Bible Study at Surabaya - Monday, July 30, 2007

The epistle of Jude speaks of the covering of judgment, which signifies the protection and attention of God towards the true church as well as the separation from the false one. The false church appears as high tares having physical goodness and fast growth but being burnt in the hell fire. The true church (wheat) will be gathered into the barn (the kingdom of a-thousand-year peace and the kingdom of heaven), but the false (tares) will be burnt in the hell fire. For that reason, we do need the covering of God, lest we be burnt but rejoice with Him.

There are four kinds of false church:

• unshepherded church (vs. 4)
• law-based church (vs. 5)
• satanic church in the appearance of Sodom and Gomorrah (vs. 6-7)
• fleshly church (starting vs. 8)

Today we continue reading Jude 1:14-16 about the fleshly church.
14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,
15 "to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."
16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
The true church comes up like Enoch, the seventh from Adam in the spirit, while the false church is like Lamech, the seventh from Adam in the flesh.

Here is a little thing about Lamech, the seventh from Adam in the flesh.

Genesis 4:17-18
17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son––Enoch.
18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech.

What does the fleshly church (represented by Lamech) do?

Genesis 4:23-24
23 Then Lamech said to his wives: "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech! For I have killed a man for wounding me, Even a young man for hurting me.
24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy–sevenfold."

Lamech avenged seventy-sevenfold. In Matthew 18, the disciples asked Jesus how often they would forgive their brother and they thought it was up to seven times, but Jesus answered up to seventy times seven. Now it is clear what Lamech did. He avenged seventy-sevenfold; it means he was unforgiving or in other word, he always remembered his brother’s mistakes. Such a man is used to keep his anger.
Let us be careful in our marriage. Do not keep other’s mistakes because it represents the conduct of the fleshly church even though they commit service and ministry to the Lord. We have to forgive one another, or else there will be hatred that equals to murder, until hatred without any cause. Not forgiving others, one will not receive the forgiveness of God. It means there is no relationship with God.

We should not disadvantage ourselves by keeping anger with the other’s faults. It is completely unprofitable to us, for we do not sin but we have to bear the burden of the sin. If we do not forgive our brothers, the Father will not forgive us as well.

Now here is a little about Enoch, the seventh from Adam in the spirit.

Genesis 5:4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18
4 After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he had sons and daughters.
6 Seth lived one hundred and five years, and begot Enosh.
9 Enosh lived ninety years, and begot Cainan.
12 Cainan lived seventy years, and begot Mahalalel.
15 Mahalalel lived sixty–five years, and begot Jared.
18 Jared lived one hundred and sixty–two years, and begot Enoch.

Enoch was the seventh according to the epistle of Jude, i.e. from Set, not from Cain. It is in the spirit, even he walked with God three hundred years. This is the difference between fleshly and true churches. The false churches have no connection with God although they serve God actively and they are separated with the true ones.

Genesis 5:22-24
22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters.
23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty–five years.
24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Walking with God is said also in Proverbs and Psalms Book but the time is not mentioned. For Enoch, it was specially said that he walked with God three hundred years.
The number 300 points to Tabernacle (the miniature of the kingdom of heaven), which was one hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide. The periphery is 300 cubits (2x100 + 2x50).
Thus, we walk with God based on Tabernacle teaching and the Bride Tidings. Many times we say that we walk with God but it is false without the true teaching.
Below is explained the steps of the association of Tabernacle:

