The Cosmic Courtroom
The last few chapters had to do with "The blood of the Lamb." Now we move to "The word of our testimony," as we use Revelation 12:11 for our overcoming Scripture. The word testimony has to do with what happens in a courtroom. Also, a courtroom is where one is proven either innocent or in other words is justified, or proven guilty.
Justification is a major aspect of the Cross. “[He] who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 4:25,5:1).
Romans Chapter 5 says that the blood of Jesus has justified us. Justify is a word that is used in courts of law. It means the establishment of a person as just by acquittal from guilt. If you knew you were guilty of a crime, and then for some strange reason the judge acquitted you, you would be very happy. Acquitted is better than a pardon. A pardon means you are set free even though you are guilty, but to be acquitted means that you are not guilty.
One of the great works of the Cross of Jesus Christ was to justify us. However we cannot fully enjoy that justification without going through the process of a trial. In a previous chapter about the reconciliation of evil, Jesus was making a point in the parable of the minas about the time factor for deliverance. The point was that we should expect a delay in experiencing His deliverance. It takes time for us to occupy, do business, and convert our junk into jewels. I submit that the time period represents a spiritual courtroom.
Here is where the word of your testimony becomes important.
The word of your testimony is one of the three major aspects of overcoming. You will not enjoy the benefits of being justified without it.
Life is a courtroom.
I submit that if we could pull back the curtain of this material world, we would see behind this "veil" not only the spiritual world, but also the "cosmic courtroom." I believe that one would see frantic activity; perhaps even more intense that one would see in a U.S. District court.
I am convinced that the Scriptures show us that overcoming difficulties in life is a series of courtroom experiences for each and every one of us. I believe that these courtrooms are key when it comes to overcoming, especially overcoming curses in our lives. Actually there is so much in the Bible about this subject that there is not room in the chapter to cover it all. However, if life is a courtroom, then justification is the greatest gift we can receive. I believe that so many believers have failed to overcome afflictions because they do not understand this Biblical principle.
I submit that Job was in this courtroom, and that he was finally justified (in a very different way than he anticipated) and was a classic overcomer. While he was spending time justifying himself, God was just waiting. Going through this "trial" was Job's door into the very presence of God in a way he could have not experienced without his suffering.
So many people do not pay attention to the idea of God’s judgment. Others misunderstand it and feel that it is only an event that will take place after they die. This world and the people in it are constantly experiencing judgment. Judgment from God is a two sided coin. For the believer who has been following the Lord to the best of his/her ability, judgment brings reward, however for others it brings condemnation and penalties. The same judgment can work both reward and condemnation at the same time.
What is the purpose of this courtroom?
This courtroom is about Satan attempting to perpetuate curses in our lives and in the lives or those in our realm of influence. He is attempting to perpetuate our junk as junk and suffering, while God wants to convert our junk into jewels.
I submit that the Book of Revelation is a picture of the courtroom.
When Jesus is reviewing each of the seven churches in Asia during John’s vision recorded in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, the only two churches that did not need rebuke were Philadelphia and Smyrna (Philadelphia representing the overcomers, and Smyrna representing the overcomers who were martyrs).
To each of these churches He used the word “try” or “tried.” The word in Greek is peirazo. This word has several implications. One meaning implies “assayed” which means, “Qualitative or quantitative analysis of a substance, especially of an ore or drug, to determine its components.” Another is to prove, or to be refined by fire. Yet another means to “try” as in a court trial. A judge determines a person’s guilt or innocence in a court trial. The truth of that person must be made manifest. Sometimes the truth is brought out by “fire.” Gold when refined by fire manifests its true quality. People when refined by the fire of a court trial are shown to be not only who they are, but also what they believe.
The lesson here is that God has done wonderful things for us, however often we must stand trial and live the overcoming lifestyle in order to receive those things He wants us to have. Jesus told both of these churches, or types of believers, that they would overcome after they were “tried.”
Often trials take a long time, Satan tries to wears us out. Many believers never finish this courtroom process because Satan wears them out. One is worn out by taking small punishments over a long period of time. I have read accounts of prisoners of war experiencing this. When we don’t see our trials ending quickly, we begin to testify for Satan. That is just what he wants! Actually, we should be wearing him out. “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
The parable of the unjust judge in Luke 18 also gives us insight into this idea.
