Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 3:7-13 is about the church in Philadelphia.
Revelation 3:12-13
3:12 "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
3:13 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'
The church in Philadelphia experiences great things, namely the shut door or impossibility, the synagogue of Satan, and increasing temptations up to the days of the antichrist in the world for three years and six months. Therefore, the Lord gives the promise to the church that overcomes, namely being the pillars in New Jerusalem and will not go out of it anymore forever.
The warning from God to the church in Philadelphia or all of us is that we must try hard to be the pillars in New Jerusalem [Revelation 3:13].
Genesis 19:26
19:26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
There is another pillar, namely the pillar of salt like the wife of Lot. She refers to the person who has been saved and blessed by God, but fails to reach the perfection. Consequently, such person cannot become the pillars in New Jerusalem, but perishes forever.
Luke 17:26-29
17:26 "And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:
17:27 "They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
17:28 "Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;
17:29 "but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
Only eight people were saved in the days of Noah and only three in the days of Lot.
The situation in the last days will return to the ones in the day of Noah and Lot, namely the sins concerning eating drinking such as smoking, getting drunk, and drugs abuse as well as the ones concerning marrying-being given in marriage or sexuality sins and the wrong marriage. Consequently, many servants of God become the pillar of salt like the wife of Lot.
Matthew 5:13
5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
The pillar of salt means the tasteless salt or a person who is without Holy Spirit. The facts found in it are as follows.
The consequence of being the tasteless salt is being thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. It means entering the time of persecution done by the antichrist for three years and six months.
There are two possibilities as follows.
Why did the wife of Lot become the pillar of salt? She became the pillar of salt because she looked back.
Genesis 19:26,17
19:26 But his wife looked backbehind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
19:17 So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed."
The meanings of looking back are as follows.
The cross is the place to confess that we are only like the sheep for slaughter that is so powerless under the threat of the death. The cross is also the place to struggle that we can be delivered from the death.
As s result, Jesus is struggling with us. The cross is the place where Jesus is paying attention to, cares, and struggles for us so that we can be victorious and perfect.
Genesis 19:23-24
19:23 The sun had risenupon the earth when Lot entered Zoar.
19:24 Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens;
The proof is the sunrise at Zoar while the rain of fire and brimstone was coming down to Sodom and Gomorrah.
The world will be condemned like in the days of Noah and Lot. Nevertheless, if we are at Zoar, we will get the sun of God's lovingkindness that never changes. All sins with the curses have been born by the Lord on the cross so that we can get the lovingkindness of God. There is still the lovingkindness of God as long as we have the sacrifice of Christ still.
The functions of God's lovingkindness are as follows.
God blesses you.
Revelation 3:7-13 is about the church in Philadelphia.
Revelation 3:12-13
3:12 "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
3:13 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'
The church in Philadelphia experiences great things, namely the shut door or impossibility, the synagogue of Satan, and increasing temptations up to the days of the antichrist in the world for three years and six months. Therefore, the Lord gives the promise to the church that overcomes, namely being the pillars in New Jerusalem and will not go out of it anymore forever.
The warning from God to the church in Philadelphia or all of us is that we must try hard to be the pillars in New Jerusalem [Revelation 3:13].
Genesis 19:26
19:26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
There is another pillar, namely the pillar of salt like the wife of Lot. She refers to the person who has been saved and blessed by God, but fails to reach the perfection. Consequently, such person cannot become the pillars in New Jerusalem, but perishes forever.
Luke 17:26-29
17:26 "And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:
17:27 "They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
17:28 "Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;
17:29 "but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
Only eight people were saved in the days of Noah and only three in the days of Lot.
The situation in the last days will return to the ones in the day of Noah and Lot, namely the sins concerning eating drinking such as smoking, getting drunk, and drugs abuse as well as the ones concerning marrying-being given in marriage or sexuality sins and the wrong marriage. Consequently, many servants of God become the pillar of salt like the wife of Lot.
Matthew 5:13
5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
The pillar of salt means the tasteless salt or a person who is without Holy Spirit. The facts found in it are as follows.
