Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are still discussing
Revelation 2-3.
According to Tabernacle Teaching, it 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.
There are
seven churches of the Gentilesthat experience the sprinkling of blood as follows.
- The church in 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 in 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 in PERGAMOS(Revelation 2: 12-17).
AD. 3. THE CHURCH IN PERGAMOS
Revelation 2: 12-13
2:12. "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
2:13 "I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
The church in Pergamos
dwells in THE PLACE where Satan's throne is.
In verse 12,
Jesus appears with the sharp two-edged sword.
Hebrews 4: 12-144:12. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharperthan 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.
4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priestwho has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Sharp two-edged sword= The Word of God that is sharper than any two-edged sword (verse 12-13).
verse 14= Jesus as the Great High Priest.
As the conclusion, there is Jesus as the Great High Priest that leads our service and ministry where there is the preaching of the true teaching Word. As a result, our service and ministry are not dry, but in the atmosphere of the throne of heaven. On the contrary, there is the throne of Satan where there is no sword of God's Word.
The proofs that there is the High Priest with the sword are as follows.
- Revelation 1: 16 (New Testament)
1:16. He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
'out of His mouth' = out of Jesus' mouth as the High Priest.
'a sharp two-edged sword'= the true teaching Word coming out of Jesus' mouth or the Word spoken by Jesus or the revelation of the Word.
It is revealed by God through a verse that explains other verses in the Bible.
It is able to sanctifyus until we are perfect.
John 15: 3
15:3. "You are already cleanbecause of the word which Ihave spoken to you.
'Ihave spoken'= the Word spoken by Jesus.
If the Word is explained by jokes, it will cause imperfection and spiritual death although it is more interesting and many people like it.
Judges 16: 23, 25, 27
16:23. Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagontheir god, and to rejoice. And they said: "Our god has delivered into our hands Samson our enemy!"
16:25 So it happened, when their hearts were merry, that they said, "Call for Samson, that he may perform for us." So they called for Samson from the prison, and he performed for them. And they stationed him between the pillars.
16:27 Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there -- about three thousandmen and women on the roof watching while Samson performed.
verse 23 = the men of Philistines or the Gentiles served in the temple of Dagon, not of God.
'merry' = the atmosphere of the world.
'Samson'= the image of Holy Spirit.
verse 27 = finally the temple fell down and three thousand people of the Philistines died.
'three thousand men and women of the Philistines' = sinful men or the Gentiles without the sanctification.
According to Tabernacle teachings, the figure three thousand refers to the Holy Place, whose volume is 20x10x10 or 2000 cubits cube and the Most Holy Place, whose volume is 10x10x10 or 1000 cubits cube. Thus, the three thousand people of the Philistines died means they could neither be holy nor perfect, but died spiritually and got the second death or everlasting perdition.
There must be no joke, even lie, in the preaching of the Word, or else there is adultery.
Ephesians 5: 3-4
5:3. But fornicationand all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
5:4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
'nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting' = including jokes.
- Exodus 28: 30 (Old Testament)
28:30. "And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be over Aaron's heartwhen he goes in before the LORD. So Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the LORD continually.
'Aaron'= the High Priest in the Old Testament with the breastplate in his garments.
Urim and Thummimwere in the breastplate of the high priest.
Their forms or kinds were not explained in the Bible. None knows about them, but we can learn the meaning through their original words as follows.
- Thummimmeans a sword or perfection. It means the true teaching Wordor the Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4: 12).
4:12. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than anytwo-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.
- Urimmeans a light. It refers to Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 4: 13
4:13. And there is no creature hiddenfrom His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
'there is no creature hidden' = the light.
'naked and open' = the light.
This is about Holy Spirit as the golden candlestick that illuminates us.
Thus, Urim and Thummim are the Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword in the anointing of Holy Spirit on the bosom of the High Priest or His heart. The heart refers to the love.
It is the great grace of God when we can receive the true teaching Word in the anointing of Holy Spirit.
On the contrary, one is serving in the temple of Dagon or the throne of Satan when there is no sword, but jokes.
In
Revelation 2: 12, Jesus appears with the sword. What for?
