 |
 Official Service(date) |
| Sunday Morning |
| Sunday Evening |
| Friday All-night |
|
 |
|
| 1 John Lecture |
| Revelation Lectures |
| Genesis Lectures |
|
|
|
| The message of the cross |
| Measure of Faith |
| Ten Commandments |
| Heaven |
| Hell |
| Spiritual Love |
| Spirit, soul and body |
| Sinful mind |
| Goodness |
| Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit |
|
|
|
|
  |
 Sermon > Official Service |
 |
|
|
Title |
Revelation Lectures(78) |
|
|
|
Speaker |
Rev. Jaerock Lee |
Bible |
Revelation18:21-19:8 |
Date |
2008-10-03 |
|
|
Scripture
Revelation 18:21 – 18:24
[21] Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer.
[22] "And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer;
[23] and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.
[24] "And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth."
Revelation 19:1-8
[1] After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God;
[2] BECAUSE HIS JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and HE HAS AVENGED THE BLOOD OF HIS BOND-SERVANTS ON HER."
[3] And a second time they said, "Hallelujah! HER SMOKE RISES UP FOREVER AND EVER."
[4] And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, "Amen Hallelujah!"
[5] And a voice came from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great."
[6] Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
[7] "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready."
[8] It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
I'll continue to explain how the unified government and their followers collapse at the end of the 7 Year Great Tribulation.
Revelation 18:21 says, "Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer."
If you throw a stone like a great millstone into the sea, it will sink due to its weight.
In the days when the apostle John lived, when something sank in the deep sea, there was no way to get it back.
Likewise, this verse means that once Babylon the great city - the forces of the antichrist - collapses, it cannot be recovered.
In addition, this world that has been controlled by the antichrist comes to see its end.
In this verse the forces of the antichrist are compared to a stone that is like a great millstone. A millstone is used to grind grain into flour.
God is again making a comparison between human beings and grain.
Matthew 13:30 says, "Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn."
Those who are saved by faith are compared to the wheat, but those unbelievers and those who don't believe in heart even though they say they believe are compared to the chaff.
Just as grain is grounded by a millstone, those who are left on earth during the 7 Year Great Tribulation receive great persecution by the forces of the antichrist.
Since they don't become the wheat to go into the 7 Year Wedding Banquet, they suffer from all sorts of persecutions and afflictions.
The forces of the antichrist which are used as a tool of torture are compared to the millstone.
Revelation 18:22-23 says, "And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer; and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery."
"The sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters" can be heard in a joyful banquet.
Due to the collapse of the unified government, which is the force of the antichrist, they are no longer able to hear such sound from them.
As the antichrist and their allied forces collapse together, there are only ruin and pain left.
It says, "no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer," and it refers to a situation when it's impossible to get even hand-crafted products.
In this situation, what about the products that had been produced in factories in such massive quantities?
Almost all the production facilities are destroyed, and the times go back to a primitive society.
Now, when it says, "The sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer," it refers to the sound of a real mill.
In order to get processed flour from grain, people have to use a mill. However, when it says such sound of a mill is not heard, it means the production of the most basic necessities for survival comes to a halt.
Also, when it says, "the light of a lamp will not shine," it refers to the situation where everything that is the fruit of civilization is destroyed.
In this situation, will there be any kind of hope for a man in marriage?
Marriages have continued no matter how terrible the situation was, but at this point, even marriage discontinues.
You may be able to grasp the situation now.
There are only ruin and despair. Truly it is the end time of the world.
Like this, at the end of the 7 Year Great Tribulation, the world is in a irrecoverable situation due to the complete collapse of the forces of the antichrist.
From a fleshly perspective, it is in the final moments when nothing can be hope for any longer.
"The great men of the earth" refer to those who have been allied with the forces of the antichrist to stand against God and to persecute the saints.
It says, "all the nations were deceived by your sorcery." This has three meanings.
First, it means that they deceived people with the spirit of deception, which is the spirit of untruth.
The spirit of deception worked on people so that they could be deceived into falling into the untruth.
And people were deceived because of their greed, selfish desires and lust.
Second, it has the meaning that refers to the unrighteous ways that are contrary to conscience by which they accumulated fortunes.
Those who are blinded by wealth acquire fortunes by means that are both fair and foul.
They bribe others, or they do unrighteous things by playing up to the authority.
They use bribery and they commit all kinds of unlawful, illegal and unjust acts through their power and influence.