- Losing heart or being hopeless and disappointed; even one leaves God.
- The saying is tasteless. One speaks the words that discourage the faith until other people cannot receive the true teaching Word.
- The deeds are tasteless and rotten, namely the fleshly or sinful ones, including agreeing with the sinful deeds of others.
Galatians 5:19-21
5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
5:21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
The consequence of being the tasteless salt is being thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. It means entering the time of persecution done by the antichrist for three years and six months.
There are two possibilities as follows.
- One keeps on worshiping God, so he must find difficulties because he cannot sell and buy, but gets the great persecution and torment; even he must be beheaded. Nevertheless, he will be resurrected in the body of glory when Jesus comes a second time. He can welcome Him on the glorious clouds until he becomes the pillar in New Jerusalem. Only a few can endure.
- One worships the antichrist and receives the stamp, namely 666. As a result, he can sell and buy without any difficulty, but he will be destroyed forever when Jesus comes a second time.
Why did the wife of Lot become the pillar of salt? She became the pillar of salt because she looked back.
Genesis 19:26,17
19:26 But his wife looked backbehind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
19:17 So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed."
The meanings of looking back are as follows.
- Disobedience to the true teaching Word or the right command.
The obedience does not depend on the command, but the heart. The hard heart will never be obedient.
Be careful and do not belittle the command of God. Do not want to know about the other doctrines because you will look back someday when you are weak. Do not discuss the true teaching Word.
Deuteronomy 12:29-30
12:29 " When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land,
12:30 "take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.'
We must be obedient to the true teaching Word until our flesh does not speak anymore.
The levels of the obedience are as follows.- In the marriage or household.
It begins from a wife that must submit to the husband in everything like Sarah who called Abram as her lord. The obedience means that the woman does not teach nor have authority over the man. As a result, the door of Sarah's womb was opened. It means there is the solution of all problems, even the impossible ones. The marriage is sweet and peaceful. A woman may serve to God in every kind of ministry, except one, namely teaching and having authority over man.
The husband must love the wife as his own body and does not do bitterly toward her. He must decide all things in the marriage according to Christ or the true teaching Word. As a result, the marriage becomes the house of prayer.
1 Peter 3:7
3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
The children must be obedient to the parents according to the true teaching Word and the future life will be beautiful.
Our marriage will enter the marriage supper of the Lamb when Jesus comes a second time. - To the government.
Titus 3:1
3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, - To the true shepherding Word.
Hebrews 13:17
13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. - To God.
Matthew 7:21,24-25
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.
7:24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
7:25 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
The obedient will keep faithful and fervent in spirit in serving and ministering to God until the end. The door of the heavenly kingdom will be opened for them until they become the pillars in New Jerusalem and will not go out of it anymore forever.
- In the marriage or household.
- Being bound by Sodom and Gomorrah.
The bond of Sodom and Gomorra is so soft and many people often do not realize it when it has rooted in the heart. The more they follow Jesus and minister to God, the stronger the bond is until someday they look back for sure and become the pillars of salt.
There are three kinds of the bond of Sodom and Gomorrah that root in the heart as follows.- The root of evil or the love of money. One is bound by money.
1 Timothy 6:10
6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
It means as follows.- Looking for money in illegal ways.
- Serving and ministering to God only to look for physical things.
- Leaving the service and ministry only to look for physical things.
- Being stingy and greedy. Stinginess means that one cannot give to the work of God and other people who need. Greediness means robbing the rights of others and God, namely tithes and offerings.
- Genesis 14:18-23
14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.
14:19 And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
14:20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all.
14:21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself."
14:22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth,
14:23 "that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich' --
The tithes are the way of God to set us free from the bond of Sodom and Gomorrah. - The root of uncleannessthat aims at the sins concerning eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage.
- The root of bitterness.
Hebrews 12:15
12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitternessspringing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
7:21 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
7:22 "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
7:23 "All these evil things come from within and defile a man."
The roots of evil, uncleanness, and bitterness are in the heart of human and end with the pride and foolishness, namely one cannot be advised by the true teaching Word. He gets angry and rejects the rebuke and advice; even he enjoys sinning. One who feels nothing while sinning has been bound in Sodom and Gomorrah. One who agrees with sin has also been bound in Sodom and Gomorrah.