It is for facing the throne of Satan(
Revelation 2: 13).
Revelation 2: 132:13. "I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
Jesus appears as the High Priest with
the swordof the Word (Urim and Thummim) for
helping the church in Pergamos that is in the atmosphere of the throne of Satanor for
moving the church in Pergamos from the atmosphere of Satan to the one of heaven or New Jerusalem. The way God helps the church in Pergamos is with the sword. There is no other way. If there is the sword, there will be the throne of God or the presence of High Priest who sits on the throne. The High Priest sits on the right hand of the throne of Father God. There is the atmosphere of the throne of heaven when the High Priest comes down. Moreover, we will enter the throne of heaven and sits together with Jesus someday.
Revelation 4: 6, 8 4:6. Before the thronethere was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
4:8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!"
'
Before the throne' = the throne of heaven.
verse 6 = there are four living creatures around the throne. It is the atmosphere of the throne.
The atmosphere of the throne of heavenis '
Holy, holy'=
holiness. Therefore, there must be the sword to make us holy.
The process of the work of Urim and Thummim to sanctify us is as follows.
- Urim and Thummim are able to show us our sins up to the smallest sin that is considered meaningless (both the private sins and the ones in the household).
1 Samuel 14: 40-45
14:40. Then he said to all Israel, "You be on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will be on the other side." And the people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you."
14:41 Therefore Saul said to the LORD God of Israel, "Give a perfect lot." So Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped.
14:42 And Saul said, "Cast lots between my son Jonathan and me." So Jonathan was taken.
14:43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." And Jonathan told him, and said, "I only tasted a littlehoney with the end of the rod that was in my hand. So now I must die!"
14:44 And Saul answered, "God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan."
14:45 But the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.
verse 41 = when the mistake was in the family of Saul, 'show Urim' and when it was in the congregation or the people, 'show Thummim'.
'So Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped.' and "Cast lots between my son Jonathan and me."= Saul and Jonathan were taken. It means a private thing.
They had promised not to eat any food before the victory in the war (verse 24: "Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies."), but while they were in the war, Jonatan only tasted a littlehoney. This is the power of Urim and Thummim that sanctify us from little sins we often belittle.
When Urim and Thummim worked, Jonathan could confess.
1 John 1: 7, 9
1:7.But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgiveus our sins and to cleanseus from all unrighteousness.
If Urim and Thummim work in the midst of the congregation, they will be encouraged privately to confess the sinto God and other people (the cross) seriously and responsibly, not blaming others.
As a result, the blood of Jesus actively does these two things.
- The blood of Jesus forgivesus from all sins until there is no remnant of them anymore. It covers all sins until there is no remnant of them anymore as if we never sin.
- The blood of Jesus sanctifiesus from all sins or pulls out the roots so that we do not sin anymore, but live in the righteousness and holiness.
The little sin often becomes stumbling-block and makes us fall. It must be confessed and pulled out.
As a result, 'not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground'. It meansas follows.
- We experience the power of preservation and protection of Godin the midst of impossibilities.
Actually, Jonathan should have been die because of sinning (the wage of sin is the death), but fortunately there was the work of Urim and Thummim (Jonathan confessed his sin).
Likewise, if we can do our service to God and Urim and Thummim are there, we will get an advantage. As a result, we can confess our sins when they are shown and there is help from God.
- We experience the power of deliverancefrom the condemnation of God or we are saved. Moreover, we get the eternal life.
- Urim and Thummim sanctify the consecration of the priests, so the ministry can please God.
Nehemiah 7: 64-65
7:64.These sought their listing among those who were registered by genealogy, but it was not found; therefore they were excluded from the priesthood as defiled.
7:65 And the governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things till a priest could consult with the Urimand Thummim.
'they were excluded from the priesthood as defiled' = there were sins and blemishes.
Not all ministries are received by God.
Formerly, in the book of Genesis, the ministry of Cain was rejected and the one of Abel was accepted (50% was accepted by God).
Just pray that you who have not ministered to God yet, can serve and minister to Him.
Be careful, you who have already ministered to God, and hope that Urim and Thummim work that our service and ministry can please God.
