Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 18 refers to the golden pot that had the manna in tabernacle. We are the mortar pot. It can be filled by anything. If we do not have the heavenly wisdom, our life will be filled with the physical things, so we become fragile, namely easily being disappointed, desperate, and proud. We will also be broken because of sins up to the peak, and destroyed forever. But, if we have the heavenly wisdom, we will surely use the time to fill our life with the manna, namely the repeated true teaching Word which is eternal. The true teaching Word can bring our life which is like mortar--perishable--to become the pure gold--eternal--up to perfection like Jesus.
Revelation 18 can be divided as follows:
Revelation 18:4-5
18:4. And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.
18:5. "For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
The atmosphere of Babylon is like Sodom-Gomorrah. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah had reached to heaven, so God punished them. So does Babylon. Its sins are the same as Sodom and Gomorrah, namely the sins of eating-drinking and marrying-giving in marriage, but the sin quality is mounting. The punishment to Sodom and Gomorrah is very light if it is compared with the one on the last days.
Genesis 18:20-21
18:20. And the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,
18:21. "I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know."
The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah is very grave before God. On the last days, the sin of Babylon will be mounting until it reaches God. The sin of Babylon is bigger than Sodom and Gomorrah.
Ezekiel 16:46-52
16:46. "Your elder sister is Samaria, who dwells with her daughters to the north of you; and your younger sister, who dwells to the south of you, is Sodom and her daughters.
16:47. "You did not walk in their ways nor act according to their abominations; but, as if that were too little, you became more corrupt than they in all your ways.
16:48. "As I live," says the Lord GOD, "neither your sister Sodom nor her daughters have done as you and your daughters have done.
16:49. "Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
16:50. "And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.
16:51. "Samaria did not commit half of your sins; but you have multiplied your abominations more than they, and have justified your sisters by all the abominations which you have done.
16:52. "You who judged your sisters, bear your own shame also, because the sins which you committed were more abominable than theirs; they are more righteous than you. Yes, be disgraced also, and bear your own shame, because you justified your sisters.
In the age of Ezekiel the prophet, the sins of Jerusalem or the church of God was doubly if it was compared with Sodom and Gomorrah, moreover the sin on the last days.
2 Peter 3:3-7
3:3. knowing this first: that scofferswill come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
3:4. and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."
3:5. For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
3:6. by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
3:7. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
In the past time, Lot's sons-in-law became scoffers before the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot's sons-in-law mocked the upcoming punishment. Later, there will be many scoffers. They mock the Bride Tidings or the Word that preaches the second coming of Jesus in the glory as the King of kings and the Heavenly Bridegroom.
They willfully ignore the power of the Word that is able to create and punish as well as destroy with the floods in the age of Noah, the fire and brimstone in the age of Lot, and the fire and brimstone in the doomsday because the sins have been mounting until it reaches God.
If one mocks or criticizes the Word, his righteousness and holiness will decrease until he loses it. If the righteousness and holiness decrease, the sin will surely increase. If one mocks the true teaching Word, he will surely agree and glamorize the false one.
Revelation 18:1
18:1. After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.
God comes in the light to face the two conditions of Babylon. An angel comes down from heaven before all things happen.
Revelation 1:12-13,16,20
11:12. Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
1:13. and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
1:16. He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
1:20. "The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
The seven lampstands are the seven churches. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches or the shepherds. The shepherd becomes the star if he gives the shepherding Word or manna or angels' food. The shepherd becomes the star if he becomes the pattern of faith for the congregation, namely he holds fast and obeys the true teaching Word.
The shepherd is the shining star. The congregation is the shining lampstands. The world is entering the darkness because of Babylon. That is why the shepherd and the congregation as the church of God must shine in the light of the Urim and the Thummim, so there is no more hidden sin or darkness because of the power of purification in the true teaching Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword. The Urim refers to Holy Spirit. The Thummim refers to the sword of purification.
