Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 14 refers to the seven sprinklings of blood in front of the Ark of Covenant. It refers to the suffering of the church of God with Jesus. It is the last purification up to the perfection, namely the quality of the bride.
Revelation 14:1-5 is about the church's following Jesus as the Lamb of God.
The church's following Jesus is signified by the sprinkling of blood or the one of the cross, so we experience the increase of purification and strength up to Mount Zion, namely perfection like Jesus.
One hundred and forty-four thousand of the Israelites are the core of God's bride, and the Gentiles are just added, so both of them become one perfect body of Christ.
In Revelation 14:2-5 there are seven facts about our following Jesus up to Mount Zion as follows:
Ad. 3. the sound of harpists
A harp has different strings that result in a beautiful voice.
So, our following Jesus which is like the sound of harpists refers to the one in the fellowship.
There are many differences in the church of God, but they must become one in the fellowship.
There are three kinds of difference in the church of God that go towards the one perfect body of Christ as follows:
God blesses us.
Revelation 14 refers to the seven sprinklings of blood in front of the Ark of Covenant. It refers to the suffering of the church of God with Jesus. It is the last purification up to the perfection, namely the quality of the bride.
Revelation 14:1-5 is about the church's following Jesus as the Lamb of God.
The church's following Jesus is signified by the sprinkling of blood or the one of the cross, so we experience the increase of purification and strength up to Mount Zion, namely perfection like Jesus.
One hundred and forty-four thousand of the Israelites are the core of God's bride, and the Gentiles are just added, so both of them become one perfect body of Christ.
In Revelation 14:2-5 there are seven facts about our following Jesus up to Mount Zion as follows:
- [Revelation 14:2a] like the voice of many waters.
- [Revelation 14:2b] like the voice of loud thunder.
- [Revelation 14:2c] the sound of harpists.
- [Revelation 14:3] a new song.
- [Revelation 14:4a] they are virgins.
- [Revelation 14:4b] being firstfruits to God.
- [Revelation 14:5] in their mouth was found no deceit = for they are without fault.
Ad. 3. the sound of harpists
A harp has different strings that result in a beautiful voice.
So, our following Jesus which is like the sound of harpists refers to the one in the fellowship.
There are many differences in the church of God, but they must become one in the fellowship.
There are three kinds of difference in the church of God that go towards the one perfect body of Christ as follows:
- There are many gifts, but one and the same Spirit works all these things. It refers to the differences in Holy Spirit's gift.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
12:7. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
12:8. for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
12:9. to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
12:10. to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
12:11. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Holy Spirit gives special gift to each servant of God that determines their ministry specially too.
For example, the gift of the word of wisdom for the apostle, the one of the word of knowledge for the teacher, the one of considering spirit for the shepherd, the one of singing for the singer.
Holy Spirit's gifts are for common interest. It means that we can work together, so it becomes more useful. There are ears, eyes, mouth, hands, and feet in one body, but they work together, so they become more useful.
Romans 12:6-7
12:6. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
12:7. or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
The attitudes to the gift of Holy Spirit are as follows:- God gives the gift according to His will, not ours. The important thing is that we must not falsely use it.
For example, one receives the gift of teaching, but he becomes a musician.
The gift of Holy Spirit must be used in the ministry. We must minister to God with the gift of Holy Spirit, not ability or experience.
The gift of Holy Spirit is the miraculous ability of Holy Spirit to minister to God that cannot be blocked or matched by anything.
That is why we must keep the holiness and the anointing of Holy Spirit, so we become useful in the body of Christ.
But, men often rely on experience, so they do not keep the holiness and gift.
Consequently, they just minister to pride themselves. They make the groups that cause divisions in the body of Christ.
The ministry with own ability will decrease up to the end, but the one with the gift will keep going forward.
I Timothy 4:14
4:14. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
II Timothy 1:6
1:6. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. - Do not neglect the gift with any reason! We must stir up the gift of Holy Spirit, namely faithfulness and fervency in Spirit up to the finish line or Jesus comes a second time.
If we always sacrifice the gift because of the worldly thing, it will be given to others, and we will never get it again.
For example, Judas' gift and ministry were given to Matthias.
The gift and ministry are the tunic of many colors. If the gift and ministry are given to others, one will be naked; even he bursts open in the middle like Judas, so he cannot be glorified. - We must work together in the different gifts and ministries, so we can support one another, become useful, and unite the body of Christ.
The gift and ministry are our place in the body of Christ like becoming foot, hand, et cetera.
We must keep, so we do not envy one another as well as negate, kill, and vilify one another.
In the shepherding, all work together and are needed. We may not negate one another.
