Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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, we must have the last sanctification until we are without blemish.
There are seven churches of the Gentilesthat experience the sprinkling of blood as follows.
We are learning Revelation 3: 7-13or the sixth church, namely THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA.
Revelation 3: 7
3:7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens"
There are three kinds of the Lord's appearanceto the church in Philadelphia (it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, March 8, 2015) as follows.
We will learn about the key of David.
It physically means the key of the kingdom of Judah or Israel held by King David.
The key of David that is held by Jesus is the key of heavenly kingdom.
How can we get the key of David?
1 Samuel 16: 11
16:11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here."
Samuel was commanded by God to go to the house of Jesse to look for the king instead of Saul who had been disobedient. All great sons of Jesse were not chosen because God said to Samuel that He looked at the heart, not the outer appearance.
David who was feeding the flock could be chosen as the king with the keyof the kingdom of Israel. Thus, we get the key of David through being shepherded well and correctly.
What are the signs of being shepherded well and correctly?
John 10: 16
10:16"And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
The shepherded lifewill have the fellowship with other sheep from other pen. It means the inter-shepherding fellowshipwith one true Vine or the true teaching Word. As a result, there is one flock with one shepherd or one perfect body of Christ with one Head, namely Jesus. We are united with Him forever to enter the last shepherding pen, namely New Jerusalem or the eternal heavenly kingdom. We become the perfect bride of God.
After we are shepherded well and correctly until we become ruddy, have the bright eyes and good-looking, we will be lifted up as kings in New Jerusalem or the eternal heavenly kingdom like David who was chosen as king after he had been in the shepherding.
The facts of having the key of David are as follows.
As the conclusion,the fact found in having the key of David is OBEDIENCEand FAITHFULNESSor being shepherded well and correctly, so we are always in the hand of God's mercy and goodness as the Great and Good Shepherd. The mercy and goodness of God are only found in the shepherding, not in other places.
Psalm 23: 6
23:6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
Evey step of our life and every beat of our heart are only because of the mercy and goodness of God, not the money and education certificate we have.
The results of being in the hand of God's mercy and goodness are as follows.
The source of the key of David or the mercy and goodness of God is the Holy Communion.
God blesses you.
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, we must have the last sanctification until we are without blemish.
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).
- The church in PHILADELPHIA(Revelation 3: 7-13) (it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, March 8, 2015).
We are learning Revelation 3: 7-13or the sixth church, namely THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA.
Revelation 3: 7
3:7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens"
There are three kinds of the Lord's appearanceto the church in Philadelphia (it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, March 8, 2015) as follows.
- 'He who is true' = The Court of Tabernacle.
Jesus appears as the True to justify us. - 'He who is holy' = The Holy Place.
Jesus appears as the Holy to sanctify us. - 'He who has the key of David' = The Most Holy Place.
We will learn about the key of David.
It physically means the key of the kingdom of Judah or Israel held by King David.
The key of David that is held by Jesus is the key of heavenly kingdom.
How can we get the key of David?
1 Samuel 16: 11
16:11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here."
Samuel was commanded by God to go to the house of Jesse to look for the king instead of Saul who had been disobedient. All great sons of Jesse were not chosen because God said to Samuel that He looked at the heart, not the outer appearance.
David who was feeding the flock could be chosen as the king with the keyof the kingdom of Israel. Thus, we get the key of David through being shepherded well and correctly.
What are the signs of being shepherded well and correctly?
- Being like a branch that dwells in the true Vine.
It means that we are shepherded to the true teaching Word or Jesus Himself.
The true teaching Word is the Word which is revealed through a verse that explains other verses in the Bible. It is the revelation of God, not the knowledge.
1 Chronicles 28: 11, 19
28:11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat;
28:19 "All this," said David, "the LORD made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans."
Verse 11-19 talks about the building of the temple in the days of King Solomon.
'the LORD made me understand in writing' = the true teaching Word.
The spiritual temple is the perfect body of Christ.
If we are shepherded by the revelation of God's Word, we have a clear direction, namely the building of the spiritual temple.
On the contrary, the service to God or shepherding withoutthe true Vine will make the branch be released and gathered in the dustbin to be burnt. Such shepherding is dry. It can be detected from the dry mouththat likes gossiping, lying, slandering, and magnifying physical things. - Being in the shepherding pen or the Holy Place always.
There are three kinds of equipment in it that refer to the three main services to God.
