Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We discuss Revelation 1: 17-20 (it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, May 11, 2014). Tonight, we still discuss Revelation 1: 17-18.
Revelation 1: 17-18
1:17And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
1:18 "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am aliveforevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
John was exiled in Patmos Island or he experienced the suffering in the flesh not because of sinning, but the testimony of Jesus Christ and the Word of God, so he could fall at Jesus’ feet or worship with a broken heart.
Worshipping with a broken heart means confessing that we are only clay that cannot do anything with many weaknesses, unworthiness and we are not precious at all like we are going to die (“as dead”). It means that we worship God until the flesh does not speak anymoreand we can fully surrender to God. John got the result, namely the touching of God’s right hand and he received three things. Likewise, we will also experience the three things if we can worship God until we can fall at Jesus’ feet. The three things are as follows.
“I was dead, and behold,I am alive” = Jesus has died and risen to do these things.
What is the key of heavenly kingdom?
How can we know the will of Father in heaven?
Through the revelation of the Word of God, whose verse is explained by other verses in the Bible (not by jokes or other things) or the true teaching Word.
Thus, the key of heavenly kingdom is OBEDIENCE to the revelation of the Word of God or the true teaching Word.
Revelation 1: 20
1:20 "The mysteryof 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.
It is especially in the book of Revelation that contains the revelation of God’s Word about the things that have not happened yet, but will happen for sure.
There will be many deceptions, rebellions, and fear everwhere in the last days. Therefore, we must worship God more to receive His love and get the keys of the kingdom of heaven, namely the revelation of the Word of God.
Be alert!There is a negative attitude towards the revelation of the Word of God.
Proverbs 30: 5-6
30:5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
30:6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
That is addingand taking awaythe true teaching Word that is pure or changingit, so one disobeys it and becomes a liar.
Being the liar means being the same as Satanthat will perish. On the contrary, we are the same as Jesus when we are obedient.
Thus, do not disobey the Word of God. The true Word of God that is revealed by Him must be heard and obeyedonly, so that the door of heavenly kingdom is opened and so are all other doors in the world.
We must be alert because there are people who add and take away or change the true and pure teaching Word from age to age as follows.
The ways God helps the epilepsy are as follows.
God blesses you.
We discuss Revelation 1: 17-20 (it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, May 11, 2014). Tonight, we still discuss Revelation 1: 17-18.
Revelation 1: 17-18
1:17And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
1:18 "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am aliveforevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
John was exiled in Patmos Island or he experienced the suffering in the flesh not because of sinning, but the testimony of Jesus Christ and the Word of God, so he could fall at Jesus’ feet or worship with a broken heart.
Worshipping with a broken heart means confessing that we are only clay that cannot do anything with many weaknesses, unworthiness and we are not precious at all like we are going to die (“as dead”). It means that we worship God until the flesh does not speak anymoreand we can fully surrender to God. John got the result, namely the touching of God’s right hand and he received three things. Likewise, we will also experience the three things if we can worship God until we can fall at Jesus’ feet. The three things are as follows.
- “Do not be afraid!” = there is no more fear (it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, May 11, 2014).
The fear will become the main killer physically and spiritually that the spirituality becomes dry, even dead in perdition. Being touched by God’s right hand, there is no more fear and we live in serenity and thanksgiving to Him. - “I am the First and the Last” = receiving the love of God, beginning from the first love of Christ’s sacrifice up to the peak of love, namely the love of the Bride and Bridegroom (it has been explained in Bible Study Service in Surabaya, May 19, 2014).
- [verse 18] “I was dead, and I am alive”= receiving the power of victory over the death(it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, May 25, 2014).
“I was dead, and behold,I am alive” = Jesus has died and risen to do these things.
- Defeating the death, so He has a right to hold the key of the death and Hades to close the door of Hades, so that we will not perish forever. We can defeat the death together with Jesus.
