Bible Study at Surabaya - Monday, March 19, 2007

The epistle Jude according to Tabernacle structure refers to the covering of badger skins. The term “covering” means the protection and attention of God toward the true Church as well as separation from the false one. Both the true and the false are today indistinguishable, just as wheat and tares grow up in a field, even the tares seem to be greater. Nonetheless, separation will be revealed sometime; the true will enter the everlasting joy of God and the false will be cast into hell fire. We need not point this church or that church is false nut let us learn the true one.

The epistle Jude shows the three signs of the true Church as follows:

1. verse 3: contending earnestly for the faith
2. verse 9: having hope in God alone
3. verse 20-25: keeping themselves in the love of God
   The faith, hope, and love of the true Church must grow up to perfection/permanency.

We are learning the growth based on Tabernacle system as follows:

1. The growth of faith
• The Gate – hearing the word of God without which there will be no faith
• The Table of Showbread – Bible Study Service in which we have firm faith
• The Golden Pot containing manna – perfect faith
2. The growth of hope
   • Baptism of water
     Man was born into the world once whether in palace or under a bridge by intelligent parents or foolish ones. Such man has physical life of flesh and blood in which there is no hope but death because flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Nevertheless, men have a hope to get eternal life through the baptism of water.
   • Baptism of Holy Spirit – the Door
   • Brighter hope – the Golden Candlestick
   • Being anointed with Holy Spirit and before God faithfully – Aaron’s rod which sprouts, blossoms, and yields fruits.
     (Please click the previous sermons to see the growths of faith and hope)

Below is the growth of love based on Tabernacle structure:

1. Altar of Burnt Offering
   Many years ago the Israelites had to slay a bull and put some of its blood on the horns of the altar and burn its flesh as a sin offering. In the New Testament, the altar of burnt offering refers to the Cross; which means men need no more bull as a sacrifice for their sins since Christ has been crucified as a sin offering for all men. From the Cross, we receive the first love. Men of flesh and blood have no love, only lust and emotion. Love itself comes from the Cross, exactly as Jesus was crucified. The question is: have we received the first love? Only after repentance, that is, stopping sinning and returning to God. Thus, the altar of burnt offering denotes repentance.
   In short, the true Church has the faith from hearing the word of God, the hope through baptism of water, and the love from the altar of burnt offering (cross) whose evidence is repentance (stopping sinning and returning to God)
   How to repent / receive the grace of the Lord? We must confess sins done in deeds, spoken in words, and crossed in heart and mind (“Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”) toward God and the others. It is the Cross; and afterward we should never repeat them.
   Let us read 1 Kings 1:50-52 to get a clear picture of the above process.
   50 Now Adonijah was afraid of Solomon; so he arose, and went and took hold of the horns of the altar.
   51 And it was told Solomon, saying, "Indeed Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon; for look, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’"
   52 Then Solomon said, "If he proves himself a worthy man, not one hair of him shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die."
   Adonijah had made himself a king and he then was afraid of being killed by King Solomon. So he fled to take hold of the horns of the altar.
   to confess sin = to take hold of the horns of the altar; and the one who confesses his sin is a worthy man before the Lord. Contrary to this, people in the world regard the sinner as a worthy man. For example, when I was youth and walked with my friends, we were proud of throwing stones to a mango tree, feeling as worthy men. Likewise, one who hides his friend’s sins in office is supposed as a worthy man. Let it not happen in church. It is a mistake because a worthy man is one who confesses his sins (wickedness found in him) as if he takes hold of the horns of the altar.
   Adonijah took hold of the horns of the altar on which the blood of the bull were put. Horn shows the strength of the bull. It means: we will feel in ourselves the strength of the Blood of Jesus when we confess our sins.
   1 John 1:7, 9
   7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
   9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
   the Blood of Jesus is powerful to do these two things:
   1. forgive or cover all sins and all that are in our heart until they are not found and Satan condemns us no more. Thus, do not accept this saying “Tabernacle teaching is the Law”. If it had been a Law, we would have to make an altar whose horns we have to take hold for a forgiveness of sins. The spiritual meaning of Tabernacle teaching is to fulfill the Law. Nevertheless, forgiveness and covering from all sins are not enough because we often do the same sins after we are forgiven.
   2. cleanse or uproot sins, so that we come to repentance (being delivered and not repeating sins).
      After doing sins, do not run away but run to the altar (cross). Take hold the horns that is to say confess the sins to God and men so the Blood will forgive and cover the sins and we have a strength to uproot them. We repent and do not repeat the sins.
      This is for our lesson: a mighty man dares to commit sin as well as to confess it.
      Tabernacle has many pillars; signifying the pillar of faith / the mighty man of faith, that is, confessing sin. Do not ever dream to be perfect without the pillar of faith! The Most Holy Place (symbolizing perfection) cannot not stand by itself, but propped up with the pillars. The first one who should confess sin is pastors and the congregation afterwards.
   1 Kings 1:52
   52 Then Solomon said, "If he proves himself a worthy man, not one hair of him shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die."
   See that not one hair of him shall fall to the earth. Students of Lempin-el, do not depend on anything because not one hair of you will fall to the earth, meaning you will have protection and preservation directly by God if you have repentance.
   Repentance is the real first love, so there is always life and shelter for those who repent (see also Matthew 10:30 and Acts 27:34 when Paul and others were in wave of the sea). Actually, man does not have love because flesh (wood) only has emotion, etc. Nonetheless, we have the first love through taking hold the horns of altar/repentance that is to say confessing sins until we stop sinning. But if we keep our sin, neither stop nor confess it, the sin will be forever, which means there no longer remains mercy for repentance because we are not written with blood but with sin.
   Jeremiah 17:1-2
   1 "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; With the point of a diamond it is engraved On the tablet of their heart, And on the horns of your altars,
   2 While their children remember Their altars and their wooden images By the green trees on the high hills.
   Every sin that is not confessed will be:
   • idol
   • written on the heart and unforgivable. Such a sinner cannot repent and become like Satan.
   We therefore ought to be lowly in heart as a mighty man to confess our sins and not to blame the others. The sins, which are not confessed will be idols. Meaning the sins become permanent and cannot be replaced anymore because there is no forgiveness. In such condition, there is no first love, being like Satan. After the altar of burnt offering, the love grows until the perfection. The first love/repentance is the foundation. Many sons of God have difficult life because of being one hair without repentance. Let us repent so that God protects and preserves although we are powerless as one hair. After having the foundation (repentance), we learn the following.
2. Golden Altar of Incense (referring to worship)
   The first love will grow and encourage us to delight in worshiping God. Now we know if we really love God or not by this question: do we love to pray? Let us not look others but look ourselves. The true Church has not static love but love proved by worshiping God. Every Sunday thousands of churchgoers come to attend Sunday Service; what if in Pray and Worship Service? Do they remain thousands? Or a thousand, or even less? Love is manifested not by material things like many institutions in the world do, but by repentance and worship.
   It is very good to continue steadfastly in worship, but we need to know which one is true and which one is false.
   Luke 9:28
   28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.
   The true worship is encouraged by the true teaching word according to God’s word and will be heard of a great multitude at the time of Jesus second coming. We must beware of the false worship.
   Revelation 19:6
   6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
   The great multitude consists of Israelis and Gentiles; they are formed in one body with one teaching and one voice ‘Alleluia’ to welcome Jesus second coming; while false worshippers stirred up by heresies are formed to aim at antichrist.
   Revelation 13:8
   8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
   All whose names have not been written in the Book of Life will perish forever.
   Thus, if any of you do not love to worship God, you should pray first to repent to have the first love. The love will someday grow that you will be able to worship God.
   The true worship results in renewal of life.
   Luke 9:29
   29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.
   “The appearance of His face was altered “ means the renewal of five senses.
   It begins with mouth, which is the rudder of the whole body.
   Colossians 4:6
   6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
   Our speech is renewed to be a blessing and witness/answer to the others. Lest our speech be in vain and discourage the others (such as lies)!
   Let us limit our saying. We may speak to everyone but the speech must become blessing and answer to others (that you may know how you ought to answer each one)
   As the late Rev. Totaijs said, all people in the world know that something great will happen and they know that Bible is the answer. They might reject to read the Bible by themselves, but they desire to hear from us the right answer by the word of God.
   The more we worship God, the more our speech is renewed until we do not stumble in word.
   James 3:2
   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.
   The perfect word is Alleluia (Revelation 19:6), the top of our worship.
   Let us now learn and hope on God that our speech is not in vain/lies until we do not stumble in word.
   God, by our repentance, promises safeguard, and by our renewal of life, glory is ready to be revealed (renewal of life = glory).
3. Two tablets of stone (describing the perfect love of the Lord).
   Hebrews 9:4
   4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;
   The golden pot is the perfect faith, Aaron’s rod is the perfect hope, and the two tablets of stone is the perfect love. Faith is the first of all; meaning no faith = no hope = no love. We all know where faith comes by, that is, by hearing by the word of God. Therefore take heed how we hear. If we are enthusiastic for singing and doing services, but asleep as the word is being preached, how then does faith come?
   How do we know the perfect love?
   Mark 12:29-30
   29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
   30 ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
   the two tablets of stone = the perfect love
   The first stone is to love God with all our heart/spirit, with all our mind/soul, and with all our strength/body. This love is not a theory but manifested through these practices:
   • Prioritizing godliness to anything
     Being hindered by worldly things means we do not love God yet. It does not mean we cannot work/study in school but let us love God with all our heart/spirit, mind/soul, and strength/body through prioritizing godliness to anything. It is not for the pastors only but for all of us. In such a manner, we have the two tablets of stone.
   • Obeying the commandments of the Lord – no matter the risk is – until there is no more fleshly demand. ("He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me”).
     The second stone is to love the others as ourselves by the following ways:
     Mark 12:31
     31 "And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these."
   • Doing and saying to as well as thinking about men whatever we want them to do, say, and think about us.
     Matthew 7:12
     12 "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
   • Loving enemies
     Matthew 5:43-44, 48
     43 "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
     44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
     48 "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
     Enemies are those who are against us, not whom we come against. We must love them, at least pray for them good things.