“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: ‘There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ Then the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?’” (Luke 18:1-8).
Jesus is using the unjust judge here as a contrast. If the unjust judge will avenge the widow, then how much more will God, the just judge, speedily avenge His children? Also notice that the object here is the widow, which represents our helpless position. The last statement has to do with Jesus wanting to find us waiting for vengeance in faith. Notice, it says “Faith on the earth.”
Notice in verse one, it says that we are to pray continually. Our witness should be the Word of God anointed by the Holy Spirit, spoken against our accuser, Satan. Our job is to continue to speak the Word of testimony until the trial is over. It really is not our business how long this trial lasts, or exactly how the results will play out in our lives. That is not our business. God has a sovereign plan!
Here is the cast of characters in this courtroom.
In this courtroom we will see that Satan is the accuser, we or those we are standing for are the accused, the Father is the judge and Jesus and the Holy Spirit are our advocates or lawyers. We play another role in this courtroom in that we are also witnesses.
What is a witness? “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Too many believers just look at their “trials” in life as a difficult time that they are going through. They are going through a difficult time. Court trials are not fun.
Jesus said this to His disciples when they were asking Him about coming back to set up His Kingdom. He made it clear the job of His disciples was and is to be witnesses, and in being witnesses, His Kingdom would come. He also emphasized that we need the power of the Holy Spirit to do this job. I believe that Jesus was referring to the type of witness we are talking about.
The word witness in Greek is defined as Martur, meaning “One who bears witness by his death, in a legal sense, one who is a spectator of anything, e.g. of a contest.” I do not think that this is limited to our traditional definition of martyr. Jesus said that we must, in a spiritual sense, take up our cross. We die daily when we live for Jesus. We are killed continually when we testify to the truth. We need to be prepared to give up our physical life if needed, but often it is more difficult to stay alive then it is to die. This is called a living sacrifice.
What are we to witness to? We should only witness to the truth of God’s Word. Actually, we are not the real witnesses. We are only mouthpieces for the real and true witness, the Holy Spirit. He is the only one who was an eye witness to the resurrection of Jesus. He is the only one who can prove that Jesus was raised from the dead and that we are justified. The Holy Spirit empowers us to speak the truth of the Word of God, and we become the witnesses. The Holy Spirit is the only one who can help you obtain a not guilty verdict. When going through a trial, it is vitally important to press into God’s presence until such time as you hear Him speak a Word directly to you. It is called a rhema or revelation knowledge.
Then it is up to you to prove that you really believe. You are called upon to believe. How? By speaking the Word that God has given to you about your situation as a witness. This is usually difficult and takes discipline.
Usually the trial you are in will be difficult on your emotions. Circumstances may not line up with God’s promise. You will be tempted to say the wrong thing. You will be tempted to give up and feel that God does not care. Here is where you can prove what you really believe. Stand on the Word!
The word of our testimony as used in Revelation 12:11, I believe, represents testifying what the Word says that the blood of Jesus and did for us. It is testifying to Satan’s defeat and the finished work of the Cross. It is speaking God’s promises and reading your Bible aloud!
A very powerful way to pray as a witness is to pray in tongues for long periods of time. If you do not pray this way, ask God to give you this gift and to baptize you into the Holy Spirit. I can testify that many strong deliverances have come into my life by praying in tongues.
Satan cannot employ witnesses who are not human. God cannot employ witnesses who are not human. We are the only people authorized to speak words of testimony on this earth. Satan attempts to get us to speak as his witness. We are tempted to say, “My children are rebellious. I am poor. I wish I could just die. This old car of mine will never make it another mile.” Or others may become witnesses for us like Job’s friends did. They may tell us how bad we look. They may tell us that so and so was trusting God but their house was foreclosed. They may tell us, “You never know what God will do, sometimes He helps and sometimes He does not.”