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.
We must be sanctified by the sword of the Word from the roots of evil, uncleanness, and bitterness so that we can be the pillars in New Jerusalem. The results are as follows.- Living in righteousness and holiness. There are no more curses, but the blessings of God.
- Peace. There is no bitterness, but all things are easy and light.
- We can feel more joyful to give than to receive.
Acts 20:33-35
20:33 "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
20:34 "Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.
20:35 "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive."
After we can feel more joyful to give than to receive, God will give us the gifts of Hoy Spirit. God uses our life more and we can be more joyful. It continues until we can give our whole life to God. We become His bride who is ready to welcome His second coming.
- The root of evil or the love of money. One is bound by money.
- The sight is towards Sodom and Gomorrah, namely the fleshly or worldly things. Formerly, the sight of Lot was towards Sodom and Gomorra when Abraham was offering him to choose first. Fortunately, Lot got a chance to be sanctified until his eyes could see the Lord.
Matthew 5:8
5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
If our heart is sanctified from the roots of evil, uncleanness, and bitterness by the sword of the Word, our eyes will be able to see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:2
12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The eyes are only set upon Jesus who sits at the right hand of the throne of Father God that leads us to the perfection.
Genesis 19:17
19:17 So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed."
The perfection is shown by the mountains in the Old Testament and the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy Place. Nevertheless, Lot confessed that he had not been able to reach it.
Genesis 19:18-23
19:18 Then Lot said to them, "Please, no, my lords!
19:19 "Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die.
19:20 "See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live."
19:21 And he said to him, "See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken.
19:22 "Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
19:23 The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar.
Praise the Lord because there is Zoar, a little near city that can save us. It refers to the Altar of Burnt Offerings or the cross of Jesus.
The cross is the place for confessing all our sins and weaknesses. It is the place for struggling that we can be delivered from sins and weaknesses.
Philippians 3:13
3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
The cross is the place to confess that we are only like the sheep for slaughter that is so powerless under the threat of the death. The cross is also the place to struggle that we can be delivered from the death.
As s result, Jesus is struggling with us. The cross is the place where Jesus is paying attention to, cares, and struggles for us so that we can be victorious and perfect.
Genesis 19:23-24
19:23 The sun had risenupon the earth when Lot entered Zoar.
19:24 Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens;
The proof is the sunrise at Zoar while the rain of fire and brimstone was coming down to Sodom and Gomorrah.
The world will be condemned like in the days of Noah and Lot. Nevertheless, if we are at Zoar, we will get the sun of God's lovingkindness that never changes. All sins with the curses have been born by the Lord on the cross so that we can get the lovingkindness of God. There is still the lovingkindness of God as long as we have the sacrifice of Christ still.
The functions of God's lovingkindness are as follows.
- The lovingkindness of God is able to protect us from disaster, accident, sins up to the peak, the antichrist, and the hell.
The lovingkindness of God preserves us miraculously in the midst of difficulties and impossibilities in the world in our physical and spiritual life. - The lovingkindness of God is able to make our life successful and beautiful although there are so many limitations in our life.
Genesis 39:21-23
39:21But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
39:22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing.
39:23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph's authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper. - The lovingkindness of God is able to help us as long as we obey the true teaching Word. The wife must not ridicule the Word.
Genesis 18:1,9-10
18:1Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.
18:9 Then they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" So he said, "Here, in the tent."
18:10 And He said, "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son." (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) - The lovingkindness of God changes our life until we become the pillars in New Jerusalem.
Genesis 32:24,28-31
32:24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.
32:28 And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed."
32:29 Then Jacob asked, saying, "Tell me Your name, I pray." And He said, "Why is it that you ask about My name?" And He blessed him there.
32:30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."
32:31 Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip.
Jacob struggled for the salvation of his family and getting a new name. Jacob means a liar. Israel means a winner. A man must be honest about the true teaching Word until he gets the new name.
God blesses you.