Conclusion:
Below is to symbolize faith, hope, and love in growth:
Growth of faith: gate – table of showbread – golden pot.
Growth of hope: laver – door – golden candlestick – Aaron’s rod.
Growth of love: altar of burnt offering – golden altar of incense – two tablets of stone.
The things above are mentioned to complete all objects of Tabernacle, but the veil. This implies: the permanent faith, hope, and love is the only way to tear off the veil and show up the ark of covenant.

Revelation 11:19
19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

“the temple of God was opened” = the veil was torn and the ark of covenant was seen; the true Church becomes the Bride of God.

Revelation 12:1
1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.

Take a look at the table below showing the true Church in comparison of symbols:
Church Ark of Covenant Bride of God
faith golden pot moon / redemption / righteousness
hope Aaron’s rod stars
love two tablets of stone sun

What comes to the Bride of God being with faith, hope, and love?

• Revelation 12:2
  2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
  As a woman in pain to give birth = having no strength at all.
• Revelation 12:3-4
  3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.
  4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.
  fronting on a fiery red dragon ready to devour her Child = being faced with antichrist directly.
  In such a condition, the Church needs nothing but shelter and God has provided it in the form of two wings of a great eagle.
  Revelation 12:14
  14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
  The woman is nourished from the presence of the serpent that it cannot see or touch her. This is our condition that we need to seek the faith/word of God, the hope/Holy Spirit, and the love that we have the coverage of God, not the money. It does not mean that we do not need money. Do not look at neither men nor the church building in our service to God, not even seeking money. Or else, it will give disadvantage because money has been ruled by antichrist and one who seeks money in church/becomes satisfied with money will be the first who worships antichrist. It is not for the congregation only but also for priests and pastors. On the contrary, let us first seek the coverage of two wings of eagle, that is to say the faith (word of God) and Holy Spirit resulting in love, not the coverage of man.

What are the wings for?

1. Exodus 19:4
   4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you (closer) to Myself.
   To bring us closer to and more hopeful in God to feel peace and quietness.
   Psalms 62:2-3
   2 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.
   3 How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, Like a leaning wall and a tottering fence.
   We shall not be greatly moved in the wave of the world, meaning there is no doubt, like Jesus who slept in a ship in the middle of the wave of sea.
   Be quiet and not moved in temptation and about heresies!
   Are you worried or doubtful? It means you get far away from God. Let us now fly with the wings of eagle to come near the Lord and find peace and quietness more and more in the midst of this uncertain world.
   By peace and quietness we will find God the Possessor of heaven and earth.
   Mark 4:37-39
   37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
   38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
   39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
   If we are still and quiet to surrender to God, He whose power has created and controlled the whole world is able to control all shakings in all aspects of our lives.
   God can turn tempest into calm – even if with men it is impossible.
   For example, the tsunami can be settled neither with knowledge nor much money. We need to be still and peaceful to surrender to God. He allows the wind and waves to come to us in order to make us seek Him because we need Him. When the sea was still and Jesus slept, they let Jesus sleep. We often do such thing when we are blessed that we let Jesus sleep (a condition that we do not need Him). As pastors, do not blame God when many churchgoers do not come to church anymore. Such condition happens because we are no longer close with Him.
   God allows wind and waves to come into our life that we might get closer to Him and we have nothing to worry about, for God with His Power of Creation will come in due time.
2. Revelation 12:14
   14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
   To evacuate us from the presence of the serpent to a wilderness. During those times, exactly three years and a half, God Himself will keep us as He had fed the Israelites with manna in the wilderness for forty years. Thus, the protection of the wings is not for this present time but until the peak of shakings by antichrist happens in the world for 3.5 years.
   Nothing in this world can overcome the tempestuous tsunami, not even antichrist. We therefore must get closer and fully trust in God.
3. Isaiah 40:29-31
   29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
   30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
   31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
   To wait on Jesus’ second coming and see Him in heavens face to face.
   During times of waiting many will become dismayed and offended at Jesus and their faith will fail. We need the two wings accordingly. Where does the strength come from?
   An eagle eats carcass; that is the Holy Communion.

If you fail and fall down in your following to God, you should not be dismayed. Holy Communion is the new power to rise up. Be strong and courageous, do not doubt and be disappointed until Jesus comes the second time! We will be lifted up with Him forever more. The only thing we need is the shade of God.
God bless you!