Rev. Jusak Widjaja Hendra - WR Supratman 4 Sby
The epistle of Jude only consists of one chapter with twenty-five verses. It was
not written by Judas Iscariot, but Judas the brother of James. According to the
structure of Tabernacle, the epistle of Jude points to the covering of badgers’
skins. The word “covering” shows protection. Thus, the epistle of
Jude denotes the protection and attention of God toward the true church as well
as separation from the false church; covering is to protect and separate whatever
is inside from all the outward influence. Today the tares (symbolizing false churches)
are still mingled with wheat (true church) and people are all the same to them.
Nevertheless, God will someday sift the true church from the false ones.
Before reading the verses, we need to know first the four curtains / coverings
of Tabernacle as follows:
(Check the picture on http://www.gptkk.org/tudung-en.php)
- Curtains of Tabernacle
Just like the ceiling of this building, the curtain acts as the upper interior surface of Tabernacle, which can be perceived with the eyes. So, this curtain symbolizes faith and works of faith, which are visible. In the New Testament, this curtain is shown in the epistle of James. - Curtains of goats’ hair = covering of holiness and hope in Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, it is shown in the first and second epistles of Peter.
- Covering of ram’s skins dyed red = covering of love and sacrifice of the Son of God. In the New Testament, it is shown in the epistles of John.
- Covering of badgers’ skins = covering of God’s judgment. In
the New Testament, it is shown in the epistle of Jude.
Those conclude the four curtains/coverings. I am very grateful for God’s revealing His word for the Church in Malang on Matthew 23 conferring around the judgment of God, while for the Church in Surabaya on Jude about the covering of God’s judgment. Thus, the sermon on Jude exactly responds to Matthew 23.
Today we have not yet learned the epistle of Jude itself, but I will firstly show you about the curtains/coverings.
- Curtains of Tabernacle = covering of faith
Exodus 26:1
1 “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them.
The curtains of Tabernacle have four main colors as follows:- purple
- blue
- “scarlet thread” = red
- “fine linen” = white
Exodus 27:16
16 "For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. It shall have four pillars and four sockets.
Owing to the same colors, both the gate and the curtains of Tabernacle signifies faith, and so does the epistle of James, which exactly speaks of faith -- (the colors of curtains of Tabernacle = the colors of the gate = faith = righteousness).
The curtains of Tabernacle / covering of faith determines the existence of other curtains/coverings; if there is no curtain of Tabernacle, there will be no other curtain/covering either.
Where does faith come from? Romans 10:17
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Indonesian: firman Kristus the word of Christ).
the word of Christ = the word anointed by the Holy Spirit.
The way we hear the word of God determines whether we will gain covering or not.
Students of Lempin-el, take heed to the way you hear the word because it is the time of separation. Being sleepy while you are hearing the word, there will be no covering and one will be separated as false church. Now you are all together but some day you will be separated through the manner you hear the word. You may suppose it is same now but some day the separation will happen. This is the curtains of Tabernacle having the same colors with the Gate that is to say faith by hearing the word in anointing of Holy Spirit.
Curtains of Tabernacle are divided into two parts:- The first part covers holy place/sanctuary
- The second part covers the most holy place
That ten curtains should be made (Exodus 26:1) is explained further in Exodus 26:3
3 "Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another.
Ten small curtains are tied together, in which every five curtains is coupled to one another. One couple covers holy place and another one covers the most holy place.
Thus, here is the division of curtains of Tabernacle:- Five curtains cover the holy place (referring to faith)
- Five curtains cover the most holy place (referring to works of faith)
James 2:26
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
As a conclusion, the curtains of Tabernacle denote faith and the works of faith.