- Matthew 16: 18-19
16:18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
16:19 "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
“the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” means that Jesus defeats the death.
= Jesus gives the keys of the kingdom of heaven to Peter. Now, Jesus gives the keys of the kingdom of heaven to uswho have defeated the death, so that we can enter the eternal heavenly kingdom.
What is the key of heavenly kingdom?
- CROSS(Acts14: 22). We must have the cross or suffer many tribulations in order to enter heavenly kingdom (it has been explained in Prayer Service in Surabaya, May 26, 2014).
- In 2 Peter 1(it has been explained in Bible Study Service in Surabaya, June 16, 2014).
2 Peter 1: 10-11
1:10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligentto make your call and electionsure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
1:11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdomof our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
“an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom” = the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
Thus, the keys of the kingdom of heaven are THE CALLING AND ELECTION OF GODwho exalts us as priests and kings.
The priests and kingsare the people who are used by God or serve and minister Him according to the ministry He has trusted to them.
Revelation 1: 19
1:19 "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
John was usedor sent by God to writethe epistles to the seven churches of the Gentiles that contained the rebukes and advices.
The rebukes and advices are for sanctifying the seven churches of the Gentiles from the sins and blemish, so they can be shown as the seven golden lampstands or the perfect church or Bride of God.
“seven” refers to perfection. - OBEDIENCE
Matthew 7: 21
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.
Who can enter the kingdom of heaven? Those who obey the will of Father in heaven will enter it.
Thus, the key of heavenly kingdom is OBEDIENCEto the will of Father in heaven.
How can we know the will of Father in heaven?
Through the revelation of the Word of God, whose verse is explained by other verses in the Bible (not by jokes or other things) or the true teaching Word.
Thus, the key of heavenly kingdom is OBEDIENCE to the revelation of the Word of God or the true teaching Word.
Revelation 1: 20
1:20 "The mysteryof 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.
It is especially in the book of Revelation that contains the revelation of God’s Word about the things that have not happened yet, but will happen for sure.
There will be many deceptions, rebellions, and fear everwhere in the last days. Therefore, we must worship God more to receive His love and get the keys of the kingdom of heaven, namely the revelation of the Word of God.
Be alert!There is a negative attitude towards the revelation of the Word of God.
Proverbs 30: 5-6
30:5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
30:6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
That is addingand taking awaythe true teaching Word that is pure or changingit, so one disobeys it and becomes a liar.
Being the liar means being the same as Satanthat will perish. On the contrary, we are the same as Jesus when we are obedient.
Thus, do not disobey the Word of God. The true Word of God that is revealed by Him must be heard and obeyedonly, so that the door of heavenly kingdom is opened and so are all other doors in the world.
We must be alert because there are people who add and take away or change the true and pure teaching Word from age to age as follows.
- The age of Father God (Adam – Abraham, ± 2000 years).
The representative was Eve.
Genesis 2: 16
2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freelyeat;
Genesis 3: 2
3:2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;
Eve took away the word 'freely' or heard it not in good or correct manner as if the ears were deaf.
Genesis 2: 17
2:17"but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Genesis 3: 3
3:3 "but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touchit, lest you die.' "
Eve added the word 'touch' because the mouth or saying was not good as if the mouth was dumb.
Why did she add and take away the true teaching Words?
Because she heard strange voice, namely of the serpent. We must be careful. Hearing the strange voice while hearing the true teaching Word, one will add and take awaythe true teaching Word, even disobeyit.
Genesis 3: 1
3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"
'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?' = the voice of the serpent = other teachings or gossips that are not true. Consequently, Eve added and took away the Word, even disobeyed it.
Solomon, the representative of men, in the beginning held the sword, and then he threw it away because of hearing the voices of his wives or other teachings. Solomon had a great wisdom, but he could fall. Who are we, comparing to him?
Be carefull in the way you hear the Word!
