Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:9-20 is about "the vision of John the apostle on the Patmos island”.
Revelation 1:9
1:9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John the apostle on the Patmos island experiences flesh suffering not because of sins, but for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. It encourages him to enter the true fellowship with God and the others.
Be careful if flesh suffering is caused by doing sins, because it will scatter the true fellowship and force one to enter the wrong fellowship.
There are three important things in the true fellowship as follows [Revelation 1:9].
ad. 1. Fellowship in the tribulation = the way of death or the way of cross.
The way of cross is the first step or the first test in our following to Jesus. It is the heaviest step. If we pass the way of cross, we will be able to bear the next burden, and continue to the next step, that is the way of resurrection and glory. But if we fail in the way of cross, we will be destroyed forever. In Gethsemane, Jesus asks for passing the cup. He Himself struggles for passing the way of death, and He succeeds.
Thus, the true friendship, marriage, church, fellowship is proven in tribulation time.
1 Peter 2:19-21
2:19 For this iscommendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
2:20 For what credit is itif, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this iscommendable before God.
2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
If we suffer because of sins, we will experience beating or chastening from God so we return to righteousness and holiness. Before we return, the beating will continually comes.
But if one enjoys in sins and does not suffer, he has become an illegitimate son who is let by God and only waits for His judgment.
Suffering without any sins means as follows.
If we experience those, it is the grace from God because we are on His steps, that is the way of cross, the right way.
The practices of experiencing the way of cross in daily life are as follows.
God blesses us.
Revelation 1:9-20 is about "the vision of John the apostle on the Patmos island”.
Revelation 1:9
1:9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John the apostle on the Patmos island experiences flesh suffering not because of sins, but for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. It encourages him to enter the true fellowship with God and the others.
Be careful if flesh suffering is caused by doing sins, because it will scatter the true fellowship and force one to enter the wrong fellowship.
There are three important things in the true fellowship as follows [Revelation 1:9].
- Fellowship in the tribulation = the way of death or the way of cross.
- Fellowship in the kingdom = the way of resurrection.
- Fellowship in perseverance in waiting Jesus who will come for the second time = the way of glory.
ad. 1. Fellowship in the tribulation = the way of death or the way of cross.
The way of cross is the first step or the first test in our following to Jesus. It is the heaviest step. If we pass the way of cross, we will be able to bear the next burden, and continue to the next step, that is the way of resurrection and glory. But if we fail in the way of cross, we will be destroyed forever. In Gethsemane, Jesus asks for passing the cup. He Himself struggles for passing the way of death, and He succeeds.
Thus, the true friendship, marriage, church, fellowship is proven in tribulation time.
1 Peter 2:19-21
2:19 For this iscommendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
2:20 For what credit is itif, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this iscommendable before God.
2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
If we suffer because of sins, we will experience beating or chastening from God so we return to righteousness and holiness. Before we return, the beating will continually comes.
But if one enjoys in sins and does not suffer, he has become an illegitimate son who is let by God and only waits for His judgment.
Suffering without any sins means as follows.
- Suffering because of God’s will.
- Suffering because of doing good to the others, even repaying evil with good.
If we experience those, it is the grace from God because we are on His steps, that is the way of cross, the right way.
The practices of experiencing the way of cross in daily life are as follows.
- We die to sin, meaning we do not do sin, not agree with it, not repay evil with evil but with good.
1 Peter 2:22-24
2:22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
2:23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himselfto Him who judges righteously;
2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
Thus, fellowship in tribulation is living in righteousness.
The result is the power of His stripes, that is the healing power from all physical sickness, finance, marriage, and study problems, also from spiritual sickness. - We become the sheep that is well-shepherded.
1 Peter 2:25
2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Outside the way of cross, one will go astray.
Being well-shepherded means always being within the shepherding pen. In Tabernacle, it refers to the Holy Place. There are three types of equipment within it that refer to three main services as follows.- Golden Candlestick refers to perseverance in General Service. It is a fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts.
- Table of Showbread refers to perseverance in Bible Study Service and Holy Communion. It is a fellowship with the Son of God in the true teaching Word and Holy Communion.
- Golden Altar of Incense refers to perseverance in Prayer Service. It is a fellowship with Father God in His love.
Therefore, fellowship in tribulation means being within the shepherding pen.
The result is God cares us physically in abundance. We are satisfied and do not lack of something. We can give thanks to Him. God also cares our soul so we can be calm in the shepherding. We have peace in the middle of storm of this world. Everything becomes easy and light. Shocks happen because one feels strong by himself and does not want to surrender to God.
After being shepherded, we must be watchful because there is separation between sheep and goat.
Matthew 25:33
25:33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
Goat refers to an egoistic life. It means as follows.- Not giving and visiting the others who are in need, including not testifying.
Matthew 25:41-42,45-46
25:41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
25:42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;
25:45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do itto one of the least of these, you did not do itto Me.’
25:46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
There are the others who are in needs physically. But there are also the others who are in needs spiritually. Let us be able to give, visit, and testify. - One who fouls the true teaching Word makes the others insult the true teaching Word, or judges and rejects it.
Ezekiel 34:17-19
34:17 ‘And as foryou, O My flock, thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats.
34:18 Is ittoo little for you to have eaten up the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture—and to have drunk of the clear waters, that you must foul the residue with your feet?
34:19 And as forMy flock, they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and they drink what you have fouled with your feet.”
This kind of life does not eat the true teaching Word. He does not obey the Word, and the consequence is his life, marriage, work, study, and ministry are not according to the Word.
1 Kings 17:7-9,12
17:7 And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
17:8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
17:9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongsto Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”
17:12 So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I amgathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”
In the last days, we will face crisis until the days of antichrist. There are two things that we must have as follows.- A handful of flour and a little oil, that is the Word of God in the anointing of Holy Spirit.
The Word must be within our hand, meaning it must have been practiced. We must be obedient to the Word.
The result is the flour and oil are prepared for a small cake.
John 8:51
8:51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”
Obeying the Word means life, starting from living in this world up to eternal life forever. - Sticks refer to the cross or flesh suffering to burn egoistic character and sins up to the peak of sins.
A small cake must be burnt so it is cooked, pleases and satisfies God. Thus, He will please and satisfy us. He will give us the key of David, that is the mercy and kindness of God.
Revelation 3:7-8
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”:
3:8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
1 Kings 17:13,15
17:13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go anddo as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring itto me; and afterward make somefor yourself and your son.
17:15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for manydays.
The mercy and kindness of God are able to care us in these difficult days, until the days of antichrist.
The key of David is also able to use us in great matter, that is the building of the perfect body of Christ.
The key of David also opens victory door for impossible matters.
It also opens the lifting door. David ever fell with Bathsheba, but he was still lifted up by God after he asked for forgiveness. God will lift up all our failures and make everything beautiful and successful.
At last, the door of Heaven will be opened. We will be renewed little by little until we are as perfect as Him on His second coming and we will enter the Kingdom of Heaven forever.
Revelation 22:15
22:15 But outside aredogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
The things that must be thrown away are as follows.- Dogs refer to false teaching and mouth filled with lies and slanders.
- Sorcerers, magicians.
- Sexually immoral, wrong marriage.
- Murderers, hatred.
- Idolaters.
- Liars.
- Dogs refer to false teaching and mouth filled with lies and slanders.
- Golden Candlestick refers to perseverance in General Service. It is a fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts.
God blesses us.