In Matthew 7: 21-23, there is a disease, namely 'feeling'. 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' = feeling that God is using him, even other people agree, but God says depart from Me ', because the ministry is neither well-pleasing nor in line with the true teachings. Consequently, there is the throne of Satan because he can do all things and perform the miracles also.
2 Timothy 2: 20-21 (the chapter about consecration)
2:20. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.
2:21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himselffrom the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
'silver and gold'= including the precious stone in the epistle to the Corinthians.
'wood and clay' = including the grass.
'cleanses himself'= this is the important thing in the service and ministry.
There are two kinds of God's servants as follows.
- Like wood, clay, and grass, referring to the servants of God who only show and pursue physical things.
We can see that they are so many, but they cannot endure. They will be burnt by the fire of temptation, the fiery dart of the wicked, namely sins, and the fire of the antichrist.
Such life will worship the antichrist for sure.
- Like gold, silver, and precious stones, referring to the servants of God that prioritize the sanctification, the true teching Word, or spiritual things, and sacrifices the physical ones.
The quantity seems to be small. You can compare the quantity of gold you can get by paying some amount of money with the one of grass you can get by paying the same amount of money. The quantity of the grass will be so many, not like the gold. Nevertheless, the gold will be purer and not be consumed when it is burnt by fire.
The two kinds of ministry will be distinguished by God when Urim and Thummim work in the consecration.
Thus, Urim and Thummim show us as the gold and silver.
2 Timothy 2: 22-25
2:22. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peacewith those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2:23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
2:24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrelbut be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
2:25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
The servants of God like gold and silver are the ones who get the sanctification from youthful lustsas follows.
- The fleshwith all its wills and desires that aim at uncleanness.
- The sins concerning eating-drinking such as smoking, getting drunk, drugs abuse.
- The sins concerning marrying-being given in marriage or sexuality sins with all the kinds.
The will of the flesh cannot be repressed, except by the sword of God's Word.
- Making quarrel or strifethat is caused by self-truth.
It often happens to our private life, household, and among the servants of God.
The self-truth means as follows.
- The truth that is not in line with the ture teaching Word or the Bible.
The solution is all of us return to or obey the Bible and all strifes will end.
- Covering sins by blaming others, even God or the true teaching Word.
We are sanctified from the self-truth by the work of Urim and Thummim, so we can confess sin, forgive, love and helpone another. It is the proof that we have the love of God coming from the cross.
It begins from the household, between husband and wife. As a result, there is joy.
- Covering sins by pretending to do good things, but actually they are false.
The result of being sanctified from the youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2: 22) is we can minister to God with these things.
- Righteousness= being without partiality. We are on the true teaching Word or God's side. It means honesty and truth.
Afterwards, we can be righteous, just, or honest in all matters.
- Faith. Unfaithfulness means defeat.
- Love and peace.
The ministry like the gold and silver will endure until Jesus comes a second time. We do not fall on the way. We can welcome Jesus' second coming.
Malachi 3: 1-3
3:1. "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts.
3:2 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap.
3:3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness.
'For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap' = sanctification.
'they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness' = the ministry that can please God.
- Urim and Thummim sanctify our heart, especially from the bond of money.
Acts 5: 1-3, 7-9 (about Ananias and Sapphira)
5:1. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.
5:2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet.
5:3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spiritand keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
5:7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
5:8 And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much."
5:9 Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed togetherto test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
'Holy Spirit'= Urim. It comes together with Thummim.
'to lie to the Holy Spirit' means lying to Urim and Thummim.
'agreed together'= one heart. Husband and wife must be careful!Two righteous people in one heart will be the house of prayer and the prayer will be answered by God (Matthew 18). On the contrary, if they are in one heart but not in righteousness, they will be the den of thieves and destroyed.
1 Timothy 6: 9-10
6:9. But those who desireto be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
6:10 For the love of moneyis 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.
'those who desire'= there must be no such desire.
'the love of money'= the bond of money that causes there is no more love of God in the heart.
The facts found in the bond of money are as follows.
- Leaving the service and ministry only to look for money or not prioritizing the service and ministry anymore.