What is the meaning of adding and taking away the true teaching Word?- Taking away the word 'freely', meaning the preaching of God’s Word is without the freedom or anointing of Holy Spirit, so it is limited or bound by the time and its content is limited also.
Consequently, the congregation is still bound by sins and time, so they cannot persevere in doing the three main services to God. - Adding the word 'touch', meaning the preaching of the Word is addedwith joke, knowledge, and illustrations whose truth cannot be accounted for and there is no truth in them.
Jesus also uses illustrations or parables, but all of them are about heavenly kingdom or tabernacle.
Consequently, only the emotion of the congregation is touchedby the preacher, but the heart is never touched by God, so there is no life renewal.
The consequence is as follows.- Being naked. The marriage and children are disgraced.
- Living in curse or thorns or weariness, heavy burden, sorrow, tears, bitterness, failure, and distress.
- Taking away the word 'freely', meaning the preaching of God’s Word is without the freedom or anointing of Holy Spirit, so it is limited or bound by the time and its content is limited also.
- The age of the Son of God (from Abraham to Jesus first coming, ± 2000 years).
The representative is a son who was an epileptic with mute and deaf spirit.
Mark 9: 25
9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"
Being mute and deafmeans adding and taking away the true teaching Word.
Consequently, there is spiritual epilepsy.
The spiritual epilepsy means as follows.- The sins of Babylon, namely sins concerning eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage.
The sin concerning eating-drinking happens through smoking, getting drunk, and drugs abuse.
The sins concerning marrying-being given in marriageis sexual sin with all its kinds in sight, mind, saying, and deeds, sexual deviation such as homosexuality, lesbianism, sexuality to oneself, and the wrong marriage with sexual affairs, divorce, and remarrying.
How long has the epilepsy been happening? From childhood.
Mark 9: 21
9:21 So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood.
Beware!Sunday school teachers must be responsible because there was no saved child in the days of Noah. The last days will return to the days of Noah. The children must be encouraged to hear and obey the Word because the epilepsy happens from childhood up to youth and old age. It attacks suddenly, so we must be ready to face it by hearing and obeyingthe true teaching Word for our shield and protection. - Never-ending problem because it often relapses or many tears.
If there is the revelation of the Word of God and we obey the true teaching Word, all problems will be solved and all doors will be opened.
The more the Word is revealed, the more our future is opened.
- The sins of Babylon, namely sins concerning eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage.
- The age of Holy Spirit God (Jesus first coming – His second coming, ± 2000 years).
The representative is the church.
Revelation 22: 18-19
22:18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecyof this book: If anyone addsto these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;
22:19 and if anyone takes awayfrom the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
'the prophecy'= the revelation of the Word about something that has not happened yet but will happen for sure.
verse 20 is about the lifting up.
verse 21 is about the grace of God.
In the last days, there are many churches that add and take away the true teaching Word.
We can hold fast and obey the true teaching Word only because of the grace of God, like Noah who entered the ark while other people mocked him. From among all people in the world, only eight people could enter it. Likewise, we must hold fast to the true teaching Word although other people mock us, and finally God will show His pleading towards us.
2 Corinthians 11: 2-4
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 deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
11:4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesuswhom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospelwhich you have not accepted––you may well put up with it!
'one husband' = Christ.
It is the engagement time, meaning there is only one remained step to enter the marriage supper of the Lamb or the end of the last days.
What was Paul afraid of?
He was afraid of the church’s losing the simplicity that is in Christor the true faithfulness to the true teaching Word. The true teaching Word is Christ Himself.
Adding and taking away or being disobedient to the true teaching Word means resisting against it.
Why does a person add or take away the Word?
'you may well put up with it' = there is no power or firmness to reject other teaching, so one receives it as follows.
2 Corinthians 11: 4
11:4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesuswhom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospelwhich you have not accepted––you may well put up with it!- Receiving other teachings means being the same as the false prophets.
