Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 12:3
12:3. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.
Revelation 12: 3-18 is about the clear and complete appearance of Satan or dragon with his activities on the last days as follows:
ad. 6. Making war.
Revelation 17-18
12:17. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
12:18. Then I stood on the sand of the sea.
Satan makes war with the rest of the woman's offspring who are not evacuated to the wilderness for three and a half years. It means that Satan tramples, persecutes, and beheads the church of God.
Who is the target of Satan?
But they do not have the Golden Altar of Incense.
It means as follows:
That is why we must worship God delightfully from now on and increase it until we fulfill the measurement from God, namely the flesh does not speak anymore or the veil is torn, so we can enter into the Most Holy Place or perfection. We are not disturbed, tormented, and seen by the dragon, because we have been evacuated to the wilderness for three and a half years.
Revelation 11:1-2
11:1. Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.
11:2. "But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.
The measurement of the worship is a measuring rod.
It refers to the shepherd's rod, namely the shepherding word or the true teaching word which is entrusted by God to a shepherd to be preached to the congregation faithfully, regularly, continually, and repetitively to become the food for them, to grow their spirituality to maturity up to perfection.
The measurement of worship which is measured by the rod is eating the true shepherding word or obeying it until the flesh does not speak anymore like Jesus who becomes obedient to the point of death on the cross.
John 14:15
14:15. "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
The measurement of worship is loving God more than anything and loving others as we love ourselves; even we can love our enemy, namely returning good for evil.
Matthew 7:21-23
7:21. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
7:22. "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
7:23. "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
As a matter of fact, there are many servants of God who look great on the last days. They feel that they are used by God, but they do not obey the true teaching word. It is the same as being without love and obedience, so their ministry and worship do not fulfill the measurement from God. They are rejected by God. They are rebellious against God, so they become traitor like Judas Iscariot.
Matthew 24:12
24:12. "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
The consequences are as follows:
There are two kinds of lawlessness or betrayal as follows:
John 18:5-9
18:5. They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them.
18:6. Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
18:7. Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
18:8. Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,"
18:9. that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none."
To protect the church of God from betrayal or the one who has not reached the measurement of worship yet, Jesus appears with 'I am He'as follows:
God blesses us.
Revelation 12:3
12:3. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.
Revelation 12: 3-18 is about the clear and complete appearance of Satan or dragon with his activities on the last days as follows:
- [Revelation 12:4a] His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven.
- [Revelation 12:4b] Devouring.
- [Revelation 12:7] Fighting.
[Revelation 12: 3-12] It happens when Satan is still able to go to heaven to accuse men and do his three activities. - [Revelation 12:13] Persecuting or catching up fast.
- [Revelation 12:15] Causing the woman or the church of God to be carried away by the flood.
- [Revelation 12:17] Making war or persecuting.
[Revelation 12:13-18] It happens when Satan has been defeated and cast to the earth. He has no place in heaven forever, so he uses his short time before he is bound and destroyed to come down to men, having great wrath in his three activities.
ad. 6. Making war.
Revelation 17-18
12:17. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
12:18. Then I stood on the sand of the sea.
Satan makes war with the rest of the woman's offspring who are not evacuated to the wilderness for three and a half years. It means that Satan tramples, persecutes, and beheads the church of God.
Who is the target of Satan?
- The servants of God who keep the commandments of God (the Table of Showbread).
- The servants of God who have the testimony of Jesus Christ (the Golden Candlestick).
But they do not have the Golden Altar of Incense.
It means as follows:
- One does not want to worship God or he worships God unwillingly.
- Worshipping God but his worship has not reached God's measurement yet. His flesh is still speaking or the veil has not been torn yet, so he cannot enter into the Most Holy Place.
That is why we must worship God delightfully from now on and increase it until we fulfill the measurement from God, namely the flesh does not speak anymore or the veil is torn, so we can enter into the Most Holy Place or perfection. We are not disturbed, tormented, and seen by the dragon, because we have been evacuated to the wilderness for three and a half years.
Revelation 11:1-2
11:1. Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.
11:2. "But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.
The measurement of the worship is a measuring rod.
It refers to the shepherd's rod, namely the shepherding word or the true teaching word which is entrusted by God to a shepherd to be preached to the congregation faithfully, regularly, continually, and repetitively to become the food for them, to grow their spirituality to maturity up to perfection.
The measurement of worship which is measured by the rod is eating the true shepherding word or obeying it until the flesh does not speak anymore like Jesus who becomes obedient to the point of death on the cross.
John 14:15
14:15. "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
The measurement of worship is loving God more than anything and loving others as we love ourselves; even we can love our enemy, namely returning good for evil.
Matthew 7:21-23
7:21. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
7:22. "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
7:23. "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
As a matter of fact, there are many servants of God who look great on the last days. They feel that they are used by God, but they do not obey the true teaching word. It is the same as being without love and obedience, so their ministry and worship do not fulfill the measurement from God. They are rejected by God. They are rebellious against God, so they become traitor like Judas Iscariot.
