Flaming Sword reminds us that the King of Kings jealously guards His beloved bride. Covenant loyalty and zeal run in both directions – our passionate pursuit of His heart and His unrelenting patience in pursuing our hearts. Meanwhile, our beloved Lord of Hosts gives His angels charge over us – to partner with us, enforce our victories, guard, minister, and even purify as heaven and earth meet to advance the Kingdom of God.

  • Psalm 103:20-21 (TLB) Bless the Lord, you mighty angels of his who carry out his orders, listening for each of his commands. Yes, bless the Lord, you armies of his angels who serve him constantly.
  • Matthew 4:11 (CJB) Then the Adversary let him alone, and angels came and took care of him.
  • Hebrews 1:14 (AMP) Are not all the angels ministering spirits sent out [by God] to serve (accompany, protect) those who will inherit salvation? [Of course they are!]
  • Isaiah 6:6 (VOICE) Then one of the flaming creatures flew to me holding a red-hot ember which it had taken from God’s table, the temple altar, with a pair of tongs.
  • Exodus 23:20 (NLT) See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you.

Hearing “Son-kissed.” The word in “kiss” in Hebrew (H5401) has a much richer meaning than one might imagine. Aside from the common meaning, it also is used in the sense where the vanquished promise fidelity and submission to a conqueror. It is also identical to another Hebrew word (H5400), which means to catch fire – burn, kindle. It is also connected to H2388, which definition includes to fasten upon; seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), conquer:—aid, amend, cleave, confirm, be constant, be established, mighty, repair, behave valiantly, withstand.

This creates a spectrum of meaning from the Father’s words, “Son-kissed.” Obviously this definition broadens our understanding of our love for Him – our submission to Him, and that we are aligning with Him. It obviously implies a fiery passion for Him, a cleaving and strengthening, and even a longevity. But Son-kissed implies Him kissing us, which touches upon a fierce loyalty to one another. Again the fiery passion – He burns with love for us! He strengthens and fortifies us, restores and builds our courage because we know He stands with us.

The Father says “Do not fear. Do not ever fear or doubt your place in Me and My plan. You are surefooted and secure. I will establish you.” He wants you to be assured that the “mark” of fidelity and submission to His Son is in place in your life. The seal of the Holy Spirit is upon you, the guarantee that you walk as the Bride. You are clothed now in your royal inheritance. As a “deposit” on that inheritance, you possess the Spirit of the Fear of the LORD, for your heart has embraced the rule of Christ in your life. The Father has opened your eyes to this reality by letting you see the seraph that walks with you.

As the Bride of His Son, you are well covered. If you lift up your voice He would send twelve legions of angels to defend you! Even now, the hosts of Heaven walk with you and stand at the ready. They will move at your command for you heed the voice of your Father in Heaven. He proclaims that you are stable in mind and single in your purpose. Simply believe and receive this in faith. You are married and one in the LORD—united, fastened, and joined with your Bridegroom according to His Blood and sacrifice at the cross. Walk fearless and walk blameless before the Father of Lights. He has your back—always!

Your Beloved is covering you. His angels protecting and enforcing for you is an aspect of that covering. This brings to mind the chuppah, which is used a “covering” during a wedding ceremony. Dr. Michael Kaufman of My Jewish Learning shares the following about the Chuppah, or Wedding Canopy.

The cloth chuppah was originally draped around the bride and groom but was later spread out over their heads. In some places, a tallit [prayer shawl] was draped over the couple or held above them. The single cloth under which the couple are joined thus symbolizes both the new household they are forming and represents the public recognition of their new status as man and wife….

The marriage ceremony is conducted under a marriage canopy, known in Hebrew as a chuppah (literally, “covering”). It consists of a square cloth, usually made of silk or velvet, supported by four staves, and ordinarily held by four men…

The chuppah in the open air is also reminiscent of the sukkah, a temporary structure erected during the holiday of Sukkot. Like the sukkah, the chuppah reminds bride and groom that they are protected by God alone and that God is their only haven and support.

Just as when a bride and groom marry, they move into a new season, a new dwelling (covering), and new intimacies. So the Lord is moving you into a new place, one where the old things have been left behind. It is the Father’s greatest desire that we would be brought into His house and discover our destiny as His children. He has paved the way for this gift through His Firstborn Son, Yeshua. As in Hebrew marriage traditions, Yeshua our Bridegroom has prepared a place for us, His Bride, and built a “wing” onto the Father’s House where we will dwell for eternity. We have the guarantee of the Holy Spirit that we will one day receive our incorruptible inheritance and our new spiritual bodies or “tent”. In order to embrace the new role and identity Christ has won for us as the children of God, we must be willing to let go of the “old man” now and along with it, our earthy role and identity. Today, we must don the garments or mindset of the Bride. And having done all we can to prepare, all that is left for us to do is stand in faith under the wedding canopy, fully prepared to receive our spiritual inheritance.