These are the examples/practices of faith and the works of faith:- Abraham
James 2:21-22
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
Abraham offered Isaac on Mount Moriah where Solomon built the house of the Lord; giving us a message that we should not refuse but willingly give every thing that God asks for the sake of the forming of the Body of Christ. Maybe God wants our time, talent for music, energy, even money and we should offer them for the ministry of the Body of Christ. Even more if God wants our sins, we should not retain them that we may minister Him. - Rahab
James 2:25
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
Rahab was an unclean gentile, and it exactly refers to you and me. Nonetheless, God still made a way for her to have faith and the works of faith. As Joshua would enter into Canaan, he sent messengers, but they then met the men of Jericho. Seeing that, Rahab received them in her house. If the men of Jericho had known it, Rahab and her family would have died. Rahab as a gentile took part in Joshua’s entering Canaan through her deed. Now it refers to the revival at the last age. Abraham laid the foundation of the forming of Christ’s body but the Gentiles takes part in the finishing that is to say the revival at the last age.
The history above teaches us that we as the gentiles should be afraid of or worried about nothing, including this only life, for the sake of the forming of the Body of Christ/the revival of Holy Spirit at the end of the age.
- Curtains of goats’ hair = covering of holiness and hope in
Holy Spirit (the first and second epistles of Peter)
Exodus 26:7
7 "You shall also make curtains of goats’ hair, to be a tent over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains.
Numbers 6:5
5 ‘All the days of the vow of his separation (Indonesian: sebagai orang nazir his being Nazirite) no razor shall come upon his head; until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the LORD, he shall be holy. Then he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.
Someone who vowed to the Lord was called Nazirite. Hair here signifies holiness of a Nazirite, since it is mentioned, “he shall be holy with his long hair”. Thus, hair refers to holiness and the anointing of Holy Spirit (as Esau being like a hairy garment) or in a word, holiness in the anointing of Holy Spirit.
The curtains of goats’ hair are also divided into two parts:
Exodus 26:9-10
9 "And you shall couple five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves, and you shall double over the sixth curtain at the forefront of the tent.
10 "You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain of the second set.
Five curtains are coupled to one another and so are the other six curtains, and then the two couples are joined with loops.These curtains of goats’ hair are divided into two parts to:- cover the holy place, which is called holiness in Holy Spirit
- cover the most holy place, which is called the works of holiness, that is, hope.
1 Peter 1:2
2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
Holiness in Holy Spirit leads one to obedience though by bearing sprinkling of blood / fleshly suffering.
More to the point, goat’s hair functions as a stabilizer:- withstanding the effect of heat at noon in wilderness.
No matter how great a temptation is, we must be able to bear it (and there will be no desperation) as long as we are obedient. - warming up the body at the very cold night in wilderness – that
one does not die cold.
We really need the Holy Spirit to prevent our spirituality growing cold.
This is only what we can do in wilderness, let the Holy Spirit sanctify us to obedience although we have to endure fleshly suffering.
For priests, destruction happens not because of the place of living (village or country) but because of disobedience as the destruction by the two extreme temperatures. Likewise is in a marriage. A husband not loving his wife and a wife not being submissive to her husband will destroy their marriage because they do not have obedience/the covering of goats’ hair.
Flowing from that, do not blame others while you are in destruction. Whatever the destruction is, let us check ourselves first whether we have the obedience/covering or not. - Covering of ram skins dyed red
Exodus 26:14a
14 "You shall also make a covering of ram skins dyed red
The ram refers to Jesus as the Lamb of God. These skins were prepared of rams killed and skinned; showing Jesus’ sacrifice to die on the cross as if He were skinned/made naked. The ram skins were dyed red, which is the color of blood and refers to love. Thus, the covering of ram skins dyed red is the covering of the love and sacrifice of Jesus as the Lamb of God. This is what we need to regard highly.
If you read starting verse one, both the curtains of Tabernacle and the curtains of goats’ hair have measurements, but not the covering of ram skins dyed red -- a sign of the boundless love of Jesus. The time will come as the Holy Spirit stops working in the world, but the love of Jesus never stops working.
This verse bears out the boundless love of Jesus:
John 3:16
16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Whoever believes in Jesus should receive the love of Jesus – regardless nationality, place of living, being holy or unholy – because the love of Jesus is a boundless love.