Matthew 24:12
24:12. "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
The consequences are as follows:
- Being trampled up to being beheaded by the Antichrist who reigns over the world for three and a half years because he does not want to worship the Antichrist but keeps on worshipping God. He proves his obedience and love to God up to being beheaded. His flesh does not speak anymore, and he will be risen in the body of glory to reign with God forever when He comes a second time.
- Becoming the same as the Antichrist because one cannot survive against the tribulation of the Antichrist, so he worships him. He betrays Jesus.
He can sell and buy. He has everything. He is not tormented. His life is good, but he will be destroyed forever when Jesus comes a second time.
There are two kinds of lawlessness or betrayal as follows:
- The betrayal in the marriage as follows:
- The false marriage, namely mixed-marriage, divorce-remarrying up to marrying-giving in marriage or fornication.
- The hatred between husband and wife, child and parents, brother and sister, fellow priests, fellow Christians, then the hatred without a cause that results in quarrel, violence in marriage, character assassination up to bodily murder.
Matthew 10:21-22
10:21. "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
10:22. "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
- The false marriage, namely mixed-marriage, divorce-remarrying up to marrying-giving in marriage or fornication.
- The betrayal to God in the ministry, ordination, and worship as follows:
- The betrayal to the true shepherd is the same as being against God.
Numbers 16:1-2,10-11
16:1. Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men;
16:2. and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown.
16:10. "and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking the priesthood also?
16:11. "Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the LORD. And what is Aaron that you complain against him?"
Korah rose up before Moses, the true shepherd who obeyed God.
He complained against God because he insisted the lust of the flesh, namely position, money, and mate.
Consequently, he experienced the physical and spiritual deteriorations up to perdition forever. - Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, the Great Shepherd, so he became the same as the Antichrist, namely selling and killing Jesus.
John 18:1-4
18:1. When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.
18:2. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples.
18:3. Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
18:4. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?"
Supporting the false shepherd who teaches the false teaching is the same as betraying God.
The betrayal happens in the fellowship with the Great Shepherd or the true teaching word.
Why is it so? Who are we looking for in the true fellowship in marriage and shepherding? If we look for the physical things such as position, money, mate, and so on, we will surely betray the true shepherd and Jesus, the Great Shepherd or the true teaching word.
But if we look for Jesus or the true teaching word, we will become obedient and faithful to the true teaching word. We love God until the finish line or perfection. - The betrayal to the true shepherd is the same as being against God.
John 18:5-9
18:5. They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them.
18:6. Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
18:7. Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
18:8. Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,"
18:9. that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none."
To protect the church of God from betrayal or the one who has not reached the measurement of worship yet, Jesus appears with 'I am He'as follows:
- Jesus appears as 'I am the bread of life'.
John 6:35,48
6:35. And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
6:48. "I am the bread of life.
The bread of life refers to the true teaching word and the Holy Communion that we can receive in the Bible Study Service and the Holy Communion.
Our attitude is eating the bread of life, so the true teaching word, the characteristics of Jesus, and His love are ingrained in our life.
John 6:60
6:60. Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?"
Be careful! The true teaching word and the Holy Communion are a hard saying that is sharper than any two-edged sword. It pierces our heart up to the depth of our heart. It often insults and humiliates us, because it shows our hidden sins.
Our attitude is that we must become gentle, so we can receive the true teaching word and the Holy Communion or the hard saying.
The false attitude is keeping the hard heart or rejecting the true teaching word and the Holy Communion like Judas Iscariot and the disciples.
John 6:61
6:61. When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you?
The hardness of heart is signified by complaining and not being satisfied. His faith is offended. He cannot be calm. His life has many questions, so he doubts.
At last, he does not follow Jesus or the true teaching word anymore.
John 6:66
6:66. From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
The functions of the bread of life are as follows:- The guarantee of Certainty for daily life in the world, wilderness (the evacuation), up to eternal life in heaven.
- Giving the heavenly satisfaction or bliss, so we are full. We do not need to look for worldly satisfactions, so we do not fall into sins up to the peak.
It means arrogance. He feels higher than a shepherd; even feels higher and truer than Jesus or the true teaching. - The guarantee of Certainty for daily life in the world, wilderness (the evacuation), up to eternal life in heaven.
- Jesus, the Good Shepherd gives His life.
John 10:11
10:11. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
We must be shepherded well and correctly whatever we have to sacrifice.
The facts found in being shepherded well and correctly are as follows:- We just hear and obey the voice of shepherd that we receive in the sheepfold, namely the perseverance in committing the three kinds of main service to God.
John 10:1,4-5
10:1. "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
10:4. "And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
10:5. "Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
We must flee from the voice of strangers.
The voice of stranger from inside is the one of the flesh, and from outside are gossip and false teaching that is not in line with the shepherding word.
