We are still discussing Revelation 3.
According to Tabernacle Teaching, Revelation 2-3 refers to the seven sprinklings of blood before the Ark of the Covenant.
It means the seven epistlesfor the seven churches of the Gentiles or the last sanctificationdone by Jesus for the seven churches of the Gentilesor the congregation in the last days to make them perfect or without blemish like Jesus. They become the perfect Bride of heaven who is ready to welcome Jesus' second coming on the glorious clouds to meet Him, the Heavenly Bridegroom, forever.
God honestly confess the goodness of the churches in the last days. Nevertheless, one reproach will cause all things useless, even imperfect and they cannot welcome Jesus' second coming. They are left and perish. Therefore, God keeps on sanctifying us until we are perfect and worthy of welcoming His second coming.
There are seven churches of the Gentilesthat experience the sprinkling of blood as follows.
We are learning the fifth church, namely the one is SARDIS.
There are three groups of the congregation in Sardis as follows (it has been explained in Bible Study Service in Surabaya, February 16, 2015 and Prayer Service in Surabaya, February 18, 2015).
We still discuss verse 5-6.
Revelation 3: 5-6
3:5. "He who overcomesshall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
3:6 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'
THE PROMISES OF GODto the church in Sardis that willingly gets the last sanctification are as follows.
AD. 1. BE CLOTHED IN WHITE GARMENTS
The white garments are the ones of God's trust or ministry.
1 Timothy 1: 12
1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
Saul became Paul and got the white garments. The most sinful man could be trusted to be the servant of God because he got His grace, mercy, and peace. We may get them also and become the priests and kings.
We can offer the service and ministry that are received by God, like the ones of Abel, not Cain.
The signs of the true miniutry that can please God are as follows.
God blesses you.
According to Tabernacle Teaching, Revelation 2-3 refers to the seven sprinklings of blood before the Ark of the Covenant.
It means the seven epistlesfor the seven churches of the Gentiles or the last sanctificationdone by Jesus for the seven churches of the Gentilesor the congregation in the last days to make them perfect or without blemish like Jesus. They become the perfect Bride of heaven who is ready to welcome Jesus' second coming on the glorious clouds to meet Him, the Heavenly Bridegroom, forever.
God honestly confess the goodness of the churches in the last days. Nevertheless, one reproach will cause all things useless, even imperfect and they cannot welcome Jesus' second coming. They are left and perish. Therefore, God keeps on sanctifying us until we are perfect and worthy of welcoming His second coming.
There are seven churches of the Gentilesthat experience the sprinkling of blood as follows.
- The church of EPHESUS(Revelation 2: 1-7) (it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, July 27, 2014up to General Service in Surabaya, September 7, 2014). The church in Ephesus must return to the first loveto return to Paradise.
- The church of SMYRNA(Revelation 2: 8-11) that had to suffer. God said to them not to be afraid in the suffering, but faithful until death(it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, September 14, 2014up to General Service in Surabaya, November 9, 2014).
- The church of PERGAMOS(Revelation 2: 12-17) that must leave the false teachings(it has been explained in Bible Study Service in Surabaya, November 17, 2014).
- The church of THYATIRA(Revelation 2:18-19) thatmust have the sanctification to the heart and deepest mind(it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, January 4, 2015up to General Service in Surabaya, January 18, 2015).
- The church in SARDIS(Revelation 3: 1-6) that experiences spiritual revival and their spirituality is strong= being watchful(it has been explained in Prayer Service in Surabaya, January 21, 2015)
We are learning the fifth church, namely the one is SARDIS.
There are three groups of the congregation in Sardis as follows (it has been explained in Bible Study Service in Surabaya, February 16, 2015 and Prayer Service in Surabaya, February 18, 2015).
- Verse 1= 'have a name that you are alive, but you are dead'.
- Verse 2= 'ready to die'.
- Verse 4= 'walk with Me in white, for they are worthy'.
We still discuss verse 5-6.
Revelation 3: 5-6
3:5. "He who overcomesshall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
3:6 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'
THE PROMISES OF GODto the church in Sardis that willingly gets the last sanctification are as follows.
- 'be clothed in white garments' (it has been explained from General Service in Surabaya, February 22, 2015).
- 'I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life'= the name is written in the Book of Life.
AD. 1. BE CLOTHED IN WHITE GARMENTS
The white garments are the ones of God's trust or ministry.
1 Timothy 1: 12
1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
Saul became Paul and got the white garments. The most sinful man could be trusted to be the servant of God because he got His grace, mercy, and peace. We may get them also and become the priests and kings.
We can offer the service and ministry that are received by God, like the ones of Abel, not Cain.
