THE SOUND BURSTING FORTH FROM HEAVEN: IT’S TIME TO TAKE YOUR TAUNT AGAINST THE ADVERSARY! There is a thought that continues to fill and consume my mind the more I consider the reality of spiritual conflict and warfare. This particular thought is directly linked and connected to the twelfth chapter of the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, as well as the prophetic passages concerning Lucifer’s being cast forth as profane from heaven. In order to truly and properly understand this line of thought it is imperative that we begin with the text that is found in the twelfth chapter of the Book of the Revelation. The text begins with the seventh verse of the chapter and reads as follows:

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. AND I HEARD A LOUD VOICE SAYING IN HEAVEN, NOW IS COME SALVATION, AND STRENGTH, AND THE KINGDOM OF OUR GOD, AND THE POWER OF HIS CHRIST: FOR THE ACCUSER OF OUR BRETHREN IS CAST DOWN, WHICH ACCUSED THEM BEFORE OUR GOD DAY AND NIGHT. AND THEY OVERCAME HIM BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, AND BY THE WORD OF THEIR TESITMONY; AND THEY LOVED NOT THEIR LIVES UNTO THE DEATH. THEREFORE REJOICE, YE HEAVENS, AND YE THAT DWELL IN THEM. WOE TO THE INHBITERS OF THE EARTH AND OF THE SEA! FOR THE DEVIL IS COME DOWN UNTO YOU, HAVING GREAT WRATH, BECAUSE HE KNOWETH THAT HE HATH BUT A SHORT TIME” (Revelation 12:7-12).

Before transitioning into the prophetic passages found in both Isaiah and Ezekiel there is a passage also found within the prophetic book of Isaiah that I find to be incredibly compelling in terms of what we read in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. In the twelfth chapter of the book of the Revelation we read of the accuser of the brethren being cast down—the one who accuses the saints of God before God both day and night. Towards the end of the fifty-fourth chapter of the prophetic book of Isaiah we read these words: “O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, Behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carboncles, and all they borders of pleasant stones. And all they children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. In righteousness shalt thou be established: Thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper’ AND EVERY TONGUE THAT SHALL RISE AGAINST THEE IN JUDGMENT THOU SHALT CONDEMN [CAST DOWN]. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 54:11-17). Please pay close attention to this particular passage in the fifty-fourth chapter of the book, for it speaks to the very language and reality that is found within the twelfth chapter of the book of the Revelation of Jesus. In the book of the Revelation of Jesus we find the accuser of our brethren being cast down, and in the prophetic book of Isaiah we find the heritage of the servants of the Lord as not only including no weapon being formed against them prospering, but also their ability to cast down every tongue which would rise against them in judgment [accusation, condemnation]. This is incredibly powerful, for long before the days when John the apostle received the revelation from Jesus Christ the prophet Isaiah recognized that it was the heritage of the servants of the Lord to cast down [condemn] every tongue which rose against them in judgment [condemnation, accusation]. In the twelfth chapter of the book of the Revelation of Jesus we find a loud voice in heaven proclaiming the accuser of our brethren has been cast down, while in the prophetic book of Isaiah we find the prophet Isaiah declaring that it is the heritage of the servants of the Lord to cast down every tongue which rises against them in judgment, in condemnation, in accusation.

The prophetic word simply put is this—we must align ourselves with both our heritage as the servants of the Lord, and with the prophetic word spoken from heaven. There are a great number of men and women who would persist and continue to allow those tongues which rise against them in judgment, in accusation and condemnation to prevail against and within them. The truth of the matter is that according to the prophetic word of Isaiah and the declaration from heaven found in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ this ought not to be so. There are a number of men and women who are not living or walking in their heritage as servants of the Lord. These men and women have not chosen to rise up and condemn those tongues which rise against them in judgment. These men and women have made the decision to align themselves with those tongues which rise against them in accusation rather than cast them down and condemn them. Oh dear brother, dear sister—do you understand that you have been given a wonderful heritage as a servant of the Lord? Do you understand you have been given the incredible heritage to cast down every tongue which rises against you in judgment and condemnation—cast them down as the children of Israel under the leadership of Joshua cast down various adversaries, nations and peoples within the land of Canaan. The heritage of the servants of the Lord includes the ability to live completely free from any and every tongue which rises against you in condemnation. This reality is echoed and firmly proclaimed by the apostle Paul when writing to the Roman congregation: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). Towards the end of the very same chapter the apostle Paul wrote these words—“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all thigns? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is He that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:28-39). When writing to the Corinthian congregation the apostle Paul writes these words: “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:16-18).