We must not give any chance even once to hear the voice of stranger, because it will mislead us, so we are lost and destroyed forever.
John 10:27
10:27. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. - Following the steps of the Chief Shepherd, namely the ones of death and resurrection.
1 Peter 2:21-25
2:21. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
2:22. "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
2:23. who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
2:24. who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.
2:25. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
The step of death is being dead to sins up to the peak as well as not lying nor repaying evil for evil, but surrendering all things to the Chief Shepherd, our Defense.
The step of resurrection is living in righteousness in our whole life. - Casting all our care upon God. We totally surrender to Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, so we experience peace.
1 Peter 5:7
5:7. casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
John 10:27-28
10:27. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
10:28. "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
If we are shepherded well and correctly (hearing and obeying the voice of the Shepherd) as well as following the steps of the Chief Shepherd, and casting all our care to Him, we will be in the hands of the Good Shepherd.
We experience the guarantee of certainty for daily life in the world, the age of the Antichrist, up to eternal life.
- We just hear and obey the voice of shepherd that we receive in the sheepfold, namely the perseverance in committing the three kinds of main service to God.
- 'I am the Son of God'. It means that Jesus is the Heavenly Bridegroomwho sets us free from the betrayal.
John 8:18
8:18. "I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me."
John 10:35-38
10:35. "If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),
10:36. "do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?
10:37. "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;
10:38. "but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him."
How does it happen?
Ephesians 5:22-27
5:22. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
5:23. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
5:24. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
5:25. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
5:26. that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
5:27. that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
Jesus as the Heavenly Bridegroom willingly gives His life for us, so He can cleanse us with the washing of water by the word (water baptism and the rain of the true teaching Word) up to being spotless. We are as perfect as Him.
We experience the double purification with the washing of water by the word up to the purification from leprosy.
Leviticus 14:8-9
14:8. "He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean. After that he shall come into the camp, and shall stay outside his tent seven days.
14:9. "But on the seventh day he shall shave all the hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows -- all his hair he shall shave off. He shall wash his clothes and wash his body in water, and he shall be clean.
The leprosy refers to the sin of uncleanness, namely eating-drinking and marrying-giving in marriage.
Leviticus 13:45
13:45. "Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, 'Unclean! Unclean!'
The leprosy also refers to the self-truth, namely covering sin by blaming others and God or the true teaching word, and using the false teaching that is not in line with the Bible.
2 Kings 5:21,27
5:21. So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him, and said, "Is all well?"
5:27. "Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever." And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.
The leprosy also refers to the will of money. It is the same as having the dirty heart and feet. One seeks for money until he lies to others and God; even he steals the possession of God, so he becomes greedy and stingy like Judas Iscariot.
John 13:10-13
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."
13:12. So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?
13:13. "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.
If Judas has been cast out, the church of God will become perfect, and John comes.
John 13:21-30
13:21. When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me."
13:22. Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.
13:23. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
13:24. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.
13:25. Then, leaning back on Jesus' breast, he said to Him, "Lord, who is it?"
13:26. Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it." And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
13:27. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly."
13:28. But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him.
13:29. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, "Buy those things we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor.
13:30. Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.
After Judas goes, John comes and leans on Jesus' bosom.
If the church of God has been purified from the leprosy, he will become perfect. It is represented by John who leans on Jesus' bosom.
John leans two times as follows:- In the preaching of the teaching word and the Holy Communion.
Leaning on Jesus' bosom is the same as being a baby in the hug of God.
Song of Solomon 8:6-7
8:6. THE SHULAMITE TO HER BELOVED Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame.
8:7. Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love All the wealth of his house, It would be utterly despised.
We just confess our physical and spiritual weakness and infirmity to God, so He sets us as a seal upon His heart and arm.
We are carried by God. We feel His merciful hands to take care of us although we are powerless in the midst of difficulties in the world until the Antichrist reigns over the world for three and a half years.
God helps us. He finishes the impossible problem, gives beautiful and successful future as well as heals and comforts us.
The baby is safe in the hands of God, but he is allowed to experience the unordinary temptation as the test of faith, hope, and love to grow his spirituality to maturity.
We often fail. For example, John ran in nakedness at Gethsemane.
That is why it must be increased to the second position. - The second position of leaning on Jesus' bosom, namely the one of the heavenly bride.
John 21:20-23
21:20. Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?"
21:21. Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?"
21:22. Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."
21:23. Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?"
Jesus as the Heavenly Bridegroom willingly gives His life for us as His bride to give the perfect love in the shepherding, so we have the perfect love.
We are not separated from God.
Our life and death are God's business.
Romans 8:32
8:32. He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
When He comes a second time, we will be perfected like Him. We become the heavenly bride who is worthy to greet His coming on the glorious clouds. We are with Him forever.
- In the preaching of the teaching word and the Holy Communion.
God blesses us.