Mattie Montgomery (For Today) -Explique : Breaker (la pochette) & Devastator (le clip) - en anglais

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C'est Mattie, chanteur de For Today, qui nous explique la pochette de Breaker et le clip Devastator ... en anglais ci-dessous.

--The 6 wings covered in eyes in the picture represent 4 creatures that fly around the throne of God day and night, called "Seraphim", or "Burning Ones" (Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1, Revelation 4) These creatures are angelic beings whose entire commission it is to simply be near God--this leads, naturally, to the breaking-forth of praises.

--The 4 larger, individual symbols inside the circle are the Hebrew letters, "YHWH".  This is the scriptural name of God. The writers of scripture, out of reverence for the holy name of God, refused to write out His whole name.  Therefore, they only included the consonants.  So what we know about the name of God is that it contains the consonants "YHWH".  This is where we get the name "Yahweh" from, although it is also sometimes translated as "Jehovah", as the letters "y" and "j" are interchangeable in the Hebrew alphabet, as well as the letters "v" and "w".

At the top of the circle is the Star of David. The foretold Messiah was prophesied as being a descendant of David (Isaiah 11:10-11).  Jesus, being this Messiah, is of the bloodline of David and has/will be called a "son of David" forever.  Therefore, the use of the Star of David on our album art is a reference to fulfilled prophecy surrounding Jesus and His divinity/godhood.

--In the top, left-hand corner of the circle is the name "Michael", written in Hebrew.  Michael is an archangel (Jude 1:9) called "The great prince who stands watch over your people" (Daniel 12), and spoken of as a commander or a general of an army of angels in Revelation 12.  He is a warrior angel who has been commissioned to defend both the throne of God and the image-bearers of God--humans.

--In the top, right-hand part of the circle, the name Gabriel is written in Hebrew. Gabriel is a messenger angel.  He is recorded as interpreting Daniel's visions in Daniel 8:16-26, and 9:20-27, as well as announcing the births of John (Luke 1:11-20) and Jesus (Luke 1:26-38).

-On the bottom, left-hand part of the circle, the name Raphael is written in Hebrew. The name Raphael means "God heals" or, "God, please heal".  In John 5, there is a pool at a place called Bethesda where many sick people had gathered because "an angel of the Lord descended at certain times into the pond; and the water was moved.  And he that went down first into the pond after the motion of the water was made whole of whatsoever infirmity he lay under."  Because of Raphael's name and role, this event is believed to be the assignment of Raphael.

--On the bottom, right hand part of the circle, the name Uriel is written in Hebrew.  Uriel is written about in only extra-canonical books, but his name means "God is light", or "The light of God".  And is consistently referred to as the 4th archangel, standing along-side Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
,,In regards to the man portrayed on the inside of the album's liner notes, here are a few notes about him:

He is the "Breaker".  The personification of a role that is filled by God, as well as people operating under the commission of God.  The breaker concept is one that dictates (very simply), "What was once broken is now used to bring breakthrough."  That is why the Breaker has been torn apart, and then stitched back together.  He is also holding the chains of the delivered in his hands--chains that have been broken off and taken away.  His belt buckle has an ancient Latin symbol meaning "Jesus Christ conquers", or "Jesus Christ is victorious".   And, on His chest is carved "Baal Perazim".  This comes from a biblical story recorded in both 2 Samuel 5 and 1 Chronicles 14.  The phrase "Baal Perazim" means "The God who breaks through", and David, as he gave the name to the place of his victory said, "As waters break out, the LORD has broken out against my enemies before me."  (2 Samuel 5:20) The passage goes on to say "The Philistines abandoned their idols there.

The Breaker represents God's victory, both in regions and individuals. Baal Perazim is the place in which God breaks through, and people abandon their idols.

- Mattie

As I'm sure you're already aware, the song "Devastator" was written about spiritual warfare.  I wrote this song as an anthem for everyone who has been set free by the blood of Jesus.  Scripture says, in Isaiah 14:3-4, "On the day the LORD gives you relief from suffering and turmoil and cruel bondage, you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon."  In this passage, the "king of Babylon.  " is used as a metaphor for Satan,.  So, as people who have been given relief from suffering and turmoil and cruel bondage, we are free to raise up a taunt against the one who enslaved us.  For me, "Devastator" has become that taunt.

We are aware, this video is really graphic for us, but such is the nature of the warfare we're writing about.  Hell has, for generations, been opposing, threatening and suppressing the Gospel.  And, for generations, the Gospel has prevailed.  Both this song and this video are images of a very near day in which a generation in the Church will arise under the knowledge of Christ, and the manifest power of God through His Holy Spirit and labor for the establishment of the will and Kingdom of God on earth.  Romans 8 says "All creation is groaning in anticipation for the Sons of God to be revealed."  The same passage goes on to say "Creation itself will be liberated from it's bondage to corruption into the glorious freedom of the children of God".   We live in a world that is groaning for true Sons and Daughters of God to be revealed, and will, on that day, be set free from it's bondage to corruption.

In the video, you may be able to catch glimpses of a red sash being passed from soldier to soldier. This is an illustration we used as a tribute to a powerful drama put on by our friends at The Ramp in Hamilton, Alabama.  You can see the original drama here:

Both in this drama, and in our video, the red sash is representative of a "mantle" (an office, role, or calling) to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth that has been passed down between believers from generation to generation.  This is something that Jesus passed on to His disciples, who then passed it on to men like Paul and Timothy, who passed it on to thousands of others.  This is a sacred entrusting that has ultimately been granted to us--an entrusting with the full weight, power and responsibility of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; a Gospel that has the power to raise the dead, give sight to the blind, set the captives free and bind up broken hearts.

As 11 of the 12 disciples went to the grave, some of them tortured (beheaded, crucified upside-down, dipped in boiling oil) to death, all of them refusing to deny the divinity of their master, Jesus, they unknowingly paved the way for countless others to know the redemptive hope and power of Jesus in their own lives.  This has lead to an estimated 50 MILLION people who have made the decision that they would rather DIE than deny their Savior and King, Jesus Christ. This passion and desperation have not been left behind in a perceived "old world" in which martyrdom is common, as there are currently approximately 170,000 people killed for their faith in Christ each year, around the world.

But, while looking back at what has already occurred, we do not mourn these losses, but we look forward to the same end as all these heroes of the faith--the only prize worth dying for.  We look forward to the day in which Satan, the accuser of the brethren, the father of all lies, and the murderer of the saints, is crushed, destroyed, dethroned and brought to justice for his attacks on God's image-bearers.  Romans 16:20 says "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet."  This is the promise of God to His faithful elect that we will join in the distribution and exaction of justice over the enemy, and that we will stand beside Christ, the conqueror, as we, together, dismantle everything hell has built to keep us from our God and King.

In this video, the sniper represents Satan--he is the one that has been killing and wounding our brothers and sisters before us.  The red sash represents the mantle/calling with which we have been entrusted, to proclaim the Gospel to all creation.  This mantle is both the reason we are under attack, and it is also the thing that ensures our victory.

It is our prayer, as a group, that you are all challenged and ministered to by this video.  See this war for what it really is--unrelenting, demanding, violent, but ultimately, already won by our victorious King, Jesus.

- Mattie