The Confrontation

During a recent worship service, we sang and gave honor to Jesus, the One who bears the Name above all names. The words of Philippians 2:9-11 came to mind, and as we sang, “every knee shall bow”.

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  (Philippians 2:9–11, ESV emphasis added)

I had a vision that came to my mind. I was standing in the throneroom of God (a room without walls). I’m trying to explain it in words hard to find — the vision was fleeting yet lingered, and more context or detail continued to come as it played over and over again in my mind during worship.

The Ancient of Days was seated on the Throne, and multitudes and masses of people from throughout all the ages surrounded the throne for as far as I could see, on their knees, bowing before Him and worshiping the King. The “room” was filled with love beyond our comprehension … awe and wonder, gratitude and thankfulness, with mercy and grace all without measure.

However, I could also see among the multitudes people from all ages, past and present. Among the masses of people in a posture of worship, some rebels refused to bow, surrender, confess Jesus as Lord, or submit to his absolute authority. They refused to bow their knee and stood in evil defiance, spewing words of hatred and hostility as though their rejection of Jesus would have an impact on the scene.

Suddenly, I saw a mighty angelic army disperse through the crowd; some were huge and dreadful, and others were less impressive yet also carried the weight of royal authority. One by one, they confronted the rebels who stood in defiance against the Lord. Although the rebels refused to bow their knee to Jesus, their rebellion was addressed individually and personally by the hosts of this angelic army, protecting the Lordship and Kingship of Jesus. The rebellious ones had no option — there was no way out but to surrender to the Ancient of Days, who was high and lifted up and seated on the celestial throne. One by one, every rebel from throughout the ages surrendered and bowed down, though not from an attitude of loving surrender or repentance, but from a rebellious, spiteful heart filled with hatred. They had no option other than to change their posture before the throne. The scripture in Philippians stating that every knee shall bow is a direct quote from Isaiah 45:23:

“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance." (ESV, emphasis added)

This message is to every soul on the face of the Earth from generations past to present. Those who are in rebellion against the Lordship of Jesus Christ should know that their defiance will not go unnoticed or unchallenged, and one day, they, too, will be confronted by the mighty royal warriors guarding the Eternal King, demanding that all bow and honor the One who bears the Name above all names. Before Him, every knee shall bow!