Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 18:21
18:21. Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.
Matthew 18:6
18:6. "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
The great city Babylon is the same as a millstone.
The millstone is the same as the stumbling sin. So, the sin of Babylon, namely the one of eating-drinking and marrying-giving in marriage is the same as the stumbling sin. One becomes a stumbling-block, so others commit sin because of emotion, ill will,et cetera. The stumbling sin also means that one easily stumbles and commits sin because of others' deed. We must be watchful when the stumbling sin happens between the servants. We must confess and forgive one another, so we do not become a stumbling-block and stumble.
The consequence of the stumbling sin is that a millstone is hung around his neck, and he is drowned in the depth of the sea. The neck refers to the closest relationship between the Head (Jesus) and the body (us). If a millstone is hung around our neck, we will feel uncomfortable. We are hard to minister to God. We become unfaithful up to leaving the ministry to God. We will not be able to worship God, so we experience the spiritual death. We experience the physical and spiritual decreases up to the second death in the hell forever.
The two kinds of stumbling-sin are as follows:
ad. 2. The Stumbling-block from Outside
Ezekiel 7:19-20
7:19. 'They will throw their silver into the streets, And their gold will be like refuse; Their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them In the day of the wrath of the LORD; They will not satisfy their souls, Nor fill their stomachs, Because it became their stumbling block of iniquity.
7:20. 'As for the beauty of his ornaments, He set it in majesty; But they made from it The images of their abominations--Their detestable things; Therefore I have made it Like refuse to them.
The riches become a stumbling-block because of the things as follows:
We must have the spiritual silver and gold, so we do not stumble with the physical one. The spiritual silver and gold means as follows:
God blesses us.
Revelation 18:21
18:21. Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.
Matthew 18:6
18:6. "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
The great city Babylon is the same as a millstone.
The millstone is the same as the stumbling sin. So, the sin of Babylon, namely the one of eating-drinking and marrying-giving in marriage is the same as the stumbling sin. One becomes a stumbling-block, so others commit sin because of emotion, ill will,et cetera. The stumbling sin also means that one easily stumbles and commits sin because of others' deed. We must be watchful when the stumbling sin happens between the servants. We must confess and forgive one another, so we do not become a stumbling-block and stumble.
The consequence of the stumbling sin is that a millstone is hung around his neck, and he is drowned in the depth of the sea. The neck refers to the closest relationship between the Head (Jesus) and the body (us). If a millstone is hung around our neck, we will feel uncomfortable. We are hard to minister to God. We become unfaithful up to leaving the ministry to God. We will not be able to worship God, so we experience the spiritual death. We experience the physical and spiritual decreases up to the second death in the hell forever.
The two kinds of stumbling-sin are as follows:
- The stumbling-block from inside, namely eyes, feet, and hands, so it must be cut or purified by the sword of the Word.
- The stumbling-block from outside.
ad. 2. The Stumbling-block from Outside
Ezekiel 7:19-20
7:19. 'They will throw their silver into the streets, And their gold will be like refuse; Their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them In the day of the wrath of the LORD; They will not satisfy their souls, Nor fill their stomachs, Because it became their stumbling block of iniquity.
7:20. 'As for the beauty of his ornaments, He set it in majesty; But they made from it The images of their abominations--Their detestable things; Therefore I have made it Like refuse to them.
The riches become a stumbling-block because of the things as follows:
- The physical silver and gold become the bond. It means that one loves money, so he does not love God and others.
The fact found in it is that the church of God becomes greedy. Greediness means that one cannot give for the working of God and others who are in need. It means not loving God and others or having no love, so he does not experience the satisfaction, and he will surely tend to grumble. For example, Judas Iscariot grumbled when a woman took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard and anointed the feet of Jesus. He grumbled because he was bound by the physical riches. Consequently, he was not saved. He burst opened in the middle and all his entrails gushed out
2 Corinthians 9:12
9:12. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
If we are set free from the bond of the physical silver and gold, we will be able to give with the love to supply the needs of the saints and those who are in need. We are also abounding through many thanksgivings to God, both from the giver and receiver of the blessings.
