Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 18:21-24 is about finality of Babylon's fall.
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 Babylonshall 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.
A millstone refers to the sin of Babylon. The millstone means the stumbling-block.
The sin of Babylon is the one of eating-drinking and marrying-giving in marriage which is the same as the stumbling-block.
Why does God allow the stumbling-block? It is for testing our humility and holiness. We must always be lowly in heart and purified, so we do not become a stumbling-block.
For example, Judas Iscariot was not purified, so he became a stumbling-block. The king Herod became a stumbling-block when Jesus was about to be born. Peter who was great also became a stumbling-block when Jesus would be crucified.
Matthew 16:17-18
16:17. Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
16:18. "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Peter was the rock, namely the base of the church of God, and he was not controlled by the death. Peter was a senior apostle who was great, and it was recognized by God Himself. But, a moment later he could become a stumbling-block.
Matthew 16:21-23
16:21. From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
16:22. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!"
16:23. But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan!You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."
Peter who became a stumbling-block or had the sin of Babylon became the same as Satan who would be destroyed forever in the lake of fire and brimstone. Why? Because he was arrogant, so he depended on his fleshly mind and logic. Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him after He preached about the cross. It is logic that Jesus does not need to be crucified because He is innocent, but without salvation or the spiritual value. There are no salvation and holiness without the cross.
Be watchful! Peter was a senior apostle, and he was praised by God, but he could become a stumbling-block because of the fleshly mind. Who are we? We must keep watching and being careful. We should live by faith, not following our logic. Since faith is higher than logic, thus logic will accept the thing which is accepted by faith.
The facts founds in rejecting the mind which is like Jesus are as follows:
God blesses us.
Revelation 18:21-24 is about finality of Babylon's fall.
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 Babylonshall 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.
A millstone refers to the sin of Babylon. The millstone means the stumbling-block.
The sin of Babylon is the one of eating-drinking and marrying-giving in marriage which is the same as the stumbling-block.
Why does God allow the stumbling-block? It is for testing our humility and holiness. We must always be lowly in heart and purified, so we do not become a stumbling-block.
For example, Judas Iscariot was not purified, so he became a stumbling-block. The king Herod became a stumbling-block when Jesus was about to be born. Peter who was great also became a stumbling-block when Jesus would be crucified.
Matthew 16:17-18
16:17. Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
16:18. "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Peter was the rock, namely the base of the church of God, and he was not controlled by the death. Peter was a senior apostle who was great, and it was recognized by God Himself. But, a moment later he could become a stumbling-block.
Matthew 16:21-23
16:21. From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
16:22. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!"
16:23. But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan!You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."
Peter who became a stumbling-block or had the sin of Babylon became the same as Satan who would be destroyed forever in the lake of fire and brimstone. Why? Because he was arrogant, so he depended on his fleshly mind and logic. Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him after He preached about the cross. It is logic that Jesus does not need to be crucified because He is innocent, but without salvation or the spiritual value. There are no salvation and holiness without the cross.
Be watchful! Peter was a senior apostle, and he was praised by God, but he could become a stumbling-block because of the fleshly mind. Who are we? We must keep watching and being careful. We should live by faith, not following our logic. Since faith is higher than logic, thus logic will accept the thing which is accepted by faith.
The facts founds in rejecting the mind which is like Jesus are as follows:
- Peter rejected Christ's cross. It means rejecting the teaching of the cross or the foundation.
1 Corinthians 1:18,23-24
1:18. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1:23. but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
1:24. but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
The teaching of the cross is the power of God and the wisdom of God to save the sinners. Peter rejected the cross, so he became a stumbling-block. He should have been destroyed in the hell forever. But, thank God that he still got a chance.
Acts 2:14,22,24
2:14. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.
2:22. "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know--
2:24. "whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
It is about the Pentecost, namely the fullness of Holy Spirit. Peter had the chance and mercy of God, so he could receive the teaching of the cross after he was filled by Holy Spirit. Peter was forgiven and saved. Further, he could also be used to preach the teaching of the cross for others.