Hebrews 4:12-13
4:12. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
4:13. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
There are God's rebuke and exhortation in the true teaching Word to purify us, not to humiliate us. Do not get angry and reject the Word! God purifies us, so we can shine brightly by the power of the Word. The shepherd and the congregation must live in the light.
Psalm 1:4-6
1:4. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
1:5. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
1:6. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
If one does not want to be filled by the true teaching Word and purified, he will keep committing sins up to the peak. He will surely go out of the true fellowship of the body of Christ. He is not cast but out by himself because he cannot stand. It is like the ungodly that shall not stand in the congregation of the righteous. He is like the chaff which the wind of false teaching drives away and vanishes.
Matthew 5:14-16
5:14. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
5:15. "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
5:16. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
We are called in the increasing light to shine in the midst of the increasing darkness of the world. It starts from becoming the light or pattern in the household, namely the one in honesty, obedience, et cetera. Further, we become the light before men until we become the light of the world.
In Matthew 20, we are called to work in the vineyard. We must pay attention to and understand why God calls us, and where its direction is, so we are not lost.
The purpose and direction of God's calling are as follows:
Thus, we become one perfect body of Christ when Jesus comes a second time and we are ready to greet His coming on the glorious clouds. The mortar pot must be filled with the Good News and the Bride Tidings. Then, what will happen?
2 Corinthians 4:6-8
4:6. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
4:7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
4:8. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
The results of being filled by the true teaching Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword--hearing and obeying the Word--are as follows:
God blesses us.
Revelation 18 refers to the golden pot that had the manna in tabernacle. We are the mortar pot. It can be filled by anything. If we do not have the heavenly wisdom, our life will be filled with the physical things, so we become fragile, namely easily being disappointed, desperate, and proud. We will also be broken because of sins up to the peak, and destroyed forever. But, if we have the heavenly wisdom, we will surely use the time to fill our life with the manna, namely the repeated true teaching Word which is eternal. The true teaching Word can bring our life which is like mortar--perishable--to become the pure gold--eternal--up to perfection like Jesus.
Revelation 18 can be divided as follows:
- Revelation 18:1-20 is about the fall of Babylon the great.
- Revelation 18:21-24 is about finality of Babylon's fall.
Revelation 18:4-5
18:4. And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.
18:5. "For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
The atmosphere of Babylon is like Sodom-Gomorrah. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah had reached to heaven, so God punished them. So does Babylon. Its sins are the same as Sodom and Gomorrah, namely the sins of eating-drinking and marrying-giving in marriage, but the sin quality is mounting. The punishment to Sodom and Gomorrah is very light if it is compared with the one on the last days.
Genesis 18:20-21
18:20. And the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,
18:21. "I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know."
The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah is very grave before God. On the last days, the sin of Babylon will be mounting until it reaches God. The sin of Babylon is bigger than Sodom and Gomorrah.
Ezekiel 16:46-52
16:46. "Your elder sister is Samaria, who dwells with her daughters to the north of you; and your younger sister, who dwells to the south of you, is Sodom and her daughters.
16:47. "You did not walk in their ways nor act according to their abominations; but, as if that were too little, you became more corrupt than they in all your ways.
16:48. "As I live," says the Lord GOD, "neither your sister Sodom nor her daughters have done as you and your daughters have done.
16:49. "Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
16:50. "And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.
16:51. "Samaria did not commit half of your sins; but you have multiplied your abominations more than they, and have justified your sisters by all the abominations which you have done.
16:52. "You who judged your sisters, bear your own shame also, because the sins which you committed were more abominable than theirs; they are more righteous than you. Yes, be disgraced also, and bear your own shame, because you justified your sisters.
In the age of Ezekiel the prophet, the sins of Jerusalem or the church of God was doubly if it was compared with Sodom and Gomorrah, moreover the sin on the last days.
2 Peter 3:3-7
3:3. knowing this first: that scofferswill come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
3:4. and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."
