Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 5:1
5:1 And I saw in the right handof Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
The scroll in the right hand of God who sits on the throne of Heaven is the Holy Bible. It is the Word of God that is revealed to the servants of God to be written in the Holy Bible.
2 Timothy 3:15-17
3:15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
3:16 All Scripture isgiven by inspiration of God, and isprofitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
3:17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The usefulness of the Holy Bible is as follows.
Why must we become the pillar of faith? It is so that we do not become the pillar of salt or tasteless salt as Lot's wife.
Genesis 19:17-19,26
19:17 So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed."
19:18 Then Lot said to them, "Please, no, my lords!
19:19 Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die.
19:26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Lot and his family received God's great grace to leave Sodom and Gomorrah. They were saved. But they were still asked to escape to the mountains so they would not be destroyed. But Lot's wife looked behind.
Luke 17:28-30
17:28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;
17:29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed themall.
17:30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
The situation of Lot's family will happen again in the last days. Many servants of God have been saved and blessed by God, but they have not reached the mountains or perfection yet.
Revelation 21:9-10
21:9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
How can it happen? Because men are affected by the situation of Sodom and Gomorrah in the last days, especially by sins concerning eating-drinking (smoking, getting drunk, consuming drugs) and marrying-being given in marriage (sexuality sin with all its varieties, broken marriage, et cetera).
The facts found in becoming the pillar of salt are as follows.
The consequence is being unable to reach perfection and being left on Jesus' second coming.
Therefore, we must hear and obey the true teaching Word or the revelation from God, so we can become the pillar of faith.
The examples and facts found in the pillar of faith from era to era are as follows.
God blesses us.
Revelation 5:1
5:1 And I saw in the right handof Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
The scroll in the right hand of God who sits on the throne of Heaven is the Holy Bible. It is the Word of God that is revealed to the servants of God to be written in the Holy Bible.
2 Timothy 3:15-17
3:15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
3:16 All Scripture isgiven by inspiration of God, and isprofitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
3:17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The usefulness of the Holy Bible is as follows.
- Guiding us to salvation by faith to Jesus Christ. It is called as the Gospel of salvation.
- Teaching or educating people in righteousness. It is called as the teaching Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword.
2 Timothy 3:17
3:17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Through the teaching Word, we are equipped with every good work up to perfection. It is called as the work of faith. It equals to becoming the pillar of faith.
Why must we become the pillar of faith? It is so that we do not become the pillar of salt or tasteless salt as Lot's wife.
Genesis 19:17-19,26
19:17 So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed."
19:18 Then Lot said to them, "Please, no, my lords!
19:19 Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die.
19:26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Lot and his family received God's great grace to leave Sodom and Gomorrah. They were saved. But they were still asked to escape to the mountains so they would not be destroyed. But Lot's wife looked behind.
Luke 17:28-30
17:28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;
17:29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed themall.
17:30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
The situation of Lot's family will happen again in the last days. Many servants of God have been saved and blessed by God, but they have not reached the mountains or perfection yet.
Revelation 21:9-10
21:9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
How can it happen? Because men are affected by the situation of Sodom and Gomorrah in the last days, especially by sins concerning eating-drinking (smoking, getting drunk, consuming drugs) and marrying-being given in marriage (sexuality sin with all its varieties, broken marriage, et cetera).
The facts found in becoming the pillar of salt are as follows.
- Being useless or being wicked and lazy.
Matthew 25:26,30
25:26 "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
25:30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Being lazy means being unfaithful in the ministry.
Being wicked means being stingy and greedy. Being stingy means being unable to give for the work of God and the others who are in need. Being greedy means seizing the right of the others and God. - Being decayed, meaning falling in the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah, that is sin concerning eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage. One also says tasteless words, lies, and words that harm and weaken the faith of the others. He will lose heart, be desperate and disappointed, until leave God. Or, he will be proud of something and rely on it more than God. He will not be able to prioritize the ministry and God.
The consequence is being unable to reach perfection and being left on Jesus' second coming.
Therefore, we must hear and obey the true teaching Word or the revelation from God, so we can become the pillar of faith.
The examples and facts found in the pillar of faith from era to era are as follows.
- The beginning era or the days of Father God, from Adam to Abraham. It is represented by Abraham as the first pillar of faith.
The facts found in it are as follows.- Abraham returns the tithe that belongs to God.
Genesis 14:17-20
14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is,the King's Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who werewith him.
14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he wasthe priest of God Most High.
14:19 And he blessed him and said:"Blessed be Abram of God Most High,Possessor of heaven and earth;
14:20 And blessed be God Most High,Who has delivered your enemies into your hand."And he gave him a tithe of all.
The tithe is a confession that we have been blessed by God, we live from Him, and we belong to Him.
Genesis 14:21-23
14:21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself."
14:22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth,
14:23 that I will takenothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that isyours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich'--
The tithe is the proof that we are free from Sodom and Gomorrah. We are free from the world with all its effect.