Acts 2:36-40
2:36. "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
2:37. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
2:38. Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2:39. "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
2:40. And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
The facts of receiving the teaching of the cross are as follows:- 'know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ'. We can hear and receive the teaching of the cross, so we believe in God. We confess that Jesus is our Savior. Our heart can be touched, so we realize, regret, and confess sin to God and others. As a result, we experience the remission of sins, and we are not punished.
If our heart is always touched, so we can confess our sin and we will experience the forgiveness. Do not ignore the sin! Ignoring sin means the hard heart. One does not want to confess his sin, so he will surely become a stumbling-block. Judas Iscariot kept his sin, so it was buried in his heart until he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. It means that his sin was known by others, but there was no more forgiveness. - Repenting or stopping sinning and returning to God.
- Entering the water baptism, so we do not sin anymore although there is chance.
- Receiving Holy Spirit baptism. The Spirit of truth will guide us to the righteousness. We are saved and blessed by God.
10:25. When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
The true teaching will become a strong foundation, so we can always endure and give thanks to God regardless of anything that happens. We can receive God's blessing up to our descendants. We can become the blessing for others until we receive the blessing of eternal life.
On the contrary, the wicked is the sinner who rejects the cross. He does not have foundation. Consequently, his life is easily broken. - 'know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ'. We can hear and receive the teaching of the cross, so we believe in God. We confess that Jesus is our Savior. Our heart can be touched, so we realize, regret, and confess sin to God and others. As a result, we experience the remission of sins, and we are not punished.
- Peter rejected the will of God or the Tabernacle teaching.
John 21:3
21:3. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
The teaching of the cross is to give the foundation. The Tabernacle teaching is used to build. The center of the Tabernacle teaching is doing the will of God.
Exodus 25:8,10
25:8. "And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.
25:10. " And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height.
According to the will of God, Peter should become the fisher of men, but his will was the fisherman. We must indeed suffer to do the will of God because it often does not meet our logic. Peter seemed to be forced to become the fisherman because there was no Jesus breaking the bread. It looks right, but it loses the spiritual value.
The Tabernacle teaching arranges our ministry or ordination to God, so it pleases God. We do not use the way of men. We must pray that all churches can become in one teaching, so it will surely result in one voice of worship. Why must the Tabernacle teaching? Without the Tabernacle teaching or the will of God, He will loathe us, so we experience His wrath.
The condition without the Tabernacle teaching is like the Israelites who came to Aaron when Moses was on Mount Sinai. The gold should be used to build the Tabernacle, but it was used to build the golden calves (the idol of the Egyptians). Consequently, three thousand men fell.
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.
The ordination that is not in line with the Tabernacle teaching will make three thousand men fall. The ministry that is not in line with the Tabernacle teaching will never reach holiness--the volume of the Holy Place is two thousand cubit cubic--and perfection--the volume of the Most Holy Place is a thousand cubit cubic. One instead aims at perdition forever. Why do many people reject the Tabernacle teaching? Because they use their logic or the fleshly mind. The Word is often impossible for our mind, but actually it is able to take away the impossibilities in our life.
The facts found in the ordination that is not in line with the will of God are as follows:- John 21:3
21:3. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
Catching nothing means being unable to do anything. One does not bear the fruit. He has no guarantee. He is like a branch that does not abide in the true vine. Why? It is because of being unholy and unfaithful.
John 15:5
15:5. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
If we are purified, we will become as a branch that abides in the true vine--being faithful and shepherded. As a result, we can bear the sweet fruit sooner or later to please God and others.
John 13:10-11
13:10. Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."
13:11. For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean."
The Tabernacle teaching should purify us from the evil desire--greediness and stinginess--and unclean desire--the sin of eating-drinking and marrying-giving in marriage, including the false marriage, mixed-marriage, and divorce-remarrying. If we live in holiness, we will surely become faithful until we bear the sweet fruit. "My Father is the vinedresser" means that our effort is like a baby who is unable to do anything. We must keep making effort, but God who will work to take care of, protect, and bless us in the midst of the difficulties of the world up to the age of the Antichrist when we are evacuated to the wilderness, far from the eyes of the serpent. The important thing is that we can produce the sweet fruit. - John 21:4
21:4. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Not knowing Jesus as the High Priest means that one is never touched by Jesus, so he becomes the dry branch. He just results in meaningless words such as lie, gossip, slander, and blasphemy. The dry branch will be used in the dry revival up to the perdition.