3:5. For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
3:6. by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
3:7. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
In the past time, Lot's sons-in-law became scoffers before the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot's sons-in-law mocked the upcoming punishment. Later, there will be many scoffers. They mock the Bride Tidings or the Word that preaches the second coming of Jesus in the glory as the King of kings and the Heavenly Bridegroom.
They willfully ignore the power of the Word that is able to create and punish as well as destroy with the floods in the age of Noah, the fire and brimstone in the age of Lot, and the fire and brimstone in the doomsday because the sins have been mounting until it reaches God.
If one mocks or criticizes the Word, his righteousness and holiness will decrease until he loses it. If the righteousness and holiness decrease, the sin will surely increase. If one mocks the true teaching Word, he will surely agree and glamorize the false one.
Revelation 18:1
18:1. After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.
God comes in the light to face the two conditions of Babylon. An angel comes down from heaven before all things happen.
Revelation 1:12-13,16,20
11:12. Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
1:13. and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
1:16. He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
1:20. "The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
The seven lampstands are the seven churches. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches or the shepherds. The shepherd becomes the star if he gives the shepherding Word or manna or angels' food. The shepherd becomes the star if he becomes the pattern of faith for the congregation, namely he holds fast and obeys the true teaching Word.
The shepherd is the shining star. The congregation is the shining lampstands. The world is entering the darkness because of Babylon. That is why the shepherd and the congregation as the church of God must shine in the light of the Urim and the Thummim, so there is no more hidden sin or darkness because of the power of purification in the true teaching Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword. The Urim refers to Holy Spirit. The Thummim refers to the sword of purification.
Hebrews 4:12-13
4:12. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
4:13. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
There are God's rebuke and exhortation in the true teaching Word to purify us, not to humiliate us. Do not get angry and reject the Word! God purifies us, so we can shine brightly by the power of the Word. The shepherd and the congregation must live in the light.
Psalm 1:4-6
1:4. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
1:5. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
1:6. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
If one does not want to be filled by the true teaching Word and purified, he will keep committing sins up to the peak. He will surely go out of the true fellowship of the body of Christ. He is not cast but out by himself because he cannot stand. It is like the ungodly that shall not stand in the congregation of the righteous. He is like the chaff which the wind of false teaching drives away and vanishes.
Matthew 5:14-16
5:14. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
5:15. "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
5:16. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
We are called in the increasing light to shine in the midst of the increasing darkness of the world. It starts from becoming the light or pattern in the household, namely the one in honesty, obedience, et cetera. Further, we become the light before men until we become the light of the world.
In Matthew 20, we are called to work in the vineyard. We must pay attention to and understand why God calls us, and where its direction is, so we are not lost.
The purpose and direction of God's calling are as follows:
- Ephesians 1:13
1:13. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Hebrews 9:27-28
9:27. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
9:28. so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
We must receive, preach, and testify the gospel of salvation or the gospel Word or good news, namely the one that preaches Jesus' first coming to the world as the only sinless man who must die on the cross to save the sinners. The gospel Word increases the quantity of the body of Christ. - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
4:3. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4:4. whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Hebrews 9:28b
9:28b. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
We must hear, receive, preach, and testify the Bride Tidings or the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ or the true teaching Word. The Bride Tidings preaches Jesus' second coming in the glory of the King of kings and the Heavenly Bridegroom to purify the saved people up to perfection like Jesus. The Bride Tidings increases the quality of the church of God up to salvation (Hebrews 9:28b), namely perfection.
Thus, we become one perfect body of Christ when Jesus comes a second time and we are ready to greet His coming on the glorious clouds. The mortar pot must be filled with the Good News and the Bride Tidings. Then, what will happen?
2 Corinthians 4:6-8
4:6. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
4:7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
4:8. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
The results of being filled by the true teaching Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword--hearing and obeying the Word--are as follows:
- Verse 7. We receive the extra power from God or the Word, so we become strong and of good courage. It means that we do not get disappointed and desperate as well as deny God regardless of anything that happens. We keep holding fast the true teaching Word or the Bride Tidings and giving thanks. We just trust and hope God.
