Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 2-3 is about the last sanctification that Jesus does to the seven churches of the Gentiles, until we become perfect and blameless as Him. We are worthy to welcome His second coming on the glorious clouds. Although one has many excellences, but if there is a blemish, he will be left of Jesus' second coming.
Revelation 3:7-13 is about 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":
Jesus appears as He who has the key of David to do three great things as follows.
We are still learning the third thing.
On the last days in welcoming Jesus' second coming, all men in this world including the servants of God will face trials that increase in all aspects. It will peak on the reign of antichrist for three years and a half in this world. Trials cannot be overcome with smartness, richness, having high position, et cetera. Only the key of David can overcome it.
Jesus appears with the key of David, that is the goodness and mercy of God, to protect us as follows.
Revelation 13:1-2
13:1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
13:2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet ofa bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
Antichrist is a beast rising up out of the sea.
Genesis 1:26
1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
In the beginning of the creation, animals in the sea are fishes that are dominated by man created according to the image of God.
But in the last days, fish grow rapidly to become the beast rising up out of the sea (antichrist) that dominates men who have lost the image of God.
The lesson for us is we must experience rapid spiritual growth until we become perfect as Jesus. Thus, we are not dominated by antichrist.
Revelation 13:16-18
13:16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
13:17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is666.
The way of antichrist dominating men is by giving the mark 666 on the forehead (the thought or the inner side) and the hand (the outer side). It means the whole life of men is marked with 666. The first number 6 means the body is flesh. The second number 6 means the soul is flesh. The third number 6 means the spirit is flesh, that is without the spirit, or without mind and feeling.
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8
2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do sountil He is taken out of the way.
2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
Antichrist and its followers with the mark 666 will be destroyed forever.
God does not want men as His creation become the same as antichrist and being marked with 666 to be destroyed forever. The way out is He must die on the cross to reveal the key of David, that is His goodness and mercy, through two things as follows.
But there are two attitudes to the stretching out of the good and merciful hands of God (the key of David). One rejects the key of David and another one accepts it.
God blesses us.
Revelation 2-3 is about the last sanctification that Jesus does to the seven churches of the Gentiles, until we become perfect and blameless as Him. We are worthy to welcome His second coming on the glorious clouds. Although one has many excellences, but if there is a blemish, he will be left of Jesus' second coming.
Revelation 3:7-13 is about 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":
Jesus appears as He who has the key of David to do three great things as follows.
- To open the door that no one can shut.
Revelation 3:8
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. - To give us victory over the synagogue of Satan.
Revelation 3:9
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. - To keep us from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world.
Revelation 3:10
3:10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
We are still learning the third thing.
On the last days in welcoming Jesus' second coming, all men in this world including the servants of God will face trials that increase in all aspects. It will peak on the reign of antichrist for three years and a half in this world. Trials cannot be overcome with smartness, richness, having high position, et cetera. Only the key of David can overcome it.
Jesus appears with the key of David, that is the goodness and mercy of God, to protect us as follows.
- It is so that we do not become the prey of antichrist. We are not persecuted or tortured by antichrist.
- It is so that we do not become the same as antichrist. If one becomes the same as antichrist, he is marked with 666 and will be destroyed forever.
Revelation 13:1-2
13:1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
13:2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet ofa bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
Antichrist is a beast rising up out of the sea.
Genesis 1:26
1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
In the beginning of the creation, animals in the sea are fishes that are dominated by man created according to the image of God.
But in the last days, fish grow rapidly to become the beast rising up out of the sea (antichrist) that dominates men who have lost the image of God.
The lesson for us is we must experience rapid spiritual growth until we become perfect as Jesus. Thus, we are not dominated by antichrist.
Revelation 13:16-18
13:16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
13:17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is666.
The way of antichrist dominating men is by giving the mark 666 on the forehead (the thought or the inner side) and the hand (the outer side). It means the whole life of men is marked with 666. The first number 6 means the body is flesh. The second number 6 means the soul is flesh. The third number 6 means the spirit is flesh, that is without the spirit, or without mind and feeling.
- The deed is the deed of sin up to its peak, that is sin concerning eating-drinking (smoking, getting drunk, consuming drugs) and marrying-being given in marriage (sexuality sin with all its varieties, wrong marriage, marrying-divorcing).
- The word is arrogant and blaspheming God. It is started with saying lies, untrue gossips, slanders, or blaming right people.
Revelation 13:5-6
13:5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
13:6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. - The character is hating, killing, and lying.
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8
2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do sountil He is taken out of the way.
2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
Antichrist and its followers with the mark 666 will be destroyed forever.
God does not want men as His creation become the same as antichrist and being marked with 666 to be destroyed forever. The way out is He must die on the cross to reveal the key of David, that is His goodness and mercy, through two things as follows.
- Through the forgiveness of sins by the blood of Jesus.
Luke 23:33-34
23:33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
23:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.
We must confess our sins solemnly. After being forgiven, we must not repeat them. - Through giving His mind and feeling to us.
Philippians 2:5,8
2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point ofdeath, even the death of the cross.
Having the mind and feeling of Jesus is we can be obedient until the flesh does not sound anymore.
Philippians 2:11
2:11 and thatevery tongue should confess that Jesus Christ isLord, to the glory of God the Father.
If we have experienced the forgiveness of our sins and become obedient, our lip will always be encouraged to worship God diligently.
Obedience and perseverance equal to stretching out our hands to God, and He will stretch out His good and merciful hands to protect us from the upcoming trials.
But there are two attitudes to the stretching out of the good and merciful hands of God (the key of David). One rejects the key of David and another one accepts it.
- The first criminal rejects the goodness and mercy of God from the cross. It equals to blaspheming God and being the same as antichrist. He will be destroyed forever.
Luke 23:39
23:39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." - The second criminal accepts the stretching out of the good and merciful hands of God from the cross. He worships God as the High Priest diligently.
Luke 23:40-43
23:40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?
23:41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong."
23:42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."
23:43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
Jesus is a sinless High Priest. Worshiping Jesus as the High Priest means we confess all our sins. If we are forgiven, we must not repeat them.
We also worship Jesus as the King of kings, the Heavenly bridegroom, who will come for a second time. The practice is being obedient.
The results are as follows.- Jesus as the High Priest bears all our burdens and sufferings, so we are peaceful.
Hebrews 4:14-16
4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast ourconfession.
4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all pointstempted as we are, yetwithout sin.
4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Everything becomes easy and light. We are not disappointed or desperate. We keep giving thanks to God.
Jesus as the High Priest is also able to help us solving all our problems right in His time. If we have not been helped yet, we must be patient, keen, and obedient in waiting His time. Thus, we will receive unbelievable answer of our prayer. The second criminal gets the ambience of the Paradise. Everything becomes beautiful in His time. The family in Bethany was patient, keen, and obedient in waiting God's time. As the result, Lazarus was raised from dead. - The good and merciful hands of the King, the Heavenly Bridegroom, are able to nourish and cherish.
Ephesians 5:25-27,29
5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
5:27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
5:29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord doesthe church.
The good and merciful hands of God also wash us with water and the Word, meaning sanctifying and renewing our life from the flesh man to become the spiritual one as Jesus. It is started with our tongue is able to confess sin. If our tongue is sweet, sooner or later our life will be sweet. Failure will be changed into success. Bad things will be made beautiful. When Jesus comes a second time, we will be renewed as perfect as Him and the tongue does not stumble in word anymore.
James 3:2
3:2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he isa perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
- Jesus as the High Priest bears all our burdens and sufferings, so we are peaceful.
God blesses us.