While it is true that we do not know how God will orchestrate our trial, and while we do not deny the facts of difficult circumstances, what we do is exalt His Word as the witness, establishing the truth, standing on the truth until such time as God judges the case in His timing and in His wisdom. God is a fair judge inasmuch as He allows both sides to make their case. Often that takes time.
Jesus said, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36,37).
You must speak the word of your testimony, the Word of God, out of your mouth consistently. You must speak the Word against Satan and his demons until you overcome. Meditate in and repeatedly speak the Word that God has given you to stand on. Angels hearken to the Word, demons flee at the Word. The Word applies the blood of Jesus over your “doorpost.”
The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strength, Standby (John 14:26 Amplified Bible). The word comforter in Greek means is translated paraklesis. It means “advocate (in a courtroom sense), combining encouragement with alleviation of grief. It suggests the capacity of giving aid. It was used in a court of justice to denote a legal assistant, a counselor, and advocate, one who pleads the case of another.” When looking up the definition of advocate, one is referred back to comforter. An advocate is a courtroom lawyer. Jesus is our advocate, however He did say that the Comforter would come and take His place. So our witness is the combination of the Word and the Holy Spirit.
The judicial system in America is one of the best in the world, but it is not based upon justice, it is based upon who can win the case, even if the guilty one is set free, or the not guilty one is jailed. Both sides are not vying for justice, they are competing to win at any cost. This is the way Satan works. As a matter of fact, our judicial systems are systems of the world, and Satan is the Prince of the World. However God judges righteously. “…He (Christ) left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by his wounds” (1 Peter 2:23-24 New Living Bible).
Our acquittal and our justification are not based upon our good works. Notice in Romans chapter 5 that we are justified by faith. This is also affirmed in verse 5:15-16, which says, “But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.”
We need to face the truth while we are in our court trials. We are most likely guilty of something. We have not been perfect with our children, our businesses, our spouses, or in just living life.
This is where justification by faith comes in. Because Jesus took our guilt, sin, and judgment, we are set free, not by what we have done or by how we have performed, but by faith in what He gave us as a free gift.
One of Satan’s greatest weapons is to falsely accuse us. Nobody likes to be falsely accused. It is one of the most painful experiences. During your time in the cosmic courtroom, you will be falsely accused. However Jesus bore this for you as well. He was falsely accused during His trials, and His response was remarkable. Mark 14:60-61a says, “And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, ‘Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?’ But He kept silent and answered nothing…” (Mark 14:60,61).
If you respond to defend yourself, you cannot accept being justified by faith! It is painful but powerful to remain silent when you are falsely accused. This is an exercise in taking up your cross, and it will crucify your flesh. Our redemption was based upon Jesus being falsely accused, perhaps someone else’s redemption is waiting for us to follow Jesus into this crucible. You might save someone’s life!
When you humble yourself, God’s grace takes over. Looking further into Romans chapter 5, take a look at verse 5:20, which says, “Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Romans 5:20). The first word “abounded” is not the same Greek word as the second word “abounded.” The second word is exceedingly stronger. One way to paraphrase would be to say, “Where sin struck in a great way, much greater grace was waiting there in advance to give you the victory.”
God revealed to Daniel this idea about the Cosmic Courtroom in end times.
Beginning at Daniel 7:1 through 7:8 Daniel saw, in the form of various beasts, the historic and spiritual kingdoms which had and which would rule the earth. First he saw the Babylonian Empire as the lion, which was toppled by the Media-Persian Empire represented as the bear. Then he saw the Grecian Empire, Alexander the Great, represented by a leopard. They were all actual historic empires, however they also had invisible spiritual foundations.
The fourth beast was very powerful and was quite different. It had iron teeth and devoured ruthlessly. In my opinion this represented two kingdoms, the actual Roman Empire and the spiritual empire of Satan in the last days, that is after the resurrection of Christ.
This final kingdom is interesting. Daniel had another dream about these kingdoms in chapter 2 wherein he described this fourth kingdom as having feet and toes made of both clay and iron, being partly strong and partly brittle. He saw this kingdom as being divided. Remember Jesus said that a kingdom divided couldn’t stand.