1 Timothy 6:18-19
6:18. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
6:19. storing upfor themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Willingness to share is the good works. It is the same as storing up for ourselves that we may be saved. Giving to God and others is the same as storing up for ourselves in heaven. We will receive the salvation. - The physical silver and gold make one pride(Ezekiel 7:20a). The pride of life means that one hopes and relies on the physical silver and gold more than God.
The facts found in it are as follows:- Ministering to God just for the physical silver and gold. The true ministry is hearing God or the true teaching Word. One who is lowly in heart ministers to God because he needs Him.
- Becoming unfaithful and leaving the ministry because of the physical things such as riches, position, et cetera. We must learn and work hard, but it may not disturb our ministry to God.
3:18. Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.
Malachi 4:1
4:1. "For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the LORD of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch.
One who ministers to God for the physical thing or becomes unfaithful and leaves the ministry because of the physical thing is the same as stubble that is useless. He just waits to be burnt and destroyed forever. - Ministering to God just for the physical silver and gold. The true ministry is hearing God or the true teaching Word. One who is lowly in heart ministers to God because he needs Him.
- The physical silver and gold become an idol(Ezekiel 7:20b), so men do not worship God anymore, but the physical silver and gold.
Colossians 3:5
3:5. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
The fact of idolatry is covetousness to the physical silver and gold. It means as follows:- Stealing the possession of others. Be watchful! Do not steal or lie about inheritance between brothers! The fraud between brothers is the same as eating the flesh and blood or the beast. We must be just. Do not commit the corruption!
- Stealing the possession of God, namely the tithe and special offerings. It is the same as worshipping the Antichrist.
32:2. And Aaron said to them, "Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me."
32:4. And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, "This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!"
The Israelites experienced many temptations. There were about three thousand men of the people who fell because of the idolatry, namely the golden calves. Moses as the shepherd was on the mountain to get the revelation of the Word, so the congregation could live according to the will of God, but the Israelites asked the advice from other servant of God, namely Aaron. In order to captivate the congregation, Aaron lied. He received the gold of the Israelites and made a molded calf. He lied because he told the thing that was not in line with the true teaching Word. It is the false teaching that aimed at the idolatry.
The consequence of covetousness is the idolatry in the midst of the congregation. They do not want to hear nor obey the Word. They ignore the rebuke, chastening, and advice of the shepherd through the true Word. They choose others' advice that meets their lust and hear gossips, lies, et cetera. At last they also make hostility toward the true shepherd.
Exodus 32:18-19
32:18. But he said: "It is not the noise of the shout of victory, Nor the noise of the cry of defeat, But the sound of singing I hear."
32:19. So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses' anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.
The consequence of the idolatry is falling into the sins of eating-drinking and marrying-giving in marriage. They sang and danced to release their lust. They were used in the building of the body of Babylon, so they would be destroyed with Babylon.
Exodus 32:28
32:28. So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fellthat day.
Further, the three thousand men fell. The number three thousand refers to the volume of the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle. It means being unable to become holy and perfect but destroyed forever.
Acts 3:1-6
3:1. Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
3:2. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;
3:3. who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
3:4. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us."
3:5. So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
3:6. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
In the New Testament, one who prioritizes the physical riches is like a certain man lame. His condition prophesies the one of the church of God in the last rain that is bound by the physical silver and gold.
Paralysis means that one stumbles and falls up to being unable to rise anymore. Consequently, the church of God cannot enter the gate of the temple of God. It means as follows:- Being unwilling, unfaithful, and unable to minister to God because one just looks for the physical thing.
- Being unable to enter the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful. It means that his life is not beautiful but in weariness, labor, and tears.
- The paralytic is on the bed. It means falling into the sins of eating-drinking and marrying-giving in marriage (the ones of Babylon).
- Being unable to enter the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful means being unable to enter the door of heaven (Genesis 28:16-17), so one is destroyed forever.
- Stealing the possession of others. Be watchful! Do not steal or lie about inheritance between brothers! The fraud between brothers is the same as eating the flesh and blood or the beast. We must be just. Do not commit the corruption!
We must have the spiritual silver and gold, so we do not stumble with the physical one. The spiritual silver and gold means as follows:
- We have the redemption by the blood of Jesus, so we experience the freedom from sin.
