Page 8 - Imprecatory Prayer

Prayers Which Overcome Institutional Evil
it together corporately.

5. The Book of Revelation. Read Revelation 6:9-10.

Here we see the martyrs crying out for the release of divine justice
and divine vengeance upon those who shed innocent blood. The two
entities which opposed the Early Church were apostate Judaism,
referred to metaphorically as the False Prophet, and the Roman
Empire, referred to as The Beast. Steven’s blood was shed at the
hands of the False Prophet. Jesus, the True Prophet, was rejected by
the same entity when He was crucified. He was also killed by The
Beast as the Roman rulers joined the Sanhedrin in His execution.

In the book of Revelation, the Beast is Nero Caesar whose name
numerically is 666.

Biblically Defining Imprecation

The Biblical usage and definition of imprecation is primarily found
in the book of Jeremiah. The Hebrew word for imprecation, Q’lalah,
is found in 24:9 where it is translated “curse”; and in 42:18 and
44:12 where it is translated “imprecation”. Its meanings are: (1)
curse; (2) reproach; (3) reviling; (4) to become lessened or despised;
(5) to become insignificant; (6) to become lightly esteemed, and (7)
to be lowered to a lesser state.

Some historical background can be helpful here. Jerusalem had been
invaded and sacked by the King of Babylon in 586 BC. Jeremiah
and a remnant of the people are left in the city. The leader of the
remnant, Johanan, asks the prophet to inquire of the Lord for
direction. They promise to obey whatever the Lord says. But when
Jeremiah returns ten days later with the word of the Lord, the people
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