The example is Joshua. Moses was used by God to lead the Israelites in the two stages, namely from Egypt to Mount Sinai, and from Mount Sinai to the border of Canaan. But Joshua was used in the third stage to bring the Israelites to enter Canaan. If we are filled by the true teaching Word so we become strong and of good courage like Joshua, we will be used by God in the revival in the last rain or the building of the perfect body of Christ until we enter the New Jerusalem--Canaan. We will not be destroyed. - Verse 6. The dark heart emits the light, so we appear as follows:
- The stars in heavens.
Daniel 12:3
12:3. Those who are wiseshall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.
The requirement is that we must be wise, namely we hear and obey the true teaching Word. We become obedient and faithful no matter how hard it is. We are like the stars that stay in their orbits.
Deuteronomy 4:5-6
4:5. "Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess.
4:6. "Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'
Being wise also means that we know the border, namely sincerity and truth. The sincerity means that we are holy up to our heart; especially we keep the purity of the true teaching Word. Being wise also means that we just do the true and good deeds as well as speak the true and good words. We can repay good for evil to lead the sinners to the righteousness.
Being out of orbit means being disobedient and unfaithful to the Word. It is the same as not knowing the border, so one does the evil thing. It is the falling star. But if we keep becoming the shining stars, we will receive the result, namely we receive the beautiful name. We will never lose hope, but we always have hope in Jesus up to eternal life with Him.
Proverbs 24:14
24:14. So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; If you have found it, there is a prospect, And your hope will not be cut off. - The bright and morning star.
2 Peter 1:19
1:19. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
The requirement is that we must heed the Bride Tidings like Joshua and the Israelites heeding the Ark of Covenant or the virgins heeding the bridegroom who will come (Matthew 25). Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star. We are also the bright and morning star. It means that we become His bride. We become as perfect as Jesus.
Revelation 22:16
22:16. "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
Revelation 21:9-11
21:9. Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
21:10. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
21:11. having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
The light of the glory of the bride is the same as the one of the New Jerusalem. The light of the glory of the bride is like a jasper stone. It refers to one who is fervent in spirit. It means that we always minister to God faithfully and fervently. The light of the glory of the bride is clear as crystal. It means honesty about the true teaching Word. Then, we confess sin honestly. We are honest about money, marriage, and all things. We just totally trust and commit ourselves to God.
Being honest and faithful are the same as stretching out our hands to God. The results are as follows:- God stretches out His faithful and just hands to forgive all of our sins and purify us from the root of sin. We can repent and live in righteousness. God's faithful and just hands surround the righteous with mercy--salvation--and blessing. We are saved and blessed by God; even we become the blessing for others.
1 John 1:9
1:9. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Psalm 5:12
5:12. For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. - God stretches out His merciful and faithful hands to make propitiation for the sins of us. We can confess and forgive one another. The blood of Jesus will take away our sins, so we can live in peace. All things become easy and light. Jesus has borne the heavy things on the cross. We have the strong base to receive God's helping, namely His merciful and faithful hands to finish all of our problems up to the impossible ones in time of need.
Hebrews 2:17-18
2:17. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Hebrews 4:16
4:16. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. - God stretches out His faithful hand. He also will do His promise to take care of us in the midst of the difficulties and impossibilities of the world until the age of the Antichrist. God also protects and takes care of us spiritually, namely we are purified and perfected up to being spotless when Jesus comes a second time. We can be lifted up on the glorious clouds to greet His coming until we enter the New Jerusalem.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
5:23. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5:24. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
- God stretches out His faithful and just hands to forgive all of our sins and purify us from the root of sin. We can repent and live in righteousness. God's faithful and just hands surround the righteous with mercy--salvation--and blessing. We are saved and blessed by God; even we become the blessing for others.
- The stars in heavens.
God blesses us.