We are lucky. If it had been written Israelites only, we would have perished because the love of Jesus would have been for them only. We are Tabernacle, so we have to be covered by these four coverings:- Coverings of faith like Abraham and Rahab
- Coverings of holiness and hope whose practice is obedience
- Coverings of love
1 John 4:10-11
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
By this we know that we have the covering of love, because we love one another with boundless love, that is even to love enemies. It happens so many times that we hate someone and it indicates that we have no love, or we do have love but under a condition. For example, we do good for those who are kind to us. I also still do such a thing. If I go somewhere and go home, I will give something first to those who always give to me. Such unfair love belongs to the tax collectors (Matthew 5). Let us love one another as much as to love our enemies, at least pray for them good things such as: “Lord, please forgive him”; “Lord please help him and use his life.”
That concludes the covering of ram skins dyed red speaking of the love and sacrifice of the Lamb of God. - Covering of badger skins
Exodus 26:14b
14 and a covering of badger skins above that.
As I have previously mentioned, the curtain/covering is made of four layers:- Curtains of Tabernacle = faith (for it has the same colors as the Gate)
- Curtains of goats’ white hair
- Covering of ram skins dyed red
- Covering of badger skins
Both the covering of badger skins (the judgment of God) and the covering of ram skins dyed red (the love of God) are beyond measure; meaning that the judgment of God is boundless to those rejecting the boundless love of God and this is fair. We should not kid ourselves, therefore. If we suffer nothing for our mistakes, we have to remember that we are receiving the boundless love of God.
The following is to sum up the four coverings to become our practice:
- Curtains of Tabernacle, which has the same colors as the Gate, refers to faith and the works of faith, that is, offering what God asks (like Abraham did) and worrying about nothing, including this only life, for the work of ministry (like Rahab did). Abraham was justified by the Lord; he walked in righteousness and so should we in our daily life.
- Curtains of goats’ hair, which speaks of holiness and hope in the anointing of Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us to obedience, by which we will not fail to lead this life.
- Covering of ram skins dyed red, which is love – loving our neighbors and enemies fairly.
- Covering of badger skins saving us from God’s judgment
As the introduction to the epistle of Jude, I will summarize several points:
- Curtains/Coverings
- Curtains of Tabernacle – we have faith
- Curtains of goats’ hair – we have hope
- Covering of ram skins dyed red – we have love
2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
That God has not yet come the second time is because of His longsuffering. As indicated by PETA JAMAN, each age lasts for two thousand years; the ages of Father God and the Son of God had lasted for four thousand years – each two thousand. The end of the age, from the first to the second coming of Jesus, should have lasted for two thousand years as well, but today is two thousand and seven. It does not mean that the PETA JAMAN is wrong – certainly not! That Jesus has not come yet is because of His longsuffering extending in time for our repentance and righteousness/walking in righteousness. If all people repent (stop sinning and return to God) and walk righteously, God will spread the covering of judgment.
In what form is the judgment going to come?
2 Peter 3:10
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
This is the judgment of God: fire coming down from heaven. These days are our chance as God’s longsuffering is still extended, that is:- Jesus has not yet come for the second time
- We are still alive
By holding faith, hope, and love, we are not only saved from the fire coming down from heaven and fire of hell, but also lifted up to see Jesus face to face and then enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb.
1 Corinthians 13:12-13
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
There will be many judgments but now we can see them through drought, flood, etc. The word preached in the service of New Year’s Eve reminded us that we must be sensitive of many disasters happening now. Are we in God’s judgment? In such condition, truly we need coverings, not money nor certificate. It does not mean that you should not have much money but it cannot help, seeing that many wealthy people went to the top of their houses when flood was coming but they were not saved. - The four coverings point to the Four Persons as the Shelter of
the Church.
Who are the Four Persons?- Covering of badger skins = Father God
- Covering of ram skins dyed red = the Son of God
- Curtains of goats’ hair = Holy Spirit God
The Trinity of God as the Heavenly Groom saves us from the judgment that is to come. - Curtains of Tabernacle, which is perceived with the eyes, denotes man shepherd.
Hebrews 13:7-9
7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
One thing that we can see from man shepherd is his faith becoming an example for us to follow.