1 Peter 1:18-19
1:18. knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
1:19. but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
1 John 1:7,9
1:7. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1:9. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The process is as follows:- By the encouragement of the teaching Word that shows our sin, we can realize, regret, and confess our sin. As a result, the blood of Jesus forgives our sin up to there is no remnant of it.
- The blood of Jesus will pull out the roots of sin, so we do not sin anymore. We experience the freedom from sin as well as live in righteousness. We become the precious life as the blood of Jesus. We become a worthy life before God. Do not sin anymore after being forgiven! We must live in righteousness.
- We must be shepherded well and correctly. We are always in the sheepfold, namely perseverance in committing the three kinds of main service to God. In the sheepfold, we cannot be deceived by the false teaching, so we are firm in salvation and righteousness. As a result, the righteous is not forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. We are taken care of up to eternal life. "I shall not want" (Psalm23:1) means that we become firm as well as grow up to perfection.
- By the encouragement of the teaching Word that shows our sin, we can realize, regret, and confess our sin. As a result, the blood of Jesus forgives our sin up to there is no remnant of it.
- We must receive the purification by the true teaching Word.
2 Timothy 2:20-26
2:20. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.
2:21. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
2:22. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2:23. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
2:24. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
2:25. in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
2:26. and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
We are purified by the sword of the Word in the things as follows:- The youthful lusts (a young lion in the vineyards).
Judges 14:5-6
14:5. So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Now to his surprise, a young lion came roaring against him.
14:6. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.
The youthful lust refers to the lusts of the eyes that aim at the sins of eating-drinking--Eve's eyes were aimed at the forbidden fruits--, and the lust of the flesh that aims at the sins of marrying-giving in marriage (infidelity, mixed-marriage, divorce-remarrying, et cetera). The young lion or the lust of the flesh also refers to envy, hatred, and revenge.
If we are purified from the youthful lust, we will live in Holy Spirit--the lion is torn by the Spirit of the LORD. We have righteousness, faith, love, and peace (2 Timothy 2:22). We must be on the side of the true teaching Word to become righteous. Living in purity means being holy and pure up to our heart, not pretending to be holy. We can hold fast the true and pure teaching Word. - Quarrelling(2 Timothy 2:23-25). We must make peace one another, so there is no more quarrel. One who is false must confess his sin. One who is true must forgive others. As a result, the blood of Jesus washes our sin. There is no more quarrel but peace or serenity.
Further, we must be patient (2 Timothy 2:24). It means being patient in suffering and waiting the time of God to correct those who are in opposition so they return to God or the way of righteousness. The servant of God must be able to minister in patience to those who are unwilling and unable to be served. We may be slandered, but we must be patient and not grumble.
2 Timothy 2:21
2:21. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
If we are purified, we will have the spiritual silver and gold, so we can be used in the good work. We are used in the ministry of the building of the perfect body of Christ.
- The youthful lusts (a young lion in the vineyards).
- We can endure in the shocks until we belong to God forever. Ministering God will surely be followed by the test, challenge, obstacle, and shock.
Haggai 2:7
2:7. 'and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD of hosts.
We belong to God. It means that we have His characteristic or the divine nature as follows:- Silver. It refers to the tongue of the righteous, namely honesty or saying yes if yes, and no if no and saying true if the teaching is true, and avoiding if it is false.
Proverbs 10:20a
10:20. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; - Gold. It refers to obedience like Jesus who becomes obedient to the point of death on the cross.
Acts 3:6-8
3:6. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
3:7. And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
3:8. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them--walking, leaping, and praising God.
The results are as follows:- The power of healing. The impossible things such as economy, disease, future, et cetera become possible.
- The paralytic could walk and enter the temple. It means that we can receive the beautiful and successful future.
- Walking and entering the temple, and praising God. It means that Holy Spirit helps us, so we can minister to God delightfully. We always minister to God faithfully and fervently. God also remembers, delights, and struggles to do all things that we cannot think or imagine.
Isaiah 5:7
5:7. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help. - The power of the name of Jesus is able to purify and make us perfect like Him. We become His bride. We say 'Alleluia'to greet Jesus when He comes a second time on the glorious clouds. We enter the New Jerusalem forever.
- Silver. It refers to the tongue of the righteous, namely honesty or saying yes if yes, and no if no and saying true if the teaching is true, and avoiding if it is false.
God blesses us.