The Ascension Service in Surabaya, May 14, 2015 (Thursday Morning)

Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are still discussing Revelation 3.
According to Tabernacle Teaching, Revelation 2-3 refers to the seven sprinklings of blood before the Ark of the Covenant.
It means the seven epistlesfor the seven churches of the Gentiles or the last sanctificationdone by Jesus for the seven churches of the Gentilesor the congregation in the last days to make them perfect or without blemish like Jesus. They become the perfect Bride of heaven who is ready to welcome Jesus' second coming on the glorious clouds to meet Him, the Heavenly Bridegroom, forever.

There are seven churches of the Gentilesthat experience the sprinkling of blood as follows.

1. The church of EPHESUS(Revelation 2: 1-7) (it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, July 27, 2014up to General Service in Surabaya, September 7, 2014). The church in Ephesus must return to the first loveto return to Paradise.
   
   
2. The church of SMYRNA(Revelation 2: 8-11) that had to suffer. God said to them not to be afraid in the suffering, but faithful until death(it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, September 14, 2014up to General Service in Surabaya, November 9, 2014).
   
   
3. The church of PERGAMOS(Revelation 2: 12-17) that must leave the false teachings(it has been explained in Bible Study Service in Surabaya, November 17, 2014).
   
   
4. The church of THYATIRA(Revelation 2:18-19) thatmust have the sanctification to the heart and deepest mind(it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, January 4, 2015up to General Service in Surabaya, January 18, 2015).
   
   
5. The church in SARDIS(Revelation 3: 1-6) that experiences spiritual revival and their spirituality is strong= being watchful(it has been explained in Prayer Service in Surabaya, January 21, 2015).
   
   
6. The church in PHILADELPHIA(Revelation 3: 7-13) (it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, March 8, 2015).

We are learning Revelation 3: 7-13or the sixth church, namely 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"

There are three kinds of the Lord's appearanceto the church in Philadelphia (it has been explained in General Service in Surabaya, March 8, 2015) as follows.

1. 'He who is true'
2. 'He who is holy'
3. 'He who has the key of David'

Jesus appears as 'He who has the key of David' to do the three great things for the church in Philadelphia or all of us as follows.

1. Opening the door that cannot be shut by anyone.
   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.
   
   It has been explained from Bible Study Service in Surabaya, March 9, 2015 to Prayer Service in Surabaya, April 15, 2015.
   
   
2. Giving the victory over the synagogue of Satan.
   Revelation 3: 9
   3:9"Indeed I will make those of 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.
   
   It has been explained from Prayer Service in Surabaya, April 19, 2015 to Prayer Service in Surabaya, May 6, 2015.
   
   
3. Keeping us from the hour of trial which shall come upon the 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.
   
   It has been explained from General Service in Surabaya, May 10, 2015.

AD. 3 Keeping us from the hour of trial which shall come upon the 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.

The church will face the temptations in all aspects of physical and spiritual life as well as in the ministry like what has happened to Joseph and Daniel; even they will peak on the persecution done by the antichrist in the world for three years and six months.

Acts 1: 10-11
1:10. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
1:11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so comein like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

We are commemorating the Ascension. We must always remember that Jesus will come a second time on the glorious clouds soon.
We must always be readyto welcome it.

2 Thessalonians 2: 1-4
2:1. Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christand our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
2:2 not to be soon shaken in mindor troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
2:4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

'that is worshiped'= the antichrist.

Thus, the antichrist will appear first before Jesus comes a second time. The antichrist will reign over the world for three years and six months and there will be great temptations, persecution, and murder.

Nevertheless, we have read in Revelation 3 that Jesus holds the key of David- the mercy and goodness of God - and He will protect the church so that all of us will not be the prey of the antichrist. Do not be afraid!
Ones who do not endure the persecution of the antichrist will worship, become the same as, and perish with him.

Who is the antichrist?The falling away or apostate('unless the falling away comes first') and the rebellious.

The apostasy means as follows.

1. Departing from faithor the true teaching Word.
   1 Timothy 4: 1-2
   4:1. Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
   4:2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
   
   'doctrines of demons' = other doctrines or the false ones.
   
   BEING WITHOUT FAITHmeans being without the true teaching Word.
   As a consequence, one loses the salvation or perishes forever.
   
   Why can one become an apostate?
   
   
   
   • 'the Spirit expressly says'= the Spirit is firm, but the flesh is not.
     One becomes an apostate because he does not firmlyhold fast one true teaching Word and reject the false one.
     
     Not being firm means as follows.
     