When they are blind in heart, they can sell out even their conscience and their moral standards.
Third, it means that they deceived people by using all kinds of false and seductive acts and actions.
They pretended as if they were good and righteous outwardly, but inwardly they did all kinds of false acts.
They pretended as if they worked for the human race and for world peace and order, but in reality they deceived people.
And many were deceived by these false acts, and they ended up standing against God.
Revelation 18:24 says, "And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth."
During the 7 Year Great tribulation, the forces of the antichrist caused countless people to shed blood.
Among them are those who reached salvation through martyrdom, and those who reached the glory of higher than the 3rd kingdom of heaven.
Within His Justice, God will reclaim and repay the price for shedding the blood of martyrdom.
Since the creation of the world, Lucifer and evil spirits have caused the blood of countless people of God to be shed.
It was by the shedding if His blood that Jesus opened the door of salvation to human beings.
It was only after the shedding of so much blood that the gospel could be preached as it is today.
Therefore, we as well should be willing to shed blood for the kingdom of God and for the souls.
This doesn't necessarily mean that you have to shed blood and die in the suffering and afflictions of martyrdom.
Of course, some of you will go through it. But most of you should die in martyrdom as you are living your lives.
In other words, you should persist in fighting against sin to the point of shedding blood.
Just as Apostle Paul said, "I die daily," you should put your fleshliness to death, and fill it with sprit.
And at the same time, you should be faithful until death.
The price for you sweat, tears, and blood will be repaid till the very last cent has been repaid, and it will be piled up as rewards in heaven.
On the other hand, those who blaspheme the kingdom of God, persecute, and kill the people of God will pay for what they have done.
Now, let's take a look in Chapter 19, where we will have the Wedding banquet with the Lord and what is recorded about His Second Coming on the Earth.
Revelation 19:1-2 says, "After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; BECAUSE HIS JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and HE HAS AVENGED THE BLOOD OF HIS BOND-SERVANTS ON HER.""
"After these things" refers to the time after the forces of the antichrist are completely destroyed and the earth is totally devastated.
"A great multitude" refers to all the saints who are resurrected.
They are those who have been saved since the Creation.
Now, they sing in a loud voice.
They raise praise for the salvation through Jesus Christ, and the glory of God, and the power of God who has accomplished every providence.
Just how sincere and touching is the incense of hearts that is contained in the praise that the saved souls sing in a loud voice!
The thanks, joy, and emotions are beyond the description, and they never change forever and ever.
It says, "HIS JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS." It refers to the perfectness of the judgment through Jesus Christ.
The standard of the judgment is Jesus Christ.
Since Jesus is the Word that became flesh and came to the earth, the Word becomes the standard of the judgment.
When Jesus took the cross and died, the law was completed.
The law was completed through the love of the Lord who sacrificed Himself for sinners.
Believing in this Lord is the condition of salvation, and how much you resemble the Lord is the standard of how well you believe in the Lord.
"The great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality" refers to Lucifer.
As the Lord judges Lucifer along with the forces that had allied with Lucifer, He calls for the reparation for price of the blood that the people of God and the servants of God have shed through persecution, affliction, and martyrdom since the Creation.
Revelation 19:3 says, "And a second time they said, "Hallelujah! HER SMOKE RISES UP FOREVER AND EVER."" It means that those that are judged fall down into the fires of hell and suffer forever and ever.
Revelation 19:4 says, "And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, "Amen Hallelujah!""
Those who serve a king in a close distance can recognize their king by his look and voice.
But common people are not even able to have a chance to see the king's face.
It is the same in heaven.
The people, especially the 24 Elders who are close to the Throne see God clearly.
And these 24 Elders are saying, "Amen Hallelujah!"
The great multitude said only, "Hallelujah!"
There is a difference.
When we finish prayers, we say, 'Amen."
It means, "God, it is right.' It contains the meaning of affirmation and hope of "I believe it will be answered as prayed and sought."
As the 24 Elders say, "Amen," they affirm the fact that all the judgments are nothing but the truth.
It means that the judgment of the Lord is absolutely right and proper.
And by adding "Hallelujah" to it, they say, "May God be glorified."
The expressions that will be used in heaven don't contain any words that are earthly and soiled.
That's because there is no evil.
However, depending on how much you have cultivated your heart in spirit, the expressions that you use in heaven may be different.
Even though the same situation is being expressed, there can be a more touching expression used that is filled with more grace.