- Receiving other spirit, namely the spirit of the flesh. It means being the same as the antichrist.
- Receiving the other Jesus or Jesus without the cross. It means being the same as Satan.
In Matthew 16, Peter was called as the rock, but then he rejected the preaching of Jesus about the cross and He said to him “Get behind me Satan”.
- Satan: the red fiery dragon in the air.
- Antichrist: beast coming out of the sea.
- False prophet: beast on earth.
- In evil or the bond of money as follows.
- Stinginess: one cannot give for the work of God and other people who are in need.
- Greediness: robbing the right of God by not returning the tithes and offerings as well as the possession of others by stealing, not paying the debt, making corruption, and so on.
- Being extravagant:buying something not because there is a need of it, but fulfilling the will of the flesh.
- Stinginess: one cannot give for the work of God and other people who are in need.
- In uncleanness.
- Not being shepherded, but wandering.
It begins from the pastor.
- Receiving other teachings means being the same as the false prophets.
The ways God helps the epilepsy are as follows.
- Mark 9: 19
9:19 He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me."
'Bring him to Me!' = the preaching or power of the gospel Word to draw sinful people to come to the Lord, so that they can believe in Him and be saved.
It refers to the Golden Candlestickin Tabernacle or perseverance in doing General Service.
Mark 9: 25
9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"
'He rebuked the unclean spirit'=the preaching of the hard true teaching Word to rebuke and advise. It is sharper than any two-edged sword to sanctifyus from evil and unclean spirit. It refers to the Table of Showbread or perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion.
Mark 9: 24
9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
The father of the child cried out. It refers to the worship prayer or the Golden Altar of Incensein Tabernacle or perseverance in doing Prayer Service.
Thus, we must be correctly and well-shepherded in facing the epilepsy or the mute and deaf spirit.
The effective age to be shepherded is 12-17 years old(we learn from Jesus, whose age was twelve years old when He was in the synagogue and Joseph, whose age was seventeen years old when he usually shepherded the flock.
These ages are the time of transition when the flesh is very strong, even the strongest, with the will and curiosity.
What is the meaning of being shepherded well and correctly?- Being inside the shepherding pen always through the perseverance in doing three main services to God.
- Obeying the true teaching Word.
John 10: 11
10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
As for the Lord, Jesus as the Good Shepherd willingly sacrifices all things for us, even His soul, so that all things in our life can be good.
Isaiah 52: 13-14
52:13 Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high.
52:14 Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men;
Jesus’ face was glorious and shining as the sun on the mountain. He is the holy, perfect, and glorious servant of God.
On the contrary, His visage was so marred on the cross, more than any man. His face was like the beasts, namely dogs and swine, in order to help us. Our bad and destroyed face can be changed into good and glorious one as He is.
Mark 7: 37
7:37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."
'the deaf to hear'= hearing only the true teacing Word and obeying it.
'the mute to speak'= saying righteous and good words without any lie. We say “yes” if yes and “no” if no.
All things will be goodif our mouth and ears are good. The guarantee is the Holy Communion or the sacrifice of Christ. All destroyed things in our life will be made good because Jesus has born them on the cross. - Being inside the shepherding pen always through the perseverance in doing three main services to God.
- Matthew 17:19-21
17:19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?"
17:20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
17:21 "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."
The second way of God to help is through fasting prayerto tear the flesh that often doubtslike the disciples.
Mark 9: 24
9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
The father of the child did not believe. The doubtful heart must be helped first, so that we can believe and entrust our life fully to God. We do not hope in others, but we only lift up our hands to God.
Mark 9: 23
9:23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
Luke 1: 37
1:37 "For with God nothing will be impossible."
= all things are possible to him who believes and for with God nothing will be impossible.
It means thatone who believes gets the power of Godto remove all impossibilities until we can be changed to be as glorious as Jesus is to welcome His second coming on the glorious clouds.
God blesses you.