     
     
     1. Supposing that all teachings are same.
     2. Giving opportunity to hear other teachings.
        For example, Eve heard the voice of the serpent only once and then she became an apostate. She dared to leave the paradise and enter the curse.
        
        
     We have been bethroted to One Man or Jesus. He refers to the true teaching Word. Do not make any relationship with other man. We must be a virgin. Do not hear the other teachings, or else the heart is stamped until one leaves the true teaching Word. Such person cannot be helped if there are no mercy and goodness of God.
     
     
   • Only hearing the true teaching Word with joy and emotion, but not obeying it. It means that there is the right seed from God, but the Word does not root strongly in the heart or it does not become faith in the heart.
     Luke 8: 13
     8:13. "But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.
     
     Consequently, he will be an apostate when the temptation comes. He will take the solution that is not in line with the true teaching Word or the way of the Lord. Such way is not the solution, but dead-end and perdition.
     For example, one makes corruption when he lacks of money.
     
     
   If we firmly hold fast the true teaching Word and obey it, it will be a firm faith in our heart and grow to be the perfect onethat cannot be moved.
   
   
2. Not loving others.
   1 Timothy 5: 8
   5:8. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faithand is worse than an unbeliever.
   
   It begins from the marriage or the least body of Christ. It may happen to the servants of God and their condition will be worse than the people who do not have faith in Jesus. It means being WITHOUT THE LOVE.
   
   Matthew 10: 21
   10:21. "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
   
   This will happen in the future persecution done by the antichrist.
   
   If the members of the family do not pay attention to one another or there is no love, they will hate and deliver up one another. There will be quarrel, even murder.
   
   We are commemorating the Ascension now. Let our marriage be lifted upand we can love one another as follows.
   
   
   • The wife first must obey the husband in all things (Colossians 3: 18).
   • The husband must love the wife as his own body and does not do bitterly toward her (Colossians 3: 19).
   • The children must obey the parents.
     
     Colossians 3: 20
     3:20. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
     
     
   • The parents must not make the children disappointed or painful in the heart.
     Colossians 3: 21
     3:21. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
     
     Disappointment or pain in heart may happen when the parents force their will even it is not in line with the Word, to the children or when they obey the will of the children which is not in line with the Word. The parents also refer to the pastor.
     
     
   If the members of the marriage can love one another, it will be the house of prayer. It means the dwelling place of God that is more than all things in the world. As a result, the house becomes home sweet homeor the mostly desired place.
   
   
3. Returning to the old life.
   Hebrews 6: 4-6
   6:4. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
   6:5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
   6:6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
   
   It means there is no life renewal from carnal men to spiritual ones like Jesus. It means being WITHOUT HOLY SPIRITor one keeps on being flesh and blood human.
   
   'to renew them again to repentance' = one cannot repent anymore, but becomes the same as Satan.
   After receiving Jesus, the true teaching Word, and ministering to Him, there must be a renewal from carnal men to spiritual ones like Jesus, or else we return to the old life.
   
   The carnal or old men are torn, crucified, or burnt in the renewal so that the new men producing fragrance will appear. On the contrary, one who does not willingly get the renewal will keep on being the flesh and blood human without Holy Spirit. It means crucifying Jesus for the second time.
   
   The facts found in being the flesh and blood human without Holy Spirit are as follows.
   
   
   • The heart and mind are flesh or the old ones, namely the futile thoughts and foolish hearts that cannot give thanks to God, but grumble, murmur, and make gossip as well as there is no worship to Him.
     Romans 1: 21, 28
     1:21. because, although they knew God,they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
     1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
     
     
     
   • Finally, the deeds are cursedup to the sin concerning eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage, including sexual deviation.
     
     Romans 1: 24-32
     1:24. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
     1:25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
     1:26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
     1:27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
     1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
     1:29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
     1:30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
     1:31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
     1:32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approveof those who practice them.
     
     One who cannot worship God will not be able to serve and minister to Him. It means there is no faithfulness, even he does not willingly serve and minister to God. Consequently, he will fall in sin up to the peak as follows.
     
     
     1. The sins concerning eating-drinking such as smoking, getting drunk, and drugs abuse.
     2. The sin concerning marrying-being given in marriage such as sexuality sin and all its kinds, sexual deviation or homosexuality, lesbianism, and sexuality to oneself, as well as the wrong marriage, including mixed-marriage and divorce-remarrying.
        
        
   • Approving other people in their sins up to the peak and resisting against the righteous as well as the true teaching Word(Romans 1: 32, 'but also approveof those who practice them').

Thus, the meaning of apostasy is being without faith, hope, and Holy Spirit.