These particular passages are incredibly powerful when considering the text recorded in the twelfth chapter of the book of the Revelation, for not only did the voice proclaim from heaven that the accuser was cast down, but this voice also proclaimed that he was overcome by those whom he accused—overcome by the blood of the Lamb, overcome by the word of their testimony, and by those who loved not their lives unto the death. Beloved, please pay close attention to these passages, for not only do we encounter the reality that the accuser of the brethren and he that deceiveth the whole world is cast down, but we also discover the reality that we have the authority to cast down every tongue which rises against us in judgment, and that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. There is a great and powerful need in this generation for a people to rise up and align themselves with the truth that is recorded in Scripture. We have the right, and I would dare say the responsibility to cast down every tongue that rises against us in judgment, in condemnation and accusation. It’s worth noting that we have the right to cast down the voice(s) of condemnation, the voice(s) of judgment, and the voice(s) of accusation. There is coming a day when it is not only the voice(s) of accusation, the voice(s) of judgment, the voice(s) of condemnation that will be cast down, but the accuser himself who will be cast down. Until that moment in time it is our responsibility and right as servants of the Lord to cast down every accusation, every judgment, every condemnation which the adversary unleashes against us. The Lord never created nor intended us to be continually overwhelmed with tongues of judgment, condemnation and/or accusation, but to live completely free from them—free through our casting them down. In the four gospel accounts of Jesus’ we read of Jesus casting and driving out evil spirits from the lives of men, women and even children He encountered. I would absolutely love to know what these evil and unclean spirits were which had possessed these individuals and had kept them bound. Regardless of what types of spirits they were, Scripture makes it very clear that Jesus cast and drove them out by the finger of God—by the very Spirit of Almighty God. In the same manner Jesus cast out these evil spirits from those whom He encountered, we must cast out and cast down every tongue that rises against us in judgment, in condemnation and accusation. Jesus continually demonstrated and manifested the reality that the sons and servants of the Lord have authority and dominion to cast out and cast down that which the adversary has intended to destroy us. The truth of the matter and the crux of the issue is whether or not we are following in His example—His demonstration and manifestation. Jesus was unwilling to allow evil spirits to remain controlling, possessing and manipulating the lives of those He encountered. The question that must be asked is whether or not we are of the same heart and mind. If for whatever reason we are not, we must quickly rise up to obtain such a mind, for there is no time for delay in this matter. Time is short and in these Last Days the Lord of hosts is looking for a vigilant and combative people in the earth who will rise up against the forces of the adversary in their lives, in their homes, in their families, in their marriages, in the lives of their children, in their church, and the like.

Turning our attention to the fourteenth chapter of the prophetic book of Isaiah we read these words spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “And it shall come to pas sin the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou was made to serve, that THOU SHALT TAKE UP THIS PROVERB AGAINST THE KING OF BABYLON, and say, How the oppressed ceased! The golden city ceased! The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, He that ruled the nations in anger is persecuted, and none hindereth. The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us. Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: It stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as wee? Art thou become like unto us? Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover three. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou has said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the dies of the pit. THEY THAT SEE THEE SHALL NARROWLY LOOK UPON THEE, AND CONSIDER THEE, SAYING, IS THIS THE MAN THAT MADE THE EARTH TO TREMBLE, THAT DID SHAKE KINGDOMS; THAT MADE THE WORLD AS A WILDERNESS, AND DESTROYED THE CITIES THEREOF; THAT OPENED NOT THE HOUSE OF HIS PRISONERS? ALL THE KINGS OF THE NATIONS, EVEN ALL OF THEM LIKE IN GLORY, EVERY ONE IN HIS OWN HNOUSE. BUT THOU ART CAST OUT OF THY GRAVE LIKE AN ABOMINABLE BRANCH, AND AS THE RAIMENT OF THOSE THAT ARE SLAIN, THRUST THROUGH WITH A SWORD, THAT GO DOWN TO THE STONES OF THE PIT; AS A CARCASE TRODDEN UNDER FEET” (Isaiah 14:3-19).

In the twenty-eighth chapter of the prophetic book of Ezekiel we find the prophet being instructed to take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus. “Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the Sardis, topaz, the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emeralds, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that you wast created: Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day thou thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy trafficker; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will britn thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more” (Ezekiel 28:11-19).

