read:
Exodus 4:31 MKJV
And the people believed. And when they heard that Jehovah had visited the sons of Israel, and that He had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed and worshiped.
Yet, when trials and pressures came, they fell quickly into murmuring, complaining and blatant rebellion.
Their worship was superficial, self-serving and conditional — an outer form without an inner heart of worship.
This same condition of shallow worship prevails in much of Christianity today.
If a message is given that speaks of the Lord’s great care for His people, with eagerness, do we bow low and worship?
And as soon as the pressures of daily living arise or temptations come, how quickly do we rebel against Yehovah and resist His dealings!
The enemy has easy access to the soul that is not protected by true worship of the Almighty!
Indeed, the Lord’s purpose with Israel in the wilderness was to perfect true worship, which is based upon the reality of Yehovah, not circumstances. The Lord knows that the heart that will worship Him in the wilderness of affliction, will continue to worship Him in the promised land of plenty.
Without true worship of Yehovah, there can be no victory in warfare.
For what we bleed when we are wounded by satanic assault or difficult circumstances is the true measure of our worship.
You see, what comes out of our hearts during times of pressure is in us! But it is hidden during times of ease.
If you are a true worshiper, your spirit will exude worship to Yehovah no matter what battle you are fighting.
In warfare, worship creates a wall of fire around the soul.
Worship is the Purpose of Creation
Are you aware that we were created for Yehovah’s pleasure. We were not created to live for ourselves, but for Him.
Revelation 4:11 Cepher
You are worthy, O Yahuah Elohaynu (Yehovah, our God), to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.
And while the Lord desires that we enjoy His gifts and His people, He would have us know that we were created first for His pleasure.
In these closing moments of these end times, Yehovah will have a people whose purpose for living is to please Him with their lives. In them, Yehovah finds His own reward for creating man. They are His worshipers. They are on earth only to please Yehovah, and when He is pleased, they also are pleased.
Yehovah takes His worshipers even further, through more pain, and conflicts, than any other men.
Isaiah 53:4 MKJV
Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Outwardly, His worshipers often seem “smitten of Yehovah, and afflicted“. Yet to Yehovah, they are His beloved.
2 Corinthians 2:15 BSB
For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
When His worshipers are crushed, like the petals of a flower, they exude a worship, the fragrance of which is so beautiful and rare that angels weep in quiet awe at their surrender. They are the Lord’s purpose for creation.
One would think that Yehovah would protect His worshipers, guarding them in such a way that they would not be marred. Instead, they are marred more than others. Indeed, the Lord seems pleased to allow them to be crushed and putting them to grief.
For in the midst of their physical and emotional pain, their loyalty to Yehovah grows pure and perfect. And in the face of persecutions, their love and worship toward Yehovah becomes all-consuming.
Would that all Yehovah’s servants were so perfectly surrendered. Yet Yehovah finds His pleasure in us all.
Know that as the days of the Kingdom draw near and the warfare at the end of this age increases, those who have been created solely for the worship of Yehovah will come forth in the power and glory of Yeshua (Jesus).
With the high praises of Yehovah in His worshiper’s mouth, they will execute upon His enemies the judgment written in:
Psalms 149:1-9 MKJV
(1) Praise Jehovah! Sing to Jehovah a new song, His praise in the congregation of saints.
(2) Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; let the sons of Zion be joyful in their King.
(3) Let them praise His name in the dance; let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
(4) For Jehovah takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the meek with salvation.
(5) Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds.
(6) Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand,
(7) to carry out vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples,
(8) to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with iron-bands,
(9) to carry out on them the judgment written; this is an honor for all His saints. Praise Jehovah!
His worshipers will lead as generals in Yehovah’s army of worshipers, both men and angels.
Let’s now let’s return to: A Menu of Important Things.
