Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 17:2
17:2. "with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication."
Revelation 17 is about the judgment to Babylon. The kings and the inhabitants of the earth will be destroyed with Babylon because they have committed fornication with her. That is why God makes effort for saving men.
Job 33:14-18
33:14. For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it.
33:15. In a dream, in a visionof the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds,
33:16. Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.
33:17. In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man,
33:18. He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.
In the Old Testament, God spoke in a dream and in a vision to rebuke men, so they were not destroyed. But, these ways have been imitated by Satan to deceive and mislead the church of God.
Hebrews 1:1-4
1:1. God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
1:2. has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
1:3. who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
1:4. having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
John 1:1,14
1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1:4. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
In the New Testament or on the last days, God speaks to us by His Son, namely Jesus Christ. Jesus is the true teaching Word or logos that reveals God's plan and will to us. Thus, we can live in line with God's will, and we are set free from Babylon.
In every revelation of the true teaching Word, we receive the things as follows:
The number nine refers to the mercy. We can receive God's mercy and seriousness in the true teaching Word, no matter how hard and sharp it is to save men although they are in the bottomless pit. God still gives a chance to cry out His name for those who are dying, so they can be saved.
Revelation 17:2
17:2. "with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication."
The great Babylon has committed fornication with the kings of the earth. It has been prophesied in the book of Daniel. In the age of Daniel, Babylon was controlled by the three kings as follows:
God blesses us.
Revelation 17:2
17:2. "with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication."
Revelation 17 is about the judgment to Babylon. The kings and the inhabitants of the earth will be destroyed with Babylon because they have committed fornication with her. That is why God makes effort for saving men.
Job 33:14-18
33:14. For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it.
33:15. In a dream, in a visionof the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds,
33:16. Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.
33:17. In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man,
33:18. He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.
In the Old Testament, God spoke in a dream and in a vision to rebuke men, so they were not destroyed. But, these ways have been imitated by Satan to deceive and mislead the church of God.
Hebrews 1:1-4
1:1. God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
1:2. has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
1:3. who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
1:4. having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
John 1:1,14
1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1:4. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
In the New Testament or on the last days, God speaks to us by His Son, namely Jesus Christ. Jesus is the true teaching Word or logos that reveals God's plan and will to us. Thus, we can live in line with God's will, and we are set free from Babylon.
In every revelation of the true teaching Word, we receive the things as follows:
- The heir of all things.
- The creation power.
- The brightness of God's glory.
- The express image of God's person.
- The power to uphold all things by the word of His power.
- The power of the purification of sin.
- The ministry of reconciliation by Jesus as the High Priest who sits at the right hand of the Father God,
- The power of lifting up.
- The name of Jesus which is above every name, and a more excellent name than they.
The number nine refers to the mercy. We can receive God's mercy and seriousness in the true teaching Word, no matter how hard and sharp it is to save men although they are in the bottomless pit. God still gives a chance to cry out His name for those who are dying, so they can be saved.
Revelation 17:2
17:2. "with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication."
The great Babylon has committed fornication with the kings of the earth. It has been prophesied in the book of Daniel. In the age of Daniel, Babylon was controlled by the three kings as follows:
- King Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 1:1-2
1:1. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
1:2. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.
King Nebuchadnezzar defeated Jehoiakim king of Judah, and he robbed the articles of the Tabernacle to the house of his god. It is the image of the servant of God who is held captive by Babylon, so he underestimates or despises the true teaching Word or the one of the Tabernacle and the Bride.
All of the preaching of the Word of God in the world must culminate to the true teaching Word or the Bride Tidings. It has been prophesied in the dream of Joseph where the sheaves of his brothers bowed down to his sheaf.
Daniel 5:19-20
5:19. "And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down.
5:20. "But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.
If one underestimates the true teaching Word of Jesus, his heart will be lifted up. He becomes arrogant and feels superior to others. Further his spirit is hardened in pride, so he cannot be advised. He relies on the worldly thing, namely position and cleverness more than God, so he ignores Him.
The dream refers to the revelation of the Word of God. Be careful! Do not be careless in hearing the people's dream! All things must be measured with the true teaching Word.
God gave King Nebuchadnezzar the dreams twice as follows:- The first dream.
Daniel 2:1-5
2:1. Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him.
2:2. Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
2:3. And the king said to them, "I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream."
2:4. Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation."
2:5. The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, "My decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap.
The first dream had been forgotten by Nebuchadnezzar's, but he commanded the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell his dreams. It refers to the servant of God who forgets the true teaching Word and has fellowship with the false teachings, so he does not understand the Word or there is no revelation of the Word of God. Consequently, he is so troubled in temptation until he blasphemes God.
James 1:21-24
1:21. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
1:22. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
1:23. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
1:24. for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
The right attitude to the true teaching Word is that we must hear it earnestly even though it is repeated. The purpose is that we can understand and believe in the Word until it becomes faith in the gentle heart. The Word is engraved in the gentle heart, so we will not forget it but we can practice it. The true teaching Word will become the extra power from God when we are in the temptation, so we are strong in the temptation. We can keep believing in and hoping God. The Word becomes the way out of our problems up to the impossible ones.
Daniel 2:6-10
2:6. "However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation."
2:7. They answered again and said, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation."
2:8. The king answered and said, "I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm:
2:9. "if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation."
2:10. The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, "There is not a man on earth who can tell the king's matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean.
How great a man is, he cannot reveal the secret of the Word of God if God does not reveal it. Jesus is the only Man who can reveal the secret of the Word of God.
Daniel 2:13-20
2:13. So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.
2:14. Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon;
2:15. he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, "Why is the decree from the king so urgent?" Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel.
2:16. So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation.
2:17. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,
2:18. that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
2:19. Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
2:20. Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His.