1 Samuel 16: 12
16:12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!"
As a result, we can appear like David as follows.- Golden Candlestick or perseverance in doing General Service to have fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts to result in bright eyes. Our main outlook is toward the field of God that is ready to be sown (John 4). It means that we prioritize the service and ministry to God faithfully and fervently in spirit according to the ministry and the gifts of Holy Spirit that God has trusted to us.
The ministry and the gifts of Holy Spirit are the same as the tunic of many colors. The bright eyes also refer to the beautiful life.
On the contrary, the eyes that see the world only will be blind. - Table of Showbread or perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion to have the fellowship with the Son of God in the teaching Word and Christ's sacrifice to result in ruddy cheek.
The red color refers to the blood. It means that we suffer in the flesh to get the double sanctification done by the true teaching Word and Holy Communion, so we can live in the border of righteousness and holiness. Such condition is the same as the Passover lamb which is slaughtered.
Thus, the righteousness and purity refer to the atmosphere of Passover.
1 Corinthians 5: 7-8
5:7Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Our life in the world in the border of sincerity and truth is in the atmosphere of feast, or else there will be weariness, sorrow, heavy burden, and thorns only. - Golden Altar of Incense or perseverance in doing Prayer Service to have fellowship with Father God in His love to result in the good-looking. It means the life renewal.
1 Samuel 16: 12
16:12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!"
The love of God renews us from carnal man to spiritual one like Jesus who has the good-looking.
1 Peter 3: 4-5
3:4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
3:5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissiveto their own husbands,
The good-looking is the adornment of the bride, namely gentleness, quietness, and submissionlike what Sarah has.
As a result, God opens the door of Sarah's womb. It means that God removes all impossible things.
- Golden Candlestick or perseverance in doing General Service to have fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts to result in bright eyes. Our main outlook is toward the field of God that is ready to be sown (John 4). It means that we prioritize the service and ministry to God faithfully and fervently in spirit according to the ministry and the gifts of Holy Spirit that God has trusted to us.
John 10: 16
10:16"And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
The shepherded lifewill have the fellowship with other sheep from other pen. It means the inter-shepherding fellowshipwith one true Vine or the true teaching Word. As a result, there is one flock with one shepherd or one perfect body of Christ with one Head, namely Jesus. We are united with Him forever to enter the last shepherding pen, namely New Jerusalem or the eternal heavenly kingdom. We become the perfect bride of God.
After we are shepherded well and correctly until we become ruddy, have the bright eyes and good-looking, we will be lifted up as kings in New Jerusalem or the eternal heavenly kingdom like David who was chosen as king after he had been in the shepherding.
The facts of having the key of David are as follows.
- Doing all the will of God or obeying the true teaching Word until the flesh does not speak anymore.
Acts 13: 22
13:22 "And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.'
Actually, Samuel wanted to appoint the great brothers of David, but God said that he looked at the heart, not the outer appearance.
God is forming our heart through shepherding system, so that our hard heart can be changed into the meek one.
The meek heartis THE SIMPLE ONE.
The hard heartuses the logicor intelligence, consequently there is arrogance. It will be so difficult for such person to be obedient, even he cannot be obedient.
The meek or simple heart uses the faith,so it can always be obedient.
Actually, the command of God is simple. God only commanded Moses to lift up his rod to face the strong Pharaoh with his complete army and weapons.
Only the meek or simple heart can receive the simple command of God.
The meek or simple heart can always be obedient because there is belief that impossible thing can be made possible.
1 Samuel 17: 34-37
17:34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,
17:35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.
17:36 "Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God."
17:37 Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"
This is the story when David was going to face Goliath.
David could win over the lion and bear because of his obedience to God or the true teaching Word. Obedience to the true shepherding Word means that we appreciatethe good and correct shepherding.
The obedience will make us victorious.
David did not get ashamed to testify his victory in the shepherding over the lion and bear to King Saul. It happened because the heart of David is simple although the thing he testified is small.
Testifying means as follows.- Confessing the power of Godwho has given us the victory, beginning from the small things.
- Accumulating or storing up all helps of God. It begins from the small things until there is big power to defeat Goliath. Goliath is a giant that refers to big problem.
- Being faithfulalways in doing the service and ministry to Godaccording to the ministry He has given us.
1 Samuel 17: 38-39
17:38So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail.
17:39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off.