I WILL CAST THEE AS PROFANE OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD! I WILL DESTROY THEE! I WILL CAST THEE TO THE GROUND! I WILL LAY THEE BEFORE KINGS! HOW ART THOU FALLEN FROM HEAVEN! HOW ART THOU CUT DOWN TO THE GROUND! THOU SHALT BE BROUGHT DOWN TO HELL! THOU ART CAST OUT OF THY GRAVE! These particular phrases are incredibly significant when seeking to study and understand the passage in the twelfth chapter of the book of the Revelation of Jesus, for in the twelfth chapter of the book of the Revelation we read that the great dragon was cast out, was cast out into the earth, and that his angels were cast out with him. Within this same chapter we also read that the accuser of our brethren is cast down. This language is absolutely unmistakeable for there is a powerful declaration which came forth from heaven and was heard by the apostle John and recorded in this chapter—the declaration that the dragon was cast down. The apostle John heard the profound declaration that the accuser of our brethren was cast down and was cast out into the earth. CAST OUT & CAST DOWN. In the prophetic writings of Isaiah and Ezekiel we find both prophets instructed to take up a proverb and lamentation concerning two kings—the one taking up a proverb against the king of Babylon and the other taking up a lamentation against the king of Tyre. In the twelfth chapter of the book of the Revelation we read how the dragon was cast out of heaven, and that the accuser of our brethren was cast down. In this chapter there was a powerful declaration and proclamation that went forth concerning the dragon that he and his angels were cast forth and cast out. What an incredibly powerful declaration and proclamation was issued concerning the dragon—a declaration of triumph, a declaration of victory, a declaration of an incredible conflict and battle won. There was a powerful and triumphant voice of triumph and victory that was heard by the apostle John—a voice that that spoke of the casting out and casting down of the dragon which was the accuser of the brethren. What a great and glorious day that will be when the voice will speak from heaven and proclaim the dragon and his angels being cast forth after they could not prevail and after there was no longer any place for them in heaven. Oh that we would mark these words and mark them well, for they reveal something truly powerful in the realm of spiritual warfare and conflict—the truth concerning aligning ourselves with the declaration, the proclamation and the sound which comes forth from heaven. If we have ears to hear what the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is speaking, we will find something truly powerful and remarkable concerning the sound of heaven being heard in the earth. IN other words, the declaration which is recorded in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ can and must be heard in the earth in these Last Days. There is a marvelous and wonderful need in these Last Days to listen for

I began this particular section with these words “THE SOUND OF HEAVEN: IT’S TIME TO TAKE UP THE TAUNT AGAINST THE ADVERSARY!” I believe that as it pertains to spiritual conflict and warfare in this generation we as the servants and saints of God not only have the right and the privilege to cast down every tongue which rises against us in judgment. I am convinced that we as the servants and saints of the Lord have the overwhelming and incredible right and privilege to take up a taunt against the adversary. I believe with all my heart that one of the single greatest ways we can resist the Devil is by taking up a taunt toward and against him. What I mean by this is that the loud voice which the apostle John heard speaking from heaven proclaimed of the accuser that he had been cast down, and that the great dragon had been cast out of heaven and into the earth. Both the prophet Isaiah and the prophet Ezekiel heard the Spirit of the Lord speak of and declare concerning Lucifer that he was cast out and cast down. In the prophetic writings of Isaiah and Ezekiel we find a proverb, a taunt, a lamentation being taken up which had direct application concerning Lucifer the morning star who was cast forth out of heaven. The apostle John heard with his own ears the proclamation that the accuser had been cast down and that the dragon had been cast forth and cast out. In other words, one of the distinct sounds which was heard in heaven was the proclamation concerning the dragon and his angels and how they had been cast out and cast into the earth. There were a great number of proclamations and declarations that were heard by the apostle John and recorded in the book of the Revelation, but perhaps one of the most distinct sounds was the sound concerning the accuser being cast down. The apostle John not only heard the proclamation that the accuser had been cast down, but also that the accuser and deceiver was overcome by the saints of God—overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of the testimony of the saints. There was a sound which burst forth from heaven like a trumpet which the apostle John heard—the sound that the great dragon was cast out after he could not prevail, and after there was no more any place for him or his angels in heaven. The reason I speak of the time being present to take up a taunt against the dragon is that we have the right to declare to the adversary that he has been cast forth and cast out. One of the most powerful ways we resist the devil is to remind him that he was cast forth as profane out of the mountain of God, and was cast out of heaven. One of the most incredible ways we stand steadfast against the devil is to proclaim unto him that he and his angels were cast forth out of the kingdom of God and could never return. Moreover, we not only have the right to remind the Devil and his forces of this reality, but also that there is coming a day when the Devil and his angels will be cast forth out of heaven once and for all, thus losing their place and position to accuse the saints of God before His throne day and night.

