Upper Room Prayer and Worship Center

The Upper Room Prayer and Worship Center is a Christian worship center where prayer and worship is continued 24 hours a day, every day of the year. It is an extension of Word of Life Church, in Saint Joseph, Missouri, USA. The Upper Room is constructed from stone imported from Jerusalem and is roughly themed after the upper room spoken of in the Biblical Book of Acts.

History

Construction on The Upper Room was completed in 2003 and the building was dedicated at midnight on November 1, 2003, the 22nd Anniversary of Word of Life Church. During the dedication, Pastor Brian Zahnd described the purpose of The Upper Room as:

* A house of prayer according to Isaiah 56:7. "For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."
* A tabernacle of David according to Acts 15:16. "After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up."
* A place of the 'one thing man and woman,' according to Psalm 27:4. "One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple."

The Upper Room Prayer and Worship Center is open 24 hours a day for personal prayer and devotions. Throughout the week, there are various special prayer meetings and themed devotional times scheduled.

Symbolism

The Upper Room architectural design is full of symbolism. The dimensions of the architecture are largely made up of multiples of twelve and seven. The number twelve appears in the Bible numerous times - when referencing the twelve tribes of Israel, the twelve apostles, and twelve foundation stones for the New Jerusalem. The vestibule area is 12' by 24'. The office and the mechanical room are 12' by 24'. The chapel area is 48' by 60', multiples of 12'. The whole tower area is 12' by 12' by almost 36 feet high. The ceiling is divided 12 times on each side with a center spine down the middle and there are twelve lights. The twelve divisions are supported on each side by three arches representing the trinity, and are connected in the back of the room by a 7th arch - seven being the prime number revealed in the book of Revelation: the seven lamps, the seven stars, the seven churches, the seven seals, the seven trumpets, the seven bowls, the seven thunders, and the seven angels.

Symbolism also appears throughout the stone work. The stone was imported from Jerusalem to resemble the upper room spoken of in the Bible. The walls are constructed with Jerusalem stone and the walkway around the outside of the room is made of Jerusalem stone, so that when you walk in that area, you are walking, as it were, on streets of Jerusalem.

The cedar beams are symbolic of the cedar beams in Solomon’s temple. A watch tower on the wall is a reminder that this is a watchman ministry. Scripture says that all day and all night "they" will never keep silent - they are the watchmen, staying up through the night, and reminding the Lord of His promises.

ee also

*Word of Life Church
*Brian Zahnd
*24-7 Prayer Movement