1. Gate with four pillars (http://gptkk.org/gerbang-en.php)
   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.
   On the four pillars was hanged a four-colored screen: blue, purple, white, and red.
   • The spiritual meaning of the gate from the point of view of the four pillars:
     The four evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) wrote about Jesus Christ in the four books. Thus, the gate here means faith, believing in Jesus by hearing the word of God anointed by the Holy Spirit. The more we hear the word, the more our faith is mature and established, and that will encourage us to become obedient.
     Romans 10:17
     17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
   • The spiritual meaning of the gate from the point of view of the four colors:
     White color (fine linen) shows Jesus as the Son.
     Red color (scarlet) shows Jesus as the suffered Man.
     Purple color shows Jesus as the King (purple is the color of the king’s robe).
     Blue color shows Jesus as the Servant.
     Jesus is the Holy Son, but also the suffered Man. Jesus is the King, but also the Servant. If we draw a line connecting those four colors, we will see the Cross. It must be complete, not just a part. We have to know Him in sufferings besides His power as the Son. We must know Him as a servant besides His riches as a King.
     To suffer for His sake = to receive His cross.
     It means we have to bear the Cross by the following practices:
     Philippians 1:29
     29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
     1. repentance (altar of burnt offering – http://gptkk.org/mkb/php)
        = to stop sinning and return to God.
        It really hurts to stop sinning. My father is for example. He had been a smoker since he was seventeen until sixty-five. Yet he suddenly stopped smoking. What happened then? He lay on bed three days and could do nothing. See, it really hurts to stop sinning, but that is called the Cross. How to stop sinning? We have to confess sin to God and others and never do it again after being forgiven. Besides, we have to forgive and forget our brother’s sins. Not forgiving means not confessing and not repenting as the fleshly church does.
     2. baptism of water (laver – http://gptkk.org/bejana-en.php)
        Romans 6:4
        4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
        After the power of sin is put to death by our confession, we must be buried with Jesus into water baptism and so we will be raised to a new life, to walk in righteousness.
2. Door (http://gptkk.org/kemah-en.php)
   = the anointing/fullness of Holy Spirit.
   Everyone who is filled with Holy Spirit will bear fruits of the Spirit, one of which is faithfulness or patience. Patience means to do something continuously and unhindered by anything.
   Acts 2:41-42
   41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
   42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
   After being baptized with water and Holy Spirit, the apostles continued steadfastly in the three activities:
   • fellowship
   • doctrine and breaking of bread
   • prayers
     The three matters now refer to the three main services (symbolized by the three objects in the Holy Place):
   • fellowship = public service = golden candlestick (http://gptkk.org/pelita-en.php)
   • doctrine and breaking of bread = bible study service and holy communion = table of showbread (http://gptkk.org/mrs-en.php)
   • prayers = worship service = golden altar of incense (http://gptkk.org/dupa-en.php)
     Through the three main services, we can build a close relationship with God the Trinity:
   • through public service, we associate with Holy Spirit God (Christ)
   • through bible study service, we associate with the Son (Jesus)
   • through worship service, we associate with Father God (Lord)
     God is of being three in One Persona, that is, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and so are we: body, soul, and spirit. Thus, we walk with God as it should be done through the patience in the three main services. Patience means to do continuously and unhindered by anything. As Enoch walked with God for three hundred years, now we walk with God based on tabernacle system in the three main services.
   Patience is profitable to us. The late Rev. Pong Dongalemba always said that if we continue steadfastly in the three main services, we do not spend time, but make use of the time wisely.
   James 5:11
   11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord––that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
   Patience results in double restoration: physical and spiritual.
   The first time I was trusted for a ministry in Malang, East Java, in 1995, an old couple came to me and told their going broke until they had to leave their own house. They were previously rich but then they had nothing for someone had deceived them. I told them that I could not help them in finance. All I could do was just to give them an advice to continue again steadfastly in the three main services. Fortunately, they obeyed my advice and the result was extraordinary. Little by little God restored them until they could buy a new house.
   Not only physically, we are also restored spiritually to walk in newness of life. Job had always been righteous in his own sight and that made him so bad and broken in life. Self-truth is very dangerous, seeing that Jesus’ second coming is drawing near. Having self-truth through blaming others even blaming God, one becomes the part of fleshly church.
   Job 32:1-2
   1 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
   2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God.
   Job was restored from his self-truth until he confessed himself dust and ashes in God’s Hand. Job now had set aside his self-truth and received the truth of God.
   What does the self-truth mean?
   • the truth gained by blaming the others. In this case, a sinful man refuses to confess his sin and he can only blame the other to justify himself. In other word, he covers his sin by blaming the others.
   • unforgiving to men their trespass and showing hatred in all his ways. A man who does not confess his sin can hardly forgive his brother.
   • blaming and regarding God unfair and hard (as it is written in the parable of one talent. The servant to whom was trusted one talent hid the talent because he judged his lord a hard man). Many people do such by blaming the teaching word. They do act like Lamech and Job.
   In spite of that, God is very compassionate and gracious. Job was restored until he could sit on the dust.
   Job 42:5-6
   5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You.
   6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes."
   The self-truth is changed into the truth of God, that is, to confess ourselves dust with a lot of mistakes and weaknesses, and to confess to the others who confess their sins to us, saying “I also do many mistakes.” If we do this, we will not be trampled down on the ground, but held in the Hands of the Creator, the One who is able to create something that has never existed before.
3. The veil (http://gptkk.org/tirai-en.php)
   = tearing of the flesh
   This is also called the Cross, but different from the Cross of repentance. Repentance is the Cross to put sins to death, but the tearing of the flesh (sprinkling of blood) is the Cross because of committing no sin.
   As Jesus died, the veil was torn into two.
   Philippians 2:8-10
   8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
   9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
   10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
   Jesus became obedient to the point of death and now we should become obedient until there is no more fleshly desire. No matter we are died or lived, we live when Jesus comes a second time as long as we have no more fleshly desire.
   As a result, Jesus was given the name which is above every name, the powerful name to overcome those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth.
   • Those in heaven refer to Satan/the red dragon.
     Revelation 12:3
     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.
     Satan symbolizes the spirit of disobedience and uncleanness.
     Ephesians 2:2
     2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
     Uncleanness here includes being sleepy when hearing the word of God. If someone is really sleepy, he surely cannot open his eyes at all. Yet, the most common fact is: the man is sleepy during the sermon and then he suddenly awakes soon after the pastor almost stop preaching, even he could watch TV all night afterward. We must be careful with unclean spirits, for they are in the air; it means they are everywhere (at church, at office, on mountain, etc).
   • Those on earth refer to false prophets.
     Revelation 13:1
     11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.
     They look like a lamb but speak like a dragon. This is the real falseness, which is manifested in lies and false teachings.
   • Those under the earth refer to antichrist.
     Revelation 13:1-2
     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.
     2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
     Antichrist with the power of money (mammon) will make us blind and stray from the faith.
     Jesus was willing to die in order to get the powerful Name above all names. It is not for Himself but for His church, seeing that Satan the Trinity wants to rule over His church until the church becomes the fleshly church in appearance as beast. Flowing from that, one who hates has the appearance of a beast not knowing his/her spouse or children whether in conduct or saying. We have to defeat the beast with our obedience until we have no more fleshly desire because we walk with God and have the power of Jesus’ name.