- Serving to God only to look for money or physical blessings.
- Hunting money or looking for it in illegal ways that are not in line with the faith or righteousness like Ananias dan Sapphira that kept back the part of the proceeds.
- Stinginess and greediness or worshiping money.
Stinginess means one cannot give.
Greediness means one seizes the right of others and God, namely tithes and offerings.
Seizing the right of others can happen as follows.
- Not paying the debt.
- Not giving to other people who need. There is the right of other people who need in every blessing we receive from God.
- Cheating in doing the business activities.
- Doing corruption.
All of them will drown us in the sins of Babylon, even to the sea of fire and brimstone forever because Babylon is like a stone that is cast and drowned to the sea and it never comes out of it.
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.'"
'It is more blessed to give than to receive'= the proof of experiencing the work of Urim and Thummim is we are delivered from the lust of money.
It is especially when we give with the sign of bloodlike Jesus who gives His life on the cross. It happens through giving to others who are in need although actually we are also in need.
We are sanctified continually until we can give our whole life to God like a bride gives her whole life to the bridegroom.
John 13: 23, 26-2713:23. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosomone of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
13:26 Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it." And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
13:27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly."
There are two possibilities in the Bible Study Service with Holy Communion where the true teaching Word and the sacrifice of Christ are there.
- verse 26-27= the negative one like Judas Iscariot who was on the throne of Satan ('Satan entered him'). He kept the sin of the lust of money. If someone keeps the sin of the lust of money, the small sins and youthful lusts will be kept also for sure.
Consequently, he is demon-possessed and perishes forever.
- The positive one like John who was willingly sanctified by Urim and Thummim (Urim and Thummim were in the breastplate of the high priest) up to the deepest part of his heart. He could lean on Jesus' bosomto love Him more than anything and obey Him regardless of any risk he had to take or until the flesh did not speak anymore. He was in the embrace of God's merciful hand.
Many people or things want to snatch us from the embrace of God's merciful hand or the throne of God and take us to the one of Satan. Even the angel of God and Satan disputed about the dead body of Moses. We must be careful.
God is not willing that the Gentiles must be on the throne of Satan and perish. Therefore, He shows Himself with the Urim and Thummim sword.
Isaiah 46: 3-446:3. "Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, Who have been upheld by Me from birth, Who have been carried from the womb:
46:4 Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you. "
If we are in the embrace of the merciful hand of God, we will get
these results.
- 'I will bear'= God keeps on bearing us.
It means as follows.
- The merciful hand of God is responsible to preserveour life. His merciful hand is able to preserve us in the midst of impossibilities and our powerlessness.
We become like a baby in the embrace of God. We only lean on His bosom.
- The merciful hand of God is responsible to give usbeautiful and successful future lifein His time, like a baby that is preserved until he is mature.
- 'I will carry'. It means as follows.
- The merciful hand of God bears all weariness and heavy burdensso that we are peaceful, easy, and light.
- The merciful hand of God is also able to solve all problems, even the impossible ones.
Do not bear your problem by yourselves, or else you will be in distress.The Lord has born all things on the cross. The thorns have pierced His head. Just surrender to Him and He is able to solve all problems in time of need. He will never be late.
- 'Who have been carried from the womb'= The merciful hand of God holds usso that we do not fall.
The double help happens that the hand of the Great Shepherd or High Priest draws us from heaven and the hand of the pastor lifts us from the world so that we are very safe and never fall.
- 'Iwill deliver you'= sanctifiying and renewingus until we are perfected like Him.
We only love God more than anything, obey, and fully surrender to Him (we lean on His bosom) and we are embraced until we are perfect. We will be as perfect as He is and lifted up on the glorious clouds when Jesus comes a second time to enter the marriage supper of the Lamb and the one thousand kingdom of peace or paradise until we enter the kingdom of heaven.
'
to gray hairs'= not only to old age in the physical life, but also in spiritual one
until we meet Him, whose hair is white, on the throne of heaven.
Daniel 7: 97:9. "I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Dayswas seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire;
'
the hair of His head was like pure wool' = His white hair is like the wool of the lamb in the book of Revelation.
God blesses you.