What are the Courts of Heaven?
The courts of heaven is a concept that some Christians believe exists based on certain biblical passages. It refers to a spiritual court system in the heavenly realms where believers can bring petitions and requests before God.
The idea comes from verses that mention God as judge, the assembly of divine beings as a council or court, and the notion of spiritual authority and battles. Supporters believe Christians have a legal right to enter the courts of heaven because of the authority they have through Christ. By presenting their case before God as Judge in a heavenly court setting, they expect breakthroughs, justice, healing, and answered prayers.
Origins and Biblical Basis
The courts of heaven concept has its origins in the charismatic/Pentecostal movements in the 1980s and 1990s. Several leaders began teaching about these spiritual courts based on their interpretations of scripture.
Robert Henderson’s book “Operating in the Courts of Heaven” helped popularize the idea in the 2010s. It approached prayer and intercession as a legal process. Other proponents have included Cindy Trimm, Jerry Savelle, Joan Hunter and Dennis Cramer.
The main biblical passages used to support the courts of heaven are:
– Isaiah 43:26 – “Put me in remembrance; let us argue our case together; set forth your case, that you may be proved right.” This verse depicts God telling Israel to state their case before Him, like in a legal setting.
– Job 1-2 – Satan comes before God along with the divine council in what appears like a judicial scene. God even asks Satan a question about Job.
– Zechariah 3:1-7 – The prophet Zechariah has a vision of Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, with Satan accusing him. This is interpreted as a legal court case.
– Revelation 4-5 – Heavenly visions describe God on the throne, 24 elders seated on thrones like a council, and multitudes of angels as witnesses.
– 1 Kings 22 – The prophet Micaiah has a vision of God on His throne asking for a volunteer to entice Ahab into battle. This is seen as a deliberation in the divine council.
– Daniel 7:9-10 – Daniel describes the Ancient of Days on a fiery throne, with thousands ministering to Him and the court seated for judgment.
Based on these and similar passages, advocates say there is clearly some kind of court system operating in the spiritual realm. God is the judge and authority, overseeing proceedings and rendering verdicts.
Purposes and Procedures in the Courts of Heaven
According to supporters, Christians can and should access the courts of heaven for the following purposes:
– To break generational curses and strongholds
– To overturn unfavorable legal decrees made by demonic spirits
– To revoke permissions given to the enemy in ignorance
– To present breakthrough petitions and prayers before God
– To unlock divine destinies and callings
– To receive healing, especially for chronic illnesses
– To get answers from God and understand spiritual mysteries
– To receive strategies, wisdom and revelation directly from God
– To dissolve hindering spiritual cases against them
The procedures typically involve introspective prayer, petitioning God, listening, journaling, meditation on scripture, praise and worship. Different leaders outline various specific steps to follow, but the basic process is:
1. Approach God in humility and repent of any known sins. Present yourself in righteousness through Christ.
2. Make your petitions and requests known directly to God as Judge. Base them on biblical principles and God’s character.
3. Ask God to search your own heart and life and reveal anything quenching your breakthrough or empowering the enemies’ accusations. Own and renounce these things.
4. In God’s court as the supreme authority, ask for favorable rulings, judgments and decrees over your case, your family, your destiny, etc. according to His perfect will.
5. Listen to what God reveals and respond accordingly. God may speak to your spirit, give a scripture, recall a memory, or simply give an inner knowing.
6. Thank God for intervening, breakthrough and the verdict you are expecting to see manifest on earth. Decree and declare the spiritual realities.
Basically, the courts of heaven approach sees prayer as bringing legal petitions before the ultimate Judge, rather than just submitting requests to a King. Advocates believe this gives them power to supersede adverse rulings.
Potential Concerns and Controversies
Despite gaining popularity in some charismatic circles, the courts of heaven theology has also been met with concerns and criticism. Here are some of the controversial points:
– Lack of direct scriptural support – Nowhere does the Bible clearly describe or instruct Christians to access heavenly courtrooms and make petitions there. The concept comes from isolated texts interpreted as courts.
– Unnecessary intermediation – Jesus said believers can boldly approach God’s throne of grace directly (Hebrews 4:16) and ask anything in His name (John 14:13-14). So third heaven courtrooms may add extra intermediation not required by scripture.
– Potential for spiritism – Seeking revelations in the spiritual realm can open doors to deception. Any extra-biblical experiences must be carefully tested against scripture.
– Unbiblical view of prayer – Rather than instructions to enter heavenly courtrooms, prayer is presented in scripture as humble communication with our Father. The courtroom view could lead to formulaic, legalistic prayer practices.
– Emphasis on spiritual battles – While the Bible does mention spiritual warfare, some feel the courts of heaven approach overly fixates on fighting demonic spirits rather than growing in grace.
– Distraction from Christ’s finished work – Reliance on legal petitions before God may distract from the sufficiency of Christ’s work on the cross. Believers already have unmediated access into God’s presence through Jesus.
Thus, while some Christians feel they have benefited from the courts of heaven perspective, others would caution against uncritically accepting any theology not firmly rooted in a plain reading of scripture. As with any spiritual practice or approach, discernment is required.
Potential Supporting Verses
Here are some additional verses that are sometimes used to further support the concept of a court system in the spiritual realm:
– Job 15:8 – “Have you listened in the council of God? And do you limit wisdom to yourself?” This suggests a divine council setting in heaven.
– Psalm 82 – God stands in the divine council to pronounce judgment over other spiritual beings (“gods”). Implies an active heavenly court.
– Psalm 89:5-8 – Describes God’s faithfulness and wonders being praised in the council of the holy ones in heaven.
– Psalm 103:19-22 – Says God has established His throne in the heavens, with angels obeying and ministering to Him as “mighty ones” and “ministers.”
– Isaiah 6 – The prophet Isaiah sees the Lord on His exalted throne in the heavenly temple, with seraphim calling to one another in antiphonal worship.
– Jeremiah 23:18 – Jeremiah challenges the false prophets, saying only those who stand in the counsel of the Lord can access His word. Again implies a divine council.
– Hebrews 12:22-24 – Mentions believers coming into the heavenly Jerusalem, general assembly, church of the firstborn, God the Judge, and to the spirits of righteous people made perfect.
– Revelation 11:19 – At the sounding of the seventh trumpet, God’s temple in heaven is opened and the ark of His covenant is seen there. This demonstrates heavenly realities beyond just a throne.
While these verses may give hints of divine courts, councils and assemblies in heaven, they do not provide instruction for believers to actively enter or petition them for breakthroughs. Thus the biblical support can seem limited without interpretive elaboration. As with any doctrine, the plain and direct teachings of scripture must be given priority in forming beliefs.
Conclusion
The courts of heaven concept reflects one way some believers approach prayer and engaging the spiritual realm based on certain scriptures. While providing insight into spiritual legalities and God’s supreme authority, taken too far it risks becoming ungrounded in direct biblical teachings. As with any theological model, it requires discernment and testing against God’s Word.
Ultimately, believers have confidence that God hears their prayers, accomplishes justice, and causes breakthroughs according to His sovereign will – whether pictured as petitions before a judge and court system or simply childlike requests to a loving Father.