Where can we be protected from the apostasy?We can be protected from it in the shepherding penor the Holy Place of Tabernacle like David who got the mercy and goodness of God in the shepherding. There are three kinds of equipment in the Holy Place that refer to the perseverance in doing three main services to God as follows.

1. Golden Candlestick or perseverance in doing General Service to have fellowship with Holy Spirit God in His gifts so that we become spiritual men, not the carnal ones, and do not crucify Jesus again, but serve and minister to God.
   
   
2. Table of Showbread or perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion to have fellowship with the Son of God in the true teaching Word and Christ's sacrifice so that we get the firm and perfect faith. We do not become an apostate.
   
   
3. Golden Altar of Incense or perseverance in doing Prayer Service to have fellowship with Father God in His love so that we can receive His love and be able to love others. It begins from the marriage. We must pray much more so that we are illuminated by the love of God like Jesus' face that shone when He was on the mountain to pray.
   
   As a result, we can warm our household, shepherding, and inter-shepherding fellowship.

Thus, Jesus appears as the Great Shepherd who holds the key of David or the mercy and goodness in the shepherding pen to do these things.

1.   Protecting us from the antichrist and apostasy.
2. Sanctifying and renewing us from carnal men to spiritual ones like He is.

There are four kinds of covering in the Holy Place that refer to the protection of God nothing may pass through.

The repeated Word is useful to guide us in doing the three main services to God. It means that God desires for many times to cover us.

The renewal begins from the heart and mind to have the thought and feelings of Jesus.

Philippians 2: 5-9
2:5. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
2:6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
2:7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedientto the point of death, even the death of the cross.
2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,

The seven minds and feelings of Jesus are as follows.

1. Full surrendering to come to the world from heaven.
2. Not keeping the right.
3. Making Himself of no reputation.
4. Taking the form of a bondservant. He is a King, but becomes a servant to serve, not to be served. All things will be beautiful in our marriage and shepherding if we do not insist our right.
   
   
5. Coming in the likeness of men.
6. Humbling Himself.
   His humbleness is so great because He is not sinful. But He willingly gets naked and confesses our sins. We are so arrogant when we do not confess after we sin.
   
   The humbleness is the ability to confess our sin and weakness as well as the goodness of others (we must support them in their goodness). We do not repeat the sin after being forgiven.
   
   
7. Being obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. We are obedient until our flesh does not speak anymore.

Jesus gets the name which is above all names (verse 9) because He has the seven spiritual minds and feelings. The name of Jesus is powerful.

Song of Solomon 1: 3
1:3. Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, Your name is ointment poured forth; Therefore the virgins love you.

His name is the same as the anointing oil. He has ascended to heaven. He pours Holy Spiritbefore He comes a second time. It means that the name of Jesus is trusted to us.

Thus, we will have the powerful name of Jesus or the power of Holy Spirit if we have the seven minds and feelings of Jesus.

The results are as follows.

1. The power of victory over Satan the trinity.
   Philippians 2: 10
   2:10. that at the name of Jesusevery knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
   
   'that at the name of Jesus' = in the power of Holy Spirit.
   'of those in heaven' = Satan.
   'of those on earth'= false prophet.
   'of those under the earth'= the antichrist.
   
   
   • Satan the trinity is the source of problems. All impossible problems can be solved when we are victorious.
   • Satan the trinity is the source of sins and the peak. We can live in righteousness and holiness when we are victorious.
   • Satan the trinity is the source of tears. We can rejoice when we are victorious.
     
     
   The anointing of Holy Spirit will come to us when we cry the name of Jesus.
   
   
2. The power of renewalfrom carnal men to spiritual ones.
   Philippians 2: 11
   2:11. and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
   
   It begins from the renewed tongue as follows.
   
   
   • The tongue speaks right words (there is no lie) and good ones (being blessings for others). It means confessing that Jesus is the Lord.
   • The tongue can testify, not gossip.
   • The tongue can worship God.
     
     
   This is the greatest miracle and the physical one will also happen.
   
   
3. The power of lifting up.
   Philippians 2: 9
   2:9.Therefore God also has highly exalted Himand given Him the name which is above every name,
   
   
   
   • Being lifted up from failure. There is beauty or success in time of need.
   • Being lifted up from fall in sin or marriage. There is restoration from God like what has happened to Job and David.
   • Being used by God in the revival of Holy Spirit at the latter rain.
   • We are sanctified and renewed until we are as perfect as Jesus is. We do not stumble in word, but only say 'Alleluia' to welcome Jesus' second coming on the glorious clouds.
     
     James 3: 2
     3:2. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
     
     Until someday we are lifted up on the glorious clouds to be with Him forever.

God blesses you.