For example, Joseph's brothers envied and sold him, so they experienced famine in Canaan. The way out is that they had to come to have fellowship and work together with Joseph in Egypt.
We can receive the gift of Holy Spirit through fellowship or the laying on of the hands.
- God gives the gift according to His will, not ours. The important thing is that we must not falsely use it.
- The differences in social status such as the rich and poor, clever and not, honorable and dishonorable.
James 2:1-5
2:1. My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.
2:2. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,
2:3. and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool,"
2:4. have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
2:5. Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
The differences in social status are not meant to distinguish each other until hindering us to minister one another. Instead, the weakest and smallest member must be paid attention to more.
Showing partiality refers to judging evilly. Consequently, one will surely face the righteous Judge.
The differences in social status are used to help, love, give, and visit each other. Giving does not depend on the physical wealth and poverty, but the wealth in faith by the encouragement of God and the love to God, not to money.
For example, the Macedonians could give although they were in temptation.
Matthew 25:35-41
25:35. 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
25:36. 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'
25:37. "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
25:38. 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?
25:39. 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
25:40. "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'
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:
Giving and visiting one another must be accounted for on the last days. Showing partiality or insulting others because of low social status is the same as insulting God. Consequently, one will be the same as the goat that will be judged and cursed up to perdition forever with Satan.
But, if we give and visit because of loving one another, we will receive eternal life.
Giving and visiting one another will bring us to the one body of Christ. - The differences of color in the church of God such as skin, nation, tribe, tongue, organization, et cetera.
Ephesians 4:3-6
4:3. endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4:4. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
4:5. one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
4:6. one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
There are many differences but we must have seven things that must not be different as follows:- one body,
- one Spirit,
- one hope,
- one Lord,
- one faith to Jesus as the only Savior (Helper and Keeper), the High Priest, King of kings, and the Heavenly Bridegroom,
- one baptism,
- one God and Father of all.
1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1:12. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
1:13. who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
1:14. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
We must be in one body first. It means having one Head, namely Jesus.
Jesus as the Head is the true teaching Word (logos) who becomes flesh. We are His body, namely the new man who is reborn by the true teaching Word, so we become the same as the Head. If we have different head, we will be used in the building of the Babylon.
If all of us return to the Bible, we will become in one Spirit, one baptism, and so on up to seven unities. Having Jesus as the Head means having everything and the true teaching Word, namely the one whose secret is revealed through one verse that explains the other verses in the Holy Bible.
If the churches of God have the seven unities, they will become one perfect body of Christ. It is the same as placing Jesus as the Head.
The connector of the head and body is the neck. It refers to the worship to God or beautiful sound. We firmly attach to God's mercy. We are never separated from Him. When we worship God, the High Priest will be present with the beautiful sound. He stretches out His merciful hand that cannot be limited by anything.
In the past time, Aaron the High Priest brought blood and incense, so the beautiful sound of the gold bells at the edge of the robe was heard.
Matthew 17:1-2
17:1. Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;
17:2. and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
The worship means totally tearing the flesh with all of its lusts.
What must be torn and renewed? We learn from Moses, Elijah, and the disciples on the mountain as follows:- Moses was disobedient at the end of his life. God had told him to speak to the rock, but he struck it.
Disobedience must be changed into obedience. - Elijah was desperate when he faced Jezebel with the false teaching, idolatry, great temptation, and death threats.
Despair must be torn to become trusting and committing our life to Jesus as the Head and true teaching Word, because His promise is never changed.
I Kings 19:1-4
19:1. And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword.
19:2. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."
19:3. And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
19:4. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" - The disciples were afraid, namely being afraid of something until having no fear of God.
For example, one lies because of being afraid of something.
The liar and cowardly cannot enter the New Jerusalem.
Liar must be changed to become honest.
The results are as follows:- A criminal who was crucified with Jesus was in destroyed condition. It represents the fathers.
Luke 23:42
23:42. Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."
The destroyed condition is changed to become the atmosphere of Paradise. We experience happiness, preservation, and protection. - A woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years was getting worse and in the destruction of marriage. It represents the mothers.
The impossible disease is cured.
Mark 5:25-26,28
5:25. Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,
5:26. and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.
5:28. For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well."
God's mercy and the woman's faith could change the thing that had been destroyed and was getting worse to become good. - Esther was ready to die when she had to come before the king. It represents the youth or children who are in the spiritual death. We must return to God' mercy, so we are preserved. We have beautiful future; even we are perfected to become the heavenly bride who is worthy to greet Jesus when He comes a second time on glorious clouds.
- one body,
God blesses us.