The End-Time Prayer Movement

Adapted from chapter 7 of Harp & Bowl Handbook, by Mike Bickle

There is a significant relationship between the end-time worship and prayer movement and the revelation of Jesus as our Bridegroom God. Some stumble over this truth, but it is essential that we emphasize the revelation that His eternal nature is all-consuming love (1 Jn. 4:16).

Worship and prayer change the spiritual atmosphere of the region in focus as demons are driven back, angels are more active, and the Spirit moves in a greater measure (Dan. 10:12–13, 20–21). This causes the preaching of the gospel and the works of the kingdom to have a greater impact.

Before Jesus returns, the Spirit will raise up the greatest prayer movement in history. There are many indicators of this in Scripture (Ps. 96:1, 9, 13; 98:1–9; 102:15–22; 122:6; 149:6–9; Isa. 19:20–22; 24:14–16, 23; 25:9; 26:1, 8–9; 27:2–5, 13; 30:18–19, 29, 32; 35:2, 10; 42:10–15; 43:26; 51:11; 52:8; 62:6–7; Jer. 31:7; 51:8; Joel 2:12–17, 32; Zeph. 2:1–3; Zech. 8:20–23; 10:1; 12:10; 13:9; Mt. 21:13; 25:1–13; Lk. 18:7–8; Rev. 5:8; 6:9–11; 8:3–5; 9:13; 14:18; 16:7; 18:6; 22:17).

Psalms 96 and 98 both prophesy of a time when singing to the Lord will arise from all the earth.

Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord. . . .

Tremble before Him, all the earth. (Psalm 96:1, 9)

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

. . . All the earth;
Break forth in song. (Psalm 98:3–4)

May the Lord establish 24/7 prayer with worship in every tribe and tongue on earth before Jesus returns! This may happen across a region (not usually in one building) as many ministries work together in population centers.

The eternal identity of the redeemed is to be a house of prayer. The essence of prayer is that God speaks and moves our heart, and then we speak and move His heart, so that He releases His resources on earth.

The sons of the foreigner [Gentiles]
Who join themselves to the Lord, . . .
To love the name of the Lord, . . .
I will . . . make them joyful in My house. . . .
My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations. (Isaiah 56:6–7)

When God names someone, it indicates how they function in the Spirit. Even “foreigners” who love Jesus—Gentile believers—are to experience enjoyable prayer (Isa. 56:7).

The Lord desires to be worshiped on earth as He is in heaven (Mt. 6:10).

In Revelation 4–5, John described the worship order established after God’s own heart; it reveals how He wants to be worshiped. The heavenly order of worship is continual, musical, and God-centered (Rev. 4:8; 5:8–9; 14:2; 15:2). God-centered worship focuses on God and His personality and actions.

The four living creatures . . . do not rest day or night, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God.” (Revelation 4:8)

The twenty-four elders, . . . each having a harp, . . . sang a new song. (Revelation 5:8–9)

Isaiah wrote more on the earthly dimension of the end-time worship movement than any man in the Bible, whereas the book of Revelation gives the most information on the heavenly dimension of the prayer movement.

Isaiah prophesied concerning singing before the Bridegroom God (Isa. 54:4–12; 62:2–5).

Sing, O barren,
You who have not borne!
Break forth into singing, and cry aloud. . . .
For your Maker is your husband,
The Lord of hosts is His name. (Isaiah 54:1, 5)

Israel was accustomed to God being the transcendent King with power, but not the Bridegroom with desire. Singing to the Bridegroom God is singing that reveals and imparts love.

Isaiah prophesied that the end-time prayer movement would be:

Isaiah connected the revelation of Jesus as Bridegroom to the end-time prayer movement continuing 24/7 (Isa. 62:4–7). The Spirit will establish a worldwide wall of intercession that will not stop until Jerusalem becomes “a praise in the earth” at the time of Jesus’ return. The bridal revelation of Isaiah 62:3–5 is essential to sustaining the night-and-day prayer of verses 6 and 7.

You shall be called Hephzibah . . .
For the Lord delights in you. . . .
As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
So shall your God rejoice over you.

I have set watchmen [intercessors] on your walls, O Jerusalem;
They shall never hold their peace day or night. . . .
Give Him no rest till He establishes
And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. (Isaiah 62:4–7)

Isaiah prophesied about the end-time worship movement throughout Isaiah 24–27. He saw the defeat of God’s enemies and the return of Jesus (24:21–23) in connection with the worship movement (24:14–16), which focuses on the majesty and beauty of Jesus (24:14).

They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing;
For the majesty of the Lord. . . .
Glorify the Lord in the dawning light,
The name of the Lord God of Israel in the coastlands of the sea.
From the ends of the earth we have heard songs:
“Glory to the righteous!” (Isaiah 24:14–16)

Isaiah prophesied about a global intercessory worship movement (Isa. 42:10–12), which would usher in Jesus’ return (42:13) and release His end-time judgments (42:14–15).

Sing to the Lord a new song,
And His praise from the ends of the earth,
You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,
You coastlands. . . .
Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice,
The villages that Kedar inhabits.
Let the inhabitants of Sela sing,
Let them shout from the top of the mountains. . . .
The Lord shall go forth [Jesus’ second coming] like a mighty man;
He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war.
He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud;
He shall prevail against His enemies. . . .

“I will lay waste the mountains [earthquakes].” (Isaiah 42:10–15)

The Spirit is calling His people to work together to offer continual intercession in each city, flowing from prophetic worship (music) and intimacy with God, to fulfill the Great Commission—to win and disciple the lost, to revive the Church, and to impact society with the love, power, and wisdom of God.

In summary, the end-time prayer movement engages in prayer for the harvest, with music, and from intimacy with God. It is more than prayer for personal circumstances—for direction, protection, provision, healing, and so on, which are valid prayers. When we pray for the harvest among the nations and for missions, we are asking for a breakthrough of the power of the gospel in a city, nation, or specific region.

Want a practical guide to prayer and worship that can be used by individuals, churches, and groups? Mike Bickle’s Harp & Bowl Handbook contains insights and instruction gleaned from more than 20 years of 24/7 prayer with worship. Available now from Forerunner Publishing.

Mike Bickle

position

• Founder, IHOPKC

Mike Bickle is the founder of the International House of Prayer, an evangelical missions organization based on 24/7 prayer with worship. He is also the founder of International House of Prayer University, which includes full-time ministry, music, and media schools.

Mike’s teaching emphasizes growing in passion for Jesus through intimacy with God, doing evangelism and missions work from the place of night-and-day prayer, and the end times. He is the author of several books, including Growing in Prayer, Passion for Jesus, God’s Answer to the Growing Crisis, Growing in the Prophetic, and Prayers to Strengthen Your Inner Man.  Mike and his wife, Diane, have two married sons and six grandchildren.