Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 13:8
13:8. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Lifeof the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Verses 5-8 is about the state of the Antichrist who has the power in his deeds and words, so the earth will worship him.
Who worships the Antichrist? Everyone including the church of God whose names have not been written in the Book of Life.
Why are their names not written in the Book of Life?
ad. 3.
One who worships the Antichrist is a liar, so he becomes the same as the Antichrist that will be destroyed forever.
Being a liar means as follows:
The results are as follows:
God blesses us.
Revelation 13:8
13:8. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Lifeof the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Verses 5-8 is about the state of the Antichrist who has the power in his deeds and words, so the earth will worship him.
Who worships the Antichrist? Everyone including the church of God whose names have not been written in the Book of Life.
Why are their names not written in the Book of Life?
- Idolatry (it is explained in General Service in Malang, June 27, 2021).
- Not being righteous in everything is the same as being the wicked people (it is explained inBible Study Service in Malang, June 29, 2021).
- Telling lies.
Revelation 21:27
21:27.But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
ad. 3.
One who worships the Antichrist is a liar, so he becomes the same as the Antichrist that will be destroyed forever.
Being a liar means as follows:
- The servant of God who does not speak truth.
Ephesians 4:25
4:25.Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truthwith his neighbor," for we are members of one another. - The servant of God who denies Jesus or the trinity of God.
1 John 2:22
2:22.Who is a liarbut he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
This denial happens in two things as follows:- Words.
- Deeds, namely the act of wickedness, evil, uncleanness, up to repaying good with evil.
Titus 1:15-16
1:15.To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
1:16.They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
He should have perished forever, but Jesus reminded him through the rooster crow.
The three times of the rooster crow refer to the Word in the shepherding pen or the perseverance in doing the three main services to God.
If we do not persevere, we will deny Him.
This is the greatness of the shepherding Word. When we cannot do anything or even perish, there is still hope.
Luke 22:60-62
22:60.But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!"Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
22:61.And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
22:62.So Peter went out and wept bitterly.
The rooster crow or the shepherding Word that is repeated is the same as the merciful look from Jesus, the High Priest. He shows our hidden sins and conditions up to the depth of our hearts, so we can realize, regret, and confess sin. We are forgiven and helped by Him. We do not perish, but receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In the past, Peter received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the attic in Jerusalem.
If there is the Holy Spirit, we will have confidence to do the following things:- To confess the name of Jesus.
Acts 2:14,22
2:14.But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.
2:22."Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know,
'hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth' = Peter confessed the name of Jesus even though he had denied Him.
Confessing the name of Jesus means as follows:- Having the courage to confess sin to God and others whatever the risks are. When we are forgiven, do not sin anymore! We are freed from sin. It is the same as denying sin, so we live in righteousness and holiness.
If we deny Jesus, we will love sin more than anything. - Having the courage to admit the truth whatever the risks are.
Knowing the truth but saying that it is false, one is denying Jesus.
- Having the courage to confess sin to God and others whatever the risks are. When we are forgiven, do not sin anymore! We are freed from sin. It is the same as denying sin, so we live in righteousness and holiness.
- To testify about the name of Jesus who is powerful to help us.
Acts 4:8-10
4:8.Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:
4:9.If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,
4:10.let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
Afterwards, we testify about the name of Jesus who is able to call us out of darkness into His marvelous light. We become the righteous people and we are saved through the Gospel Word. And then, from salvation into perfection through the true teaching Word.
If we do not testify, we will deny Jesus. - To call out the name of Jesus in facing great trials.
Peter has experienced it when he was in the boat and Jesus was sleeping. At that time, the boat was sinking, the disciples just remembered about Him, and they were saved. He was almost drowned, and he shouted to Jesus, so he was safe.
This is our only hope, namely Jesus.
1 Peter 4:7
4:7. But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
When we face anything, call out His name! He will help us all.
The attitude in facing the trials in the end time is to remain silent and calm.
Being silent means to do the introspection in our life through the sharpness of the sword of the Word. When there is sin, we must confess and do not sin anymore. It means to repent. When there is no sin, do not defend our own life!
Being calm means to have self-control, so we are not afraid, worried, disappointed, and desperate. We do not hope others, but only to God. So, we can worship Him, stretch our hands, and call out His name. We only see Him.
He will see us too and answer our prayer and stretches His merciful hands with the power of His name, so the miracles happen.
- Words.
The results are as follows:
- The power of the name of Jesus is able to calm the winds and waves in the midst of the sea of the world.
Psalms 107:28-29
107:28. Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses.
107:29.He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.
Everything is at peace. This is the thing that we need to keep these days.
When we are down, let us call out His name until we are in peace! - The power of the name of Jesus is able to solve all the impossible problems.
- The power of the name of Jesus is able to lift us from sinking or falling.
The fall in sins up to the peak must be confessed, so we will be restored to live in righteousness and holiness.
We are lifted from failure, so everything becomes successful and beautiful in His time.
The fall in anything will be restored even lifted by God.
Let us be shepherded earnestly these days! Do not become the liar, but be obedient to God, to the true shepherd, and the true parents! - The power of the name of Jesus is able to guide us to the peaceful or desired haven, namely the New Jerusalem.
Psalms 107:30
107:30. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven.
The power of His name is able to sanctify and renew us from the liar to the honest or becoming the house of prayer. The impossible become possible.
When Jesus comes a second time, we will be renewed to be as perfect as Him. We do not stumble in words, and we are worthy to welcome His second coming in the glorious clouds.
God blesses us.