John 15:6
15:6. "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
The dry branch will enter the fellowship of the dry branches, namely those who just talk about others' mistakes, not the Word of God. They will be burnt and destroyed forever. That is why we may not use our mouth to speak the things that are out of the Word. - John 21:7
21:7. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
Peter was naked. It means being ashamed, so one cannot be glorified in the world and on the glorious clouds with Jesus when He comes a second time.
John 21:5-6
21:5. Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No."
21:6. And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
In the morning Jesus came with the Word that contradicted the logic. If we use our logic, we will never receive the Word of God. "Children, have you any food?" means that God is testing our honesty. "Cast the net on the right side of the boat" means that God is purifying our mind so we can become obedient.
John 21:11
21:11. Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.
If we become honest and obedient, we will get one hundred and fifty-three large fish.
One hundred and fifty-three means 1 + 5 + 3= 9. It is the number of the mercy.
The number threemeans that our body, soul, and spirit are purified.
The number fiverefers to the five main ministries and Holy Spirit's gift to equip the saints for the ministry of the building of the perfect body of Christ.
The number onemeans that we will be put together to become one perfect body of Christ.
Being used in the building of the body of Christ is signified with the suffering. We must sacrifice all things, except the true teaching Word.
For example, we may not sacrifice the true teaching in the marriage. The true teaching is the Head or Jesus Himself. The body without the Head is horrible. But as long as we have the Head, God has the best thinking for us, His bride.
- John 21:3
- Peter rejected God's love or the Bride teaching.
John 21:15-17
21:15. So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
21:16. He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."
21:17. He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
The center of the Bride teaching is the two tablets of stone, namely the perfect love of God. Jesus asked Peter three times whether he loved Him or not.
At the first and second question, Jesus asked with the love of God.
At the third question, Jesus asked with the love to other people.
Peter was grieved because he did not have God's love and the love to other people, so he became a stumbling-block.
Peter should have been destroyed and drowned into the lake of fire and brimstone. But by the shepherding system, namely the perseverance in committing the three kinds of main service to God, Peter could hear the repeated Bride teaching, so he could receive the sacrifice of the Great Shepherd. Peter could still receive God's love. He received God's opportunity and mercy in the shepherding, so he could love God more than anything as well as love others as he loved himself; even he could love his enemy- Peter stretched out his hand because of loving others.
Matthew 26:51
26:51. And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
Before receiving God's love, Peter had stretched out his hand to strike the servant of the high priest. It means becoming a stumbling-block, so others cannot hear the Tabernacle and the Bride teachings. Peter broke the ministry of the building of the body of Christ--'cut off his ear'.
But after receiving God's love, Peter stretched out his hand to help others who were in need. It means building the perfect body of Christ. We ask God's love in our life, so we can love others and those who make hostility toward us.
Acts 3:6-7
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. - Peter could stretch out his hands to God. It means loving God and totally believing in Him. We must totally trust and commit ourselves to God. We trust and cry to God. We do not use our logic anymore, so we can love God more than anything.
John 21:18
21:18. "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish."
We totally receive the will of God although it is painful for the flesh. There is beautiful plan for us in the will of God, namely success, peace, and happiness. We willingly suffer anything to glorify God's name. The disciples including Peter willingly died to glorify God's name.
John 21:19
21:19. This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
We follow Jesus as the following of body to the Head. God will stretch out His merciful and powerful hands to lift us up and take away all of impossibilities in our life. Peter had drowned and he was lifted by God's merciful hand. For us now, God's merciful hand is able to lift us up. Failure becomes success. The falling into sin can be restored to living in righteousness and holiness until we are perfected to become His bride.
- Peter stretched out his hand because of loving others.
God blesses us.