I sense within my spirit that there is a great need within the hearts, minds and spirits of the saints a great boldness that must rise up within them. There is a great and tremendous need in these Last Days for there to arise within the hearts of the saints of God a deliberate and intentional taunt toward and against the adversary. The adversary would seek to stand before the Lord of hosts and accuse you day and night, but we have the right to cast down every tongue which rises against us in condemnation, in judgment and accusation. Moreover, I would also emphatically declare unto you that you have the right to stand up and to stand firm and take up your taunt against the adversary—the taunt that the adversary was defeated by and through the death of Jesus Christ upon the cross two thousand years ago. Nearly two-thousand years ago the Word of God took upon Himself the likeness of men in order that He might destroy the works of the Devil, and in order that He might make a public spectacle of principalities, spiritual wickedness and rulers of darkness. Beloved, do you understand the great taunt you can take up against the adversary—the taunt that he and his angels will once and for all be cast forth out of heaven and cast into the earth? Do you and I understand that we can take up a taunt against the adversary and declare to him that there is coming a day when he will be bound, cast into the bottomless pit, and sealed for one thousand years? Furthermore, and perhaps the greatest of all is the taunt we can take up against the adversary that he will be cast into the lake of fire along with the beast and the false prophet? There are three different and distinct occasions in the book of the Revelation where we read of the Devil being cast down—cast down out of heaven, cast down into the bottomless pit, and cast down into the lake of fire. We have the right and the authority to take up a taunt against the adversary that he stands cast out of heaven, cast to the earth, cast into the bottomless pit, and ultimately cast into the lake of fire. The adversary would seek to cast you down through accusation, condemnation and judgment, yet you not only bear the tremendous right and heritage to cast down such arguments, but you have the authority to take up a taunt against the adversary and speak to him of his ultimate defeat. There is a song written by contemporary Christian artist Carman entitled “Revival In the Land,” and the entire song is basically a fictional dialogue between Lucifer and one of his chief demon lieutenants. Towards the conclusion of the song Lucifer declares to his lieutenant that he will launch his final and most vicious attack against the saints of God—reminding them of their past. His lieutenant recognized the utter futility of this, for as much as the adversary would remind the saints of their past, they shall remind him of his future.

IT IS TIME TO ALIGN OURSELVES WITH THE SOUND FROM HEAVEN! IT IS TIME FOR US TO ALIGN OURSELVES WITH THE VOICES SPEAKING FROM HEAVEN! We are standing in a moment when one of our greatest strategies in spiritual warfare is to take up a taunt against the adversary and accuser. We are and have been at a moment when in our spiritual conflict and warfare we stand firm and steadfast in all confidence, faith and boldness and take up a taunt against our adversary reminding and speaking to him concerning his ultimate demise and destruction. In prayer we have the right and the privilege to resist the adversary standing firm in our faith with the Lord of hosts on our side. We have the awesome right and privilege to align ourselves with the declaration and proclamations which are being spoken of heaven—both in times past, in this present time, and in the times to come. Tell me dear brother, dear sisters—are you willing to take your stand and to take up your taunt against the adversary and accuser? Are you willing to stand in the authority and dominion of the Lord of hosts and to taunt the adversary with his future? Are you ready, willing and able to take up your taunt against the adversary—the taunt that he stands defeated, and that his works were destroyed by and through the death of Jesus Christ? Dear saints and servants of God, rise up and align yourselves with the sound that is bursting and breaking forth out of heaven like a trumpet. Rise up, stand firm, stand steadfast and take up your taunt against the adversary. The adversary may rise up and accuse you, yet you can rise up and taunt him with the fact that his works stand defeated by and through the death of Jesus. Moreover, you have the right to take up the taunt that the adversary not only stands cast out, but also stands overcome by the saints of God—overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. When the accuser was cast forth, he wasn’t simply cast forth, but he was cast forth having been overcome by the saints of God. Oh dear saints and servants of the Most High God, rise up and take up your taunt against the adversary—not in pride and arrogance within yourself, but in the finished work of Jesus Christ upon the cross, and through His resurrection from the grave nearly two thousand years ago. The time has come for us to align ourselves with the sound of heaven and take up our taunt against the adversary—the taunt that asks if this was really the one who brought the nations low. OH, what would happen if we were actually given a glimpse into the spiritual realm, could gaze upon our adversary, and see him as actually and already defeated. Oh that we would rise up in the midst of accusation, temptation, judgment and the like, and ask if this is really the one who was so successful within and against our lives. Oh that we would stand in that place of victory and triumph and take up this taunt agains the adversary: Were you really the one who tormented me for so long? Were you really the one who accused me for so long? Were you really the one who stood judging me for so long? Were you really the one who stood to tempt me for so many years? Are you really the one who I succumbed to in my life? Oh that we would look upon our adversary with utter disdain and disgust recognizing that he was never created to have any authority or dominion within our lives. Hallelujah to the risen and exalted Lamb of God for His work upon the cross, His work when His body lie in the tomb, and His work when He emerged from the grave triumphant with the keys to death, hell and the grave.