The same applies to this earth.
When the same information is conveyed, depending on who conveys the information, and how well he has cultivated his heart, the expression and its feeling can be different.
The better the heart has been cultivated into spirit, the more touching the expression becomes that is used to express it, and the words that are used to express it are more proper and beautiful.
Therefore, when a man of spirit or whole spirit has a conversation with someone, he can figure out the other's spiritual level.
Of course, depending on the education, knowledge, and manner, the expression and the words used can be different.
However, once you go into spirit, no matter how much you may lack in education, knowledge or social manner, you will never use rude expressions or words.
You don't even speak an earthly or expletive word by accident.
Now, Revelation 19:5 says, "And a voice came from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.""
Now, the voice that comes from the throne is not the voice of God.
It is the voice of those leaders around the throne speaking to the saints who are resurrected.
Around the Throne of God are seated the high-ranked prophets, the 24 Elders, and other heads of heaven.
Then, why are these heads saying to the saved souls, "Give praise to our God"?
It's because they understand the heart of God the Father.
There are many souls who are saved and resurrected, but at the same time, there are many souls who are not saved but fall to eternal death.
God the Father has wanted all of them to come out as the wheat during the cultivation of human beings on the earth, but in reality is not the case.
Therefore, in a situation when the chaff is separated from the wheat, how does God feel in His heart?
He has joy to have true children who become the wheat but on the other hand, He has sadness and sorrow for the many souls who become the chaff.
The head figures around the Throne of God understand this heart of God the Father.
That's why they say to the saved souls, "Give praise to our God," to comfort the heart of God the Father.
They hope that God will be comforted in His heart when He listens to the praise of those who have become the true children.
Dear brothers and sisters.
If you have many children, they are all different from each other.
Some of them understand the heart of their parents and they often become strength to their parents. On the contrary, there are children who rather hurt their parents' hearts.
They don't go astray, but they don't care about their parents' hearts. They just do their jobs and see to their responsibilities.
The leading figures around the Throne of God in heaven can be said to be like the children who understand the heart of the parent.
Since they take after the heart of God the Father, the Lord, and the Holy Spirit, they can feel and understand the heart of God.
Of course they cannot understand the heart of God to the fullest, but from time to time, measuring the heart of God, they give joy and comfort to God.
I myself become comforted and joyful whenever I meet such workers and members who understand my heart even a little and become strength to me.
Now, what kind of children should you make of yourselves before God the Father?
When you speak a word, and when you do something, you should be able to give joy and loving impression to the heart of God.
You should never become a child who hurts the heart of God and makes God worry.
In order to give joy and loving impression to the heart of God, you should be able to understand the depth of God's heart.
You should be able to feel the depth of God's goodness.
You should be able to recognize what He harbors in His heart and what He desires.
You can do it to the extent you come into spirit and whole spirit.
People say they can recognize what others want just by looking into their eyes.
If you can have such relationship with God the Father, how wonderful would it be?
I pray in the name of the Lord that you may become one heart and one will with God so that whatever you do can become joy to God.
Revelation 19:6-8 says, "Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints."
Those saved souls finish their lives on the earth and enter the eternal kingdom where the Mighty One reigns.
Since they controlled themselves and endured by walking in the way of the Lord, they can reach such glorious positions.
The fact is that the joy and emotion at this moment is much more than you can now imagine.
Those married ladies must have experienced a similar expectation and flutter the day before the wedding.
All of us who are saved are like brides who stand before the Lord.
The scripture says, "the marriage of the Lamb has come."
In 2 Corinthians 11:2, Apostle Paul says, "For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin."
During the ministry on the earth, the Lord often compared Himself with the bridegroom.
Then, as a bride who has to stand before the Lord, how well have you adorned yourself as a bride?
There isn't anyone who doesn't know how to be ready as a bride yet, is there?
The way of adorning oneself as a bride follows in the next line of scripture.
It says, "It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints."
The bride who is ready for the bridegroom should wear a formal wedding dress.
How much does the heart of a bride pound when she puts on a beautiful white wedding dress and welcomes her bridegroom?
The bride wishes to put on an even whiter, more splendid and more beautiful dress.
She will put on the most beautiful dress she can prepare.
Just like this dress that the bride puts on, the garments that the saved souls will wear are of fine linen.
By the way, as all the wedding dresses are different from each other, the fine linens are also different.
How much you loved God, how well you lived by the