Daniel was the servant of God who lived in righteousness and holiness. He had the fellowship with other servants of God who lived in righteousness and holiness, namely Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and they sought mercies from the God for the revelation of the Word of God when they were in temptation and threatened with death. It was the death experience with Jesus. God had mercy to reveal the secret of the Word of God to Daniel, so the true prayer could be lifted up before God. God will give the way out, so everyone is set free from the death.
Daniel 2:30
2:30. "But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.
The purpose of the revelation of the Word of God is that we know ourselves deeply when we are in the temptation or death experience even the death. We will not become arrogant or harden our spirit in pride because we realize our weakness. We can become humble as well as confess our weakness. We will receive the remission or the lifting up by God.
The example is as follows.
Luke 23:40-43
23:40. But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?
23:41. "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong."
23:42. Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."
23:43. And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
The result is that we are lifted up to the Paradise. It means that all of problems are finished, so we experience peace. All things become easy and light. Be careful! As soon as we forget the Word, we will surely forget ourselves. - The second dream.
Daniel 4:1-10
4:1. Nebuchadnezzar the king, To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
4:2. I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me.
4:3. How great are His signs, And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation.
4:4. I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.
4:5. I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
4:6. Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
4:7. Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.
4:8. But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying:
4:9. "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.
4:10. "These were the visions of my head while on my bed: "I was looking, and behold, A tree in the midst of the earth, And its height was great.
At the first dream, king Nebuchadnezzar forgot himself so he acted cruelly to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. Be careful! King Nebuchadnezzar refers to the servant of God who has been appointed but he forgets himself and acts cruelly to the true servant of God for his ambition.
Daniel 4:10-17
4:10. "These were the visions of my head while on my bed: "I was looking, and behold, A tree in the midst of the earth, And its height was great.
4:11. The tree grew and became strong; Its height reached to the heavens, And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth
4:12. Its leaves were lovely, Its fruit abundant, And in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, And all flesh was fed from it.
4:13. "I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
4:14. He cried aloud and said thus: 'Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts get out from under it, And the birds from its branches.
4:15. Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, Bound with a band of iron and bronze, In the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, And let him graze with the beasts On the grass of the earth.
4:16. Let his heart be changed from that of a man, Let him be given the heart of a beast, And let seven times pass over him.
4:17. 'This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.'
The meaning of the second dream of king Nebuchadnezzar (verse 10-16) could be revealed by God through Daniel (verse 19-27). At the verse 28-33, the dream of king Nebuchadnezzar came true. Since king Nebuchadnezzar did not want to know himself, but forgot himself, became arrogant, and hardened his spirit in pride, he became the same as an animal who had no mind (without Holy Spirit). Such life just fulfills the lust of the flesh. He lives for sins up to the peak. It is the same as being ridden by Babylon who will be destroyed forever.
Daniel 4:17
4:17. 'This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.'
The purpose of the first dream is that we know ourselves and we do not forget God. The purpose of the second dream is that God is above cleverness, riches, position, and all things in the world. If we are given position in this world, we may not underestimate others. God can lift up one who is powerless to become a king (verse 17). That is why we must appreciate and love one another no matter our position and cleverness are.
Daniel 4:32
32. And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses."
We know that God is higher than the kingdoms or countries of the world. We just worship Lord Jesus as the King of kings and the Heavenly Bridegroom.
- The first dream.
- King Belshazzar(it has been explained).
- King Darius.
Daniel 6:6-7
6:6. So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: "King Darius, live forever!
6:7. "All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
The character of king Darius was that he liked to be worshipped. It is the same as idolizing himself more than God. Such life is hardening his heart or being stiff-necked like the Israelites who worshipped the golden calf in the wilderness. King Darius made the den of lions with the hungry lions to punish those who did not worship him.
Daniel 6:10
6:10. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
Daniel kept praying three times a day. He was not influenced by the voice of lions. The voice of lion refers to the false teaching that aims at the false worship and gossips. If we follow one who teaches the false teaching, we will become hard-hearted men. Avoiding the false teaching means that we are strong and of good courage. We must keep listening and obeying the voice of God that purifies us, so we can keep worshipping God whatever risk may come. We must keep holding fast the true teaching Word. We keep worshipping God whatever risk may come.
Daniel was cast into the den of lions with the hungry lions because he kept worshipping God. Daniel did not only hope God's helping but he kept worshipping God because he loved God more than anything. Daniel willingly died to keep obeying the true teaching Word and worshipping God.
On the last days, we will also face the impossible problem, disease, the crisis of economy, and the great gossips. It is like the den of lions with the hungry lions, so we can do nothing. God allows the difficulties and impossibilities happen, so we can prove that our faith is like the pure gold. We just believe in and hope God. We love God more than anything including ourselves.
Daniel 6:19-23,28,26
6:19. Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions.
6:20. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"
6:21. Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever!
6:22. "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you."
6:23. Then the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.
6:28. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
6:26. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end.
We must keep living in righteousness and holiness when we face the roar of the lion. Do not hurt others! God will send His angel or the hand of Holy Spirit to shut the lions' mouths. It means as follows:- Holy Spirit changes us from the fleshly men to the spiritual ones like Jesus. We keep living in righteousness and holiness. We keep ministering to God faithfully and fervently.
- Holy Spirit is able to finish all of impossible problems in our life. Do not hear the roar of the lion that weakens us! We must believe in the Word of God. We keep believing in God and loving Him although we have not seen His help yet.
- Holy Spirit gives the successful and beautiful future (verse 29).
- We become the witness of God (verse 27). We preach and testify the Bride Tidings to everyone.
- Holy Spirit changes us from the fleshly men to the spiritual ones like Jesus. We keep living in righteousness and holiness. We keep ministering to God faithfully and fervently.
God blesses us.