David was always faithful to his garment as as shepherd. He did not want to wear the garment of Saul. It means that he was a shepherd, so he did not want to act as a king.
Thus, THE SIMPLE HEARTalways appreciatesand becomes faithfulto what God has given us. We do not have any ambition to position or power.
Do not want the garment of others means as follows.- Do not envy the blessings God has given to others.
- Do not envy the employment of God to others.
With the simple heart, we always believethat God will bless and use us.
Envying or having a will to the blessings and employment God has given toothers will cause jealousy, hatred without any cause, revenge, and bitterness of heart.
Consequently,one becomes the same as David who could not move because of wearing the garments of Saul. It means defeat, total failure, and perdition. Such person cannot go forward to New Jerusalem.
As the conclusion,the fact found in having the key of David is OBEDIENCEand FAITHFULNESSor being shepherded well and correctly, so we are always in the hand of God's mercy and goodness as the Great and Good Shepherd. The mercy and goodness of God are only found in the shepherding, not in other places.
Psalm 23: 6
23:6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
Evey step of our life and every beat of our heart are only because of the mercy and goodness of God, not the money and education certificate we have.
The results of being in the hand of God's mercy and goodness are as follows.
- The key of David opens the door of victoryover Goliath.
Goliath refers to the will and lust of flesh that become huge to cause the fall in sin up to the peak as follows.- The sins concerning eating-drinking such as smoking, getting drunk, and drugs abuse.
- The sins concerning marrying-being given in marriage. The sons of God had the mixed-marriage, divorce, remarrying, and marrying-being given in marriage or free sex in the days of Noah. Consequently, they delivered gigantic seeds.
The wrong or blasphemous marriage corrupts the godly seeds and results in gigantic seeds that will be destroyed by God.
Ephesians 5: 31
5:31. "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
The purpose of getting married is to become one flesh. We can have the unity in marriage only through the good and correct shepherding, there is no other way.
The formula of marriageis 1 husband added with 1 wife equals to 1 flesh or unity.
There must be only the mark "+" or the cross of the Lordbetween the husband and wife. There must be no other man or woman, or else there is disturbance in the marriage.
The fact found in the cross is confessing and forgiving one another. The false must confess the sin and not repeat it. The right must forgive and forget the sin of other. As a result, the blood of Jesus finishes the sin, so we can serve one another and enter the unity of the spiritual marriage in the Lord.
The unity of marriage will create the place for godly seeds as follows.- Good and spiritual children.
- Revelation 12: 5
12:5. She bore a male Childwho was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
The godly seed means a son who is born by a bride as the deliverer like Jesus and Moses. - The marriage becomes the house of prayer.
Matthew 18: 19
18:19. "Again I say to you that if twoof you agreeon earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
'twoof you agree'= the husband and wife.
The household becomes home sweet homeor the mostly desired place and God answers the prayers. We rejoice until we enter the marriage supper of the Lamb of God in Revelation 19: 9.
- The key of David opens the door of lifting up.
David had been a shepherd, but he could be appointed as a king and he had the key of David. It refers to the beautiful, successful, and joyful future life.
The lifting up happens also when we are in the valley of sin or death.
David fell in sin with Bathsheba, namely taking the wife of other man and killing him. David should have perished, but he confessed his sin when Nathan the prophet rebuked him with the hard Word of God. He got the lifting up, restoration, and justification from God.
We can be lifted up from failure, so we have success and beautiful life in time of need. - The key of David opens the doors of heaven.
Deuteronomy 11: 11, 13
11:11. "but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven,
11:13 ' And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandmentswhich I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Himwith all your heart and with all your soul,
'the rain of heaven'= the heaven is opened.
'earnestly obey My commandments'= hearing and being obedient.
'serve Him'= faithfulness.
The door of heaven is opened as follows.- For pouring the rain of blessings from heaven, so we will not be dry, like David who says 'The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want'.
God preserves us abundantly until we can give thanks.
The rain of blessings is the mercy and goodness of God coming down from heaven. - The bottom up mercy and goodness of God are the sanctification and life renewal.
We are sanctified and renewed little by little until we are perfect or without any blemish. We are lifted up on the glorious clouds when Jesus comes a second time to enter the door of New Jerusalem or the last shepherding where there is no more tear. We are with God forever.
- For pouring the rain of blessings from heaven, so we will not be dry, like David who says 'The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want'.
The source of the key of David or the mercy and goodness of God is the Holy Communion.
God blesses you.