Just as the bride goes through a ritual cleansing before her wedding, so we are sensing a “kiss” of purification as in Isaiah 6:5-7 (AMPC) …I am a man of unclean lips… Then flew one of the seraphim [heavenly beings] to me, having a live coal in his hand which he had taken with tongs from off the altar; And with it he touched my mouth and said, Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity and guilt are taken away, and your sin is completely atoned for and forgiven.

In his teaching called “Seven Angelic Ministries”, teacher Neville Johnson, explains that there are seven aspects of angelic ministry. There are seven spirits or seven angels that stand before the throne of God (Revelation 5:6). There is an outpouring of God’s Spirit that allows us to walk in the same anointing as Christ when He was on the earth. It is according to Isaiah 11:2 (AMPC), “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord.”

The Spirit of the Fear of the LORD is an anointing of the Spirit which brings conviction. It brings an acute awareness of sin, and operates with the seraphim. It is the spirit of burning and judgment mentioned in Isaiah 4:4 which purifies and sanctifies us. This anointing is present during revivals where we see the fire of God come with power and great conviction.

Isaiah 4:2-6 (NKJV) In that day the Branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious…[he] will be called holy…When the Lord has washed away the filth…by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, then the LORD will create above every dwelling place…a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.

When one walks in the Spirit of the Fear of the LORD – like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego who feared God more than Nebuchadnezzar or the fire and as result they were protected – God protects you vigilantly. He sets His hosts over and about you that no weapon formed against you might prosper. Additionally, as you walk in bold confidence, your presence is enforced as an extension of Him by the fearsome angelic hosts. You are a steward operating as an extension of the King – His royal guards stand by to do what is necessary to see the instructions and decrees carried out.

{vision} Huge angels – like one might describe the angel Michael: big, strong, fearsome, mighty – standing behind you, swords drawn – flaming as with the presence of God (Exodus 13:21, Genesis 15:17). And each place you tread, they follow causing the enemy to run scrambling. They cannot be ignored, such is the power of their presence. By extension your presence cannot be ignored. Darkness trembles and HAS to flee as you usher in the presence of the Lord.

A Prophetic Nugget called “Enforcing Your Claim” from our Dyed4you Ministries blog is connected to this.

Joshua 1:3 (AMP) I have given you every place on which the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised to Moses.

Beloved, you are claiming territory for Me. As you exude My light, every place your foot shall step forces darkness to flee. My angelic hosts enforce your claim as you walk – reclaiming step-by-step, forcing back the darkness that seeks to encroach.

You walk in might for My presence surrounds you. So be intentional and unafraid, letting your light shine that My glory may be made manifest in the earth.

Just as the Army, Navy, Marines, and National Guard are called to work together to defend America, so the hosts of heaven and Earth are called to synergistically carry out the plans and purposes of God. Too few of God’s children realize that legions of angelic hosts are present in our midst, ready and waiting to assist us. While we are not to worship the angelic, we do have the privilege and duty of partnering with them. Our Father desires that our eyes would be opened to this reality, open to the unseen working and movements of His Kingdom.

We carry the keys to the Kingdom and are called to loose God’s will and bind the powers of darkness. When we pray, decree, or creatively speak in alignment with God’s Word, angels are dispatched to carry out the Father’s will. When we find ourselves deep in intercession, we are not laboring alone—the angelic battle against the forces of darkness in the heavenlies. When we seek our Father for answers, angels are dispatched with messages, insight, royal decrees, and keys to breakthrough. Angels also minister, teach, encourage, and protect us every day—even while we sleep!

Ask the Father to enlighten the eyes of your understanding and give you discernment on the inner workings of His Kingdom. You will see the part that you play and the level of responsibility you carry in as a messenger of the Gospel. It will also bolster your faith and embolden you as you take territory for the King!

The name of the silk in this image is Father of Lights. The colors in it are midnight sea representing tehowm (the deep – Psalm 42:7), indigo representing covering, light turquoise representing water-like flow of the Spirit, seafoam green representing increased flow, silver shimmer representing strengthened faith & wisdom, and pearl representing angelic presence.

Father, may we choose to walk in the fiery purity You’ve provided for us. May we never forget the provisions made for us by You, and that we have legions of Your heavenly hosts ready and awaiting Your command, we have but to ask You for assistance from them. Thank You for Your provision. Thank You for Your covering. Thank You for Your love for us that exceeds anything we could ask or imagine. May our lives be a testament to Your goodness in the earth.