The signs of the true miniutry that can please God are as follows.
- 1 Timothy 1: 12
1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,- We do not use our own ability, although we have the intelligence, richess, position, and so on.
- We confess that we have many weaknesses.
2 Corinthians 12: 9-10
12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
'My strength is made perfect in weakness' = we get the power of God through Holy Spiritwhen we are weak.
If one feels strong, God will not help him because he does not need any help.
Confessing that we are weak means as follows.- Confessing that we are not worthy because we have many infirmities and powerlessness.
- Making our selves of no reputation, so Holy Spirit or God's power is poured out to us.
2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
2:6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
2:7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Our example is Jesus who made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, although He is God ('who, being in the form of God').
Making our selves of no reputation means as follows.- Not thinking about our own life, but relying fully to God.
- Being a doulos as follows.
Philippians 2: 8
2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.- A servant of God who only does the duty, without any right.
The duty of a servant of God is only glorifyingHim, not disgracing or making Him grieved. As a result, our work and reward are in the hand of Godfor our present life up to the eternal one. God never fools us. - A servant of God who is obedient until the flesh does not speak anymore.
For example, the widow of Zarephathonly had a handful of flour and little oil for her and her son, and then they would have died. Nevertheless, Elijah asked her to provide the food for God and she did it.
Abrahamwas commanded to kill his son.
The measure of obedience islove to God more than anything and we will easily obey Him.
2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
2:10 that at the name of Jesusevery knee should bow,
As a result, we have the power of the name of Jesus to defeat the trinity of Satan as follows.- We can defeat the source of problem, even the impossible one.
- We can defeat the source of failure. Satan wants to make our ministry failed, namely with the disobedience. Satan is defeated means that we can be successful.
- We can defeat the source of stumbling. The effort of Satan is to make us stop our ministry to God.
We can keep strong in our service and ministry to Goduntil the end, namely we die or Jesus comes a second time.
- A servant of God who only does the duty, without any right.
- Faithfulness
1 Timothy 1: 12
1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
2 Corinthians 11: 2-3
11:2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothedyou to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
11:3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceivedEve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicitythat is in Christ.
The fear of Paul will happen in the last days when Jesus will come a second time ('betrothed' = the engagement time or the least step before the marriage).
There are three kinds of faithfulness that must be kept in the last days or engagement time as follows.- The simplicity that is in Christ = the faithfulness to the true teaching Wordwe have received, believed, and experienced.
2 Corinthians 11: 4
11:4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesuswhom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spiritwhich you have not received, or a different gospelwhich you have not accepted--you may well put up with it!
The different gospel or teaching will bring different spirit and another Jesus.
The true teaching Word means as follows.- The Word written in the Bible.
- The Word revealed by God through a verse that explains other verses in the Bible.
- Because the true teaching Word determines the direction of our ministryto the building of the perfect bodyof Christ to place Jesus as the Head. The true teaching Word is Jesus Himself as the Head.
- Because the true teaching Wordis the commandthat determines what we should do in the ministry, namely doing the will of God.
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 Fatherin 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!'
The measure of success in the ministryis doing the will of God or obeying the true teaching Word.
Verse 22 = the measure of human.
The true teaching Word starts from the miracle of life renewal and the physical one will happen. The physical miracle may be competed with by others, but the miracle of life renewal may not.
The ministry that is not in line with the true teaching Word will make one as the person who practices lawlessness although the ministry seems great before human. One becomes like Eve who was deceived by the serpent and driven out of garden Eden to enter the world which was full of curses. Being driven out of the world, one will enter the hell.
- Faithfulness in what is least, related to the possession of God.
Luke 16: 10-12
16:10 "He who is faithfulin what is leastis faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
16:11 "Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
16:12 "And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?
'what is least' = mammon/money.
Verse 11 = One will not be trusted with the real or heavenly treasure if he cannot be trusted with the physical treasure.
Verse 12 = One will not enjoy the blessing of God if he takes away the possession of others.
There are three kinds of God's possession that cannot be charged against by anyone as follows.- Tithes and offering (the least).
- The temple or house of prayer.
- The bride (the greatest).
TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Those are the least.
We must be faithful and true in physical things to make us be trusted with the spiritual treasure or the kingdom of heaven.
Moreover, we must be faithful and true about the treasure of others and we will be trusted with our own treasure.
The tithes and offerings are the treasure of others or God. We must return it faithfully and correctly. Do not steal it, or else you lose your own treasure and the one of heaven.
There is treasure of others, namely ones who are in need, in every blessing we receive from God. We must return it faithfully and correctly.