Everytime we return the tithe that belongs to God, it must be related with the sacrifice of Christ so we can sacrifice with willingness and joy. - Not being doubtful to God's promise although we face impossibilities. We keep believing that He is able to fulfill His promise.
Romans 4:19-21
4:19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb.
4:20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,
4:21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Genesis 16:2
16:2 So Sarai said to Abram, "See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children.Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her." And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.
Abram was doubtful once since he heard the strange voice that was not according to the Holy Bible. The signs of strange voice are as follows.- It pleases the flesh. The voice of God crucifies the flesh.
- It seems to solve the problems, but actually it adds problem that cannot be solved until now.
22:9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
22:10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
22:11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!"So he said, "Here I am."
22:12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son,from Me."
22:13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him wasa ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
22:14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said tothis day, "In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided."
But Abram got one more chance to become the pillar of faith. He had to sacrifice Isaac his only son. Now, it means that we do not reject what God asks for. We are willing to sacrifice everything so we can be used by Him in the ministry of building the perfect body of Christ. God never fools us. Everything that is sacrificed for the building of the perfect body of Christ will not vanish. We will meet Jehovah Jireh, The-Lord-Will-Provide. He will create the things that does not exist yet. He will provide everything.
Revelation 19:7
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 pleases the flesh. The voice of God crucifies the flesh.
- Abraham returns the tithe that belongs to God.
- The middle era or the days of the Son of God, from Abraham to Jesus' first coming. It is represented by Job.
James 5:10-11
5:10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.
5:11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended bythe Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
The second pillar of faith is Job. The fact found in it is perseverance and patience.
Job 7:15
7:15 So that my soul chooses stranglingAnddeath rather than my body.
Job 10:1
10:1 "My soul loathes my life;I will give free course to my complaint,I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
Job 17:1
17:1 "My spirit is broken,My days are extinguished,The grave is readyfor me.
Job 32:1-2
32:1 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he wasrighteous in his own eyes.
32:2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God.
Job was desperate once. He became an inclined pillar because of self-truth. Self-truth is the truth that is outside the Holy Bible. It also means covering sins by blaming the others.
Job 42:2,5-6
42:2 "I know that You can do everything,And that no purpose of Yourscan be withheld from You.
42:5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You.
42:6 Therefore I abhor myself,And repent in dust and ashes."
Thankfully, Job returns to the true teaching Word. He sits in dust and ashes, meaning justifying the Word and blaming himself. He confesses that he is wrong, he is just as the clay which has many faults and weaknesses. He is powerless and worthless. At that time, the clay is within the great merciful hands of God. Job receives new strength from God, so he can persevere and be patient.
Perseverance in three main services within the Holy Place or the shepherding pen is as follows.- Golden Candlestick refers to perseverance in General Service. We have fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts.
- Table of Showbread refers to perseverance in Bible Study Service with Holy Communion. We have fellowship with the Son of God in the true teaching Word and the sacrifice of Christ.
- Golden Altar of Incense refers to perseverance in Prayer Service. We have fellowship with Father God in His love.
Patience means being patient in suffering and not grumbling, quarreling, or blaming one another. We reconcile, confess, and forgive one another. If the sin is reconciled, problems will be solved. We are also patient in waiting for God's time. Do not make our own way out that is outside the true teaching Word. It equals to deadlock and everlasting perdition.
Perseverance and patience are as stretching out both our hands to God. Thus, He will stretch out His great merciful hands to recover our life doubly, physically and spiritually. - Golden Candlestick refers to perseverance in General Service. We have fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts.
- The last era or the days of Holy Spirit God, from Jesus' first coming to the second one. It is represented by the church in Philadelphia or the Gentiles.
Revelation 3:8-9
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.
3:9 Indeed I will make thoseof the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie--indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
The church in Philadelphia has a little strength but they face closed doors, meaning impossibility, temptation, problem in every field, sin up to its peak, false teaching, up to the persecution in the days of antichrist for three years and a half.
God gives us strength through the true teaching Word, so there is no more reason to be doubtful but we become the pillar of faith. Being obedient, faithful, and fervent in spirit equal to stretching out both our hands to God. Thus, He will also stretch out His hands to us. We live within the strong hands of God.
Hebrews 2:17-18
2:17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like Hisbrethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertainingto God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
If we are obedient and faithful, God will stretch out His faithful and merciful hands to reconcile our sins. His hands will lift us up from fall and deterioration. His hands open the closed doors. There is miraculous care from God during these difficult days up to the days of antichrist.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
5:23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5:24 He who calls you isfaithful, who also will do it.
God stretches out His faithful and merciful hands to open the door of the New Jerusalem.
Revelation 3:12
3:12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on himMy new name.
We become the pillar in the New Jerusalem and we will go out no more.
God blesses us.