By obedience, we will have the power of the Name of Jesus to defeat the three beasts, so we can walk with God. Now the question is: how do we know that the beasts are defeated?

Philippians 2:11
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

It is manifested by our tongue. Why tongue? Because it is the wildest part of the body. The three beasts are already tamed, but no one can tame the tongue (James).

Song of Solomon 4:3
3 Your lips are like a strand of scarlet, And your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil are like a piece of pomegranate.

Thus, the close relationship with God is mark by our obedience and blood-signed lips.
These are the meanings of confessing Jesus with blood-signed lips:

• confessing sin and not judging the others.
  We should confess sin to God and the others and should not do it again after being forgiven.
• bearing witness
  We should give testimonials of what we have experienced from the word of God.
• worshiping God = glorifying God and surrendering ourselves fully to Him.
  Just as Rahab (gentile harlot) hiding two spies of Israel before the wall of the city was destroyed. We as the Gentiles need the scarlet cord no matter what uncleanness and wickedness we have on our minds or conducts. As long as we walk with God from the Gate, the Door, until the Veil (we have obedience), we may defeat the three enemies out of which uncleanness comes out. Let us use our lips to confess our sins, to bear witness and to worship God until we get the scarlet cord and Jesus’ blood works on us.

The following results will be real if we have the sign of the blood (the scarlet cord on lips):

• Life and care
  Jericho was attacked by Joshua and the inhabitants were all destroyed, except those with the scarlet cord. Jericho describes the city of trade; it implies that trade of the world could no longer become the source of human life. Therefore, we should not be proud of much money or high education until it gets us away from God, as it is all nothing when antichrist rules over the world. Only the Blood of Jesus is able to care for our life. As pastors, do not hope in the congregation but in the scarlet cord only.
• Salvation and protection
  Just like none could bother Rahab and her family, so the salvation and protection of God is also intended for all our family. Maybe someone in our family does not believe in Jesus yet? We have to wash our mouth by the Blood to bear witness and keep it not to speak in vain.
  Not only being saved, we all are protected from any unpredictable destruction, both physically (disasters, terrorism, etc) and spiritually (sins – sex and narcotics). It is not only for the congregation but also for priests because a priest may fall into sin although he is fasting. Something bad may happen suddenly as the wind and wave in the middle of calm sea. Flowing from that, we have to prepare ourselves with the scarlet cord and the tongue bearing witness and worshiping God.
• A chance to welcome Jesus’ second coming
  Matthew 1:1, 5a
  1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
  5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab
  Rahab was a gentile harlot but included into the genealogy of Jesus’ first coming because of the scarlet cord. So we by the same scarlet cord are allowed to welcome Jesus’ second coming – even though we are now still full of sins, living in failure and uncleanness. One day we will become the Bride and be ready to welcome His second coming. There will be great joy behind the sound of Hallelujah. Let us use our lips to worship God and bear witness with saying Alleluia. Even though we have become like Rahab, God is able to help us through the scarlet cord (Jesus’ blood) until we become God’s Bride.
  Revelation 19:6-7
  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!
  7 "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."
  Our lips should be touched by the Blood; otherwise, it will become wilder. If the lips are wild, the works are also wild.
  To end the day, here is the summary of today’s lesson:
  • we should repent and walk in righteousness (as if we entered the gate)
  • we should continue steadfastly in the three main services (as if we entered the door)
  • we should become obedient to defeat Satan (as if we tore the veil) and worship God (as if the lips are colored red)

As a result, God will guarantee our lives with a drop of His Own Blood.