As a result, we can enjoy or be trusted about our own treasure and the one of heaven.
Formerly, Judas Iscariot stole the trust of God about the tithes and offerings. Now, the elders and congregation steal the trust of God about the tithes and offerings to a pastor. Consequently, the pastor is not trusted with the great thing or spiritual food, namely the revelation of God's Word, and the whole congregation dies spiritually.
Not being faithful in what is least, namely the things about money, one will worship the antichrist. It is related to the second possession of God as follows.
THE TEMPLE OR HOUSE OF PRAYER
Luke 16: 13
16:13 "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
We can worship God after returning the possession of God and other people who are in need. We become the house of prayer.
Stealing the possession of God and other people who are in need, one is bound by mammon and he is worshiping the antichrist. Consequently, there is everlasting perdition.
Worshiping God, we are being renewed continually until we become the third possession of God, namely His bride.
THE BRIDE OF GOD
Jesus is the bridgroom or Head. The bride is His perfect body.
The Head cannot be separated from the body. It means that the faithfulness of bride cannot be charged against or disturbed by anything. We are with God forever.
In Matthew 25, the faithfulness in what is least means the one to the talent or ministry.
Proverbs 20: 6
20:6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?
The profitable thing is faithfulness and goodnessand we have the joy of heaven.
The faithfulness only, without the goodness, will be useless. The goodness only, without the faithfulness, will also be useless.
Matthew 25: 21
25:21 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithfulservant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
Neither being faithful nor good means being lazy and evil. - Faithfulness in the calling of God.
We must believethat the calling comes from God Himself, so He will work when threat and obstruction come to us.
2 Timothy 1: 9
1:9who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and gracewhich was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
The requirementto minister to God is holiness, not intelligence/foolishness or riches/poverty.
He calls us because of the grace, not our deeds, greatness, or infirmity.
Why does God have to call us?
Because the calling of God is the right to enter the kingdom of heaven.
2 Peter 1: 10-11
1:10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
1:11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantlyinto the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The calling of God is the full rightto enter the kingdom of heaven.
If there is no faithfulness, the right is decreased until someone loses it.
Romans 11: 29
11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
God never regrets His grace and callingbecause He wants that all of us get the right to enter the kingdom of heaven.
As for us, NEVER REGRETbecause of being called by God to minister to Him. Moreover, do not leave the calling and election of God, or else you are very arrogant and will live in curse and perdition or there is no right to enter heavenly kingdom.
Jesus never regrets although He knows our infirmity.
- The simplicity that is in Christ = the faithfulness to the true teaching Wordwe have received, believed, and experienced.
- There is thanksgiving to God,not complaint.
1 Timothy 1: 12
1:12 And I thankChrist Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
The thanksgiving is the result of the abundance in our heart. It will increase and peak on the worshipto God, the King and High Priest.
1 Timothy 1: 17
1:17 Now to the Kingeternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
The beginning in the verse 12 is the thanksgiving and the end in the verse 17 is the worship to the King.
Philippians 2: 14-15
2:14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,
2:15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Murmuring and disputing, one will be like a star that collides another star. Such star falls and does not shine. It means living in the darkness up to the outer darkness.
How can Paul give thanks and worship God?
1 Timothy 1: 13-14
1:13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercybecause I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
It is because Paul always remembersthat the base of his ministry is the work of reconciliation done by the blood or sacrifice of Christ, not because of his greatness.
Thus, we must stand upon the sacrifice of Christ or the base of our ministry. It means that we say 'yes' if yes and 'no' if no; we say 'right' if right and 'false' if false. It means righteousness and honesty.
It continues until the bride stands upon the red moon or the sacrifice of Christ in Revelation 12: 1.
The dragon cannot disturb and we become the possession of God forever.
Why do we have to remember the sacrifice of Christ?
Paul always remembers his old life not to return to it.- To make us not arrogant.
- To encourage us to work seriously.
- To comfortus and others that the sinful or the people who have many infirmities still have an opportunity to be used by God as long as there is the sacrifice of Christ.
- Our heart can give abundant thanks and worship God, the King with saying "alleluia". There will be only one word, namely "alleluia" on the glorious clouds.
14:17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do notcome up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be norain.
14:18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plaguewith which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
As a result, the plague is removed, and we get the rain of God's mercy as follows.- The miraculous blessing of God. There is nothing difficult or impossible for Him.
- The help from all problems. The impossible can be made possible.
- The sanctification and life renewal from God(the greatest miracle) until we are as perfect as He is.
Revelation 19: 6-7
19:6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
19:7 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."
It will continue to the great worship in heaven forever.
Revelation 19: 1
19:1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!
God blesses you.