It started with the Roman Empire. However the spiritual foundation of this fourth kingdom was destroyed at the Cross. That is why it is depicted as both iron and clay. It’s natural manifestation was and is like iron, but the truth about its spiritual foundation is that it is as clay.
In chapter 7 the Kingdom of God destroyed this fourth and final kingdom through the courtroom process which you and I are supposed to be a part of. In Daniel chapter 2, Satan’s kingdom, the fourth and final one, is shown to be divided or weakened by clay mixed with iron. It is destroyed by God’s Kingdom this time depicted as the Rock or the Stone that was cut out of the mountain not made with human hands. It was divine; it is Jesus the Rock.
God ordained that these empires destroy one another. Each time, each empire became weaker; each one being destroyed by another evil empire. The final kingdom was historical Rome. However there is a transition here. The spiritual power holding up the final kingdom is destroyed by God’s Kingdom. Jesus came during the Roman Empire. His Kingdom was established during it, and we partake in its final destruction. Jesus destroyed Satan’s kingdom, but we must take His victory and make it real in this world. We are responsible for working with Him for the final destruction.
In Daniel chapter 2, Satan’s kingdom is shown as destroyed by the Kingdom of God. In chapter Daniel chapter 7, the Scripture goes into more detail into how that destruction takes place.
What is so interesting is just as God describes all of these empires in Daniel 7:1-8, in verse 9 He showed Daniel a courtroom. Why? I believe because this is how the final kingdom is finally destroyed. Jesus took them all down at the Cross, but our overcoming in the Cosmic Courtroom brings them down finally.
One thing to keep in mind on a personal level. When our circumstances look like the iron toes, something we cannot handle, an enemy that is too strong for us, just remember the spiritual foundation of that kingdom is made from clay. The Cross of Jesus and His resurrection did this. If we stand, we will prevail, and the enemy with clay feet will fall!
Daniel saw this final kingdom, this horrible beast defeated in a courtroom! If you don’t remember anything in this chapter remember this; Satan’s work against you is finally brought to an end in a Cosmic Courtroom setting, and if you are ignorant of how this works, you may not overcome! However, Job overcame, and all the time did not know what was going on. But we have more revelation than Job did.
God showed Daniel about the final beast. “Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet; and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows. I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them” (Daniel 7:19-21). Notice the “pompous words.” These are words from Satanically influenced people and/or spirits that accuse you falsely.
Daniel 7:23-25 says, “Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.”
Things always look bad at first. The prosecutor, Satan, accuses you. The evidence comes in. It does not look good. He begins to wear you out. You check out his record and discover that he has worn out many before he focused on you. You feel fear!
You hear the verdict in the lower court, “guilty.” Perhaps you did not handle things just right and you do have some guilt. Maybe you were without guilt but the prosecutor was just skilled. Maybe the doctor’s report acts like a conviction against you. Job has been in this courtroom and we have a first hand report on how it worked out for him. He appealed to the Supreme Court. You decide to try one more appeal, maybe, just maybe you can overcome the impending sentences and doom.
You walk into the Supreme Court and you glance over and see Satan at the prosecutor’s bench. He is staring at you with evil so thick that you can feel it in your bones. You see his intelligence and his stacks of papers of evidence. He is smiling at you. You try not to look at him, but you catch him smirking at you with one eyebrow raised in wicked self-confidence.
Then the participants in the courtroom all gasp at what they see. A being enters the Courtroom! Just before you are getting ready to cave in, just before you feel that you cannot stand any longer, just when you have given up all hope in your fleshly resources for making a defense you decide to enter into praise. You are praising the Lord for his character, His reputation, His reliability, and His faithfulness (this is called “The New Song”). Just then the Father, the Supreme Court Judge, steps into the courtroom!
All of the sudden, a voice sweeps the room and says, “All rise for the judge.”
Daniel 7:9-10 says, “I kept looking until thrones were placed, for the assessors with the Judge, and the Ancient of Days, God the eternal Father, took His seat, Whose garment was white as snow and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was like the fiery flame; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire came forth from before Him; a thousand thousands ministered to Him and ten thousand times ten thousand (one hundred million) (some courtroom) rose up and stood before Him: the Judge was seated, the court was in session, and the books were opened.”