How do we follow the example of man shepherd’s faith?
- Holding fast to the true teaching word like Jesus who never changes
yesterday, today, and forever.
It is often explained about His power which does not change but we see in verse 9 that it is connected with doctrine. The Late Rev. In Juwono, the Late Rev. Pong, and the Late Rev. Totaijs have never changed in doctrine until they died. It is the thing that a pastor (man shepherd) has that Church must see. Beginning with holding fast the true teaching that we have already received for the Lord Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If a pastor changes the doctrine, the Church will not have coverings at all because there is no first covering, neither are the other coverings. It is absolutely the responsibility of a pastor to hold fast one true teaching word, not changing in doctrines, so that he becomes example for the Church. - Standing by faith / resting our hope upon God, not man to cope
with temptations
A pastor must rest his hope and faith fully upon God in facing temptations. I absorb the words said by the late Rev. Pong Dongalemba’s: As for the Church does not have rice until they cannot eat, they keep silent. But a pastor often says in his preaching when he runs out of rice like this “Church, God’s power never changes. There is no rice in pastorate now but I am sure that after this service there will be rice.” It can be so because the Church gives him rice after knowing the matter that their pastor does not have rice. Such practice is indeed not right.
In short, becoming the example of faith means below:
- Holding fast to the true teaching word, not changing
- Standing by faith / resting our hope upon God, not man to cope with temptations
1 Timothy 4:12
12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
A pastor should not become an example simply in faith, but also in word, in
conduct, in love, in spirit, and in purity, so that the Church is covered. For
that reason, you should pray for pastors – that they become an example
in faith, in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in purity.
A pastor should not leave the Church at all, whatever the reason is. An unfaithful
pastor must uncover the Church
If the pastor does not commit service, without an obvious reason, there will
be no coverings for Church because the covering of Tabernacle (the first covering)
is gone and so are the other three coverings (coverings from the trinity of
the Lord). The covering of Tabernacle (the first covering) is the key that determines
the existence of the other coverings.
Briefly, four persons cover the Church are below:
- Father God (covering of judgment)
- Son of God (covering of ram skins dyed red)
- Holy Spirit God (curtain of goats’ hair)
- Man shepherd (pastor – curtain of Tabernacle) that can be seen by physical eyes in his example in faith, in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in purity. In such condition, the other three coverings from the trinity of the Lord as Heavenly Bride, Great Shepherd, King of kings may be seen with spiritual eyes.
Let us pray for that, so we can receive the results below.
- Jesus as the High Priest and Great Shepherd
Hebrews 2:17-18
17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
If we can see Jesus with our spiritual eyes as the High Priest and Great Shepherd, He is able to aid us who are tempted. The term “able” means that nothing can confine the power of God. Jesus, the High Priest and Great Shepherd, is able to help as long as we can see Him with spiritual eyes. - Jesus as the King and Heavenly Groom
Isaiah 43:15
15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King."
We may look upon Jesus as King of kings and Heavenly Groom with His power of creation “I am The Creator of Israel”.
Below is the significance of the power of creation:- creating all not existing and enabling the impossible
- creating us new to become One Image with (as glorious as) the Lord Jesus; we will become the Bride and sit close together with God forever more.
We could do with a sea of life needs, but we should seek first the curtains/coverings by following the example of man shepherd:
- in faith; how firm he holds the teaching and how firm he stands for problems.
A pastor does not engage in politics or men’s power to settle the problems; instead, he fully hopes God that he could cover the Church. - in word, conduct, in love, in spirit, and in purity in daily lives.
Only if we can see man shepherd, we will see Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit, that is, Jesus Christ as the Great Shepherd, High Priest, Heavenly Groom perceived with our spiritual eyes.
In conclusion:
- • If we see Jesus as the Great Shepherd and High Priest, His mercy is able to help us in due time.
- If we see Jesus as the King, the power of creation is able to create all not existing and enabling the impossible, even to create us to be like at the beginning of creation / to be as glorious as the Lord Jesus.
God bless you!
1