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence” (Daniel 7:13).
Imagine with me that something like this takes place. The Holy Spirit comes over to you, puts His arm around your back and says, “My friend, leave this one to Me. I have been here before, and I know the judge personally.”
The Holy Spirit comes before the Ancient of Days. He asks Him to look out the window. The Ancient of Days commands the curtain and the window to be thrown open. He has a bittersweet look as His head turns and He sees outside the city. He sees Golgotha. Behold, He sees a Lamb slain on a Cross. He turns to you and to me and He says, “You are not guilty, you are acquitted and justified!" He says to the demon, “You go to the pit!”
“But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him” (Daniel 7:26,27).
“Until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom” (Daniel 7:22).
This is a paradox because in order to be considered not guilty, you must plead guilty so that the judge may have mercy. You are justified by faith not by works. This, in my opinion, was Job's experience.
“Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect when it is God Who justifies, Who puts us in right relations to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?” (Romans 8:33 Amp. Bible).
The end of the matter in Daniel's dream in chapter 2 is similar and parallel. “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold--the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure” (Daniel 2:44,45).
Daniel’s prophetic dreams tell us that overcoming is painful and takes a long time to prevail against the workers of darkness. They tell us that overcoming takes place in a Cosmic Courtroom. The final chapters of Daniel confirm this. The Book of Revelation is a parallel prophetic vision.
What is the end result?
Next time you find yourself in a trial, a suffering, know for sure that it is a trial, but the judge is God the Father, your Advocate is Jesus and your accuser is Satan himself. Look behind the circumstances that always lie. Look to the Word.
The curse is broken, and vengeance is taken. Jesus’ mission statement in Isaiah 61, states that the many things that Jesus wishes to do for us come after the “Day of vengeance.” I believe you will see a multitude of results after overcoming.
As bad as the trial has been, you will feel glad for having participated (in a bittersweet way). Next, you have broken the curse (s) from your life, and your family line. Also, because the curse is broken, the demon (s) who had attached themselves to the curse are heading for an early retirement in the pit.
In addition, you have entered new realms of operating in the Kingdom of God here on earth. You life has been purified, and you have a much more intimate fellowship experience with the Lord. Finally, you are now the minister of comfort, an advocate for others who are going through similar circumstances. You are one of the saints riding with Jesus on white horses in Revelation Chapter 19 coming to the aid of others.
While we are on this earth, we are always in a courtroom. Be a witness for the Word, not for Satan. Confess the Word constantly.
Use praise and the Word together. Praise Him for the victory the Word says that you have. Psalm 8:2 says, "Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger."
Continually keep the Scriptures that God has given you regarding your situation. Take time to seek Him for specific Scriptures. ISOB (the publisher of this book) has a prayer book with many valuable Scriptures that you may use.[1] Keep the Word coming out of your mouth no matter how bad things look. When your body is in a trial and your emotions are on the floor, when your children are going wild, when your marriage is breaking apart, when your finances look hopeless, speak what the Word says, in the same way Jesus did when the devil tried Him.
When you see your brother/sister making mistakes in life, don't condemn them with Satan's words, don't gossip, rather confess that they are the righteousness in God in Christ; that they have been crucified with Christ, etc.
Have the God kind, and the Abraham kind of faith. Romans 4:2 and 17 says, "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed--God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;
Always remember that when things look really bad, you are in a “trial” a real but invisible trial in the Cosmic Courtroom. Your job is to live out the overcoming process and God’s plan for your life will prevail.
When all of the evidence comes in, you will see the Ancient of Days step into His courtroom and settle the matter based upon the evidence rendered. Your trial will condemn the devils that have been in the realm of your influence and you will have placed an eternal jewel into the Kingdom of God.
How long do you need to stand on the Word and speak the word of your testimony? Until you win!
“And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10). “And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I believed and therefore I spoke,’ we also believe and therefore speak” (2 Corinthians 4:13).
The evidence of your faith is not how you feel, but rather words; His Words and then your words!
Click here to Return to Front Page of Junk to Jewels Click here to Go to Chapter 10
[1] http://www.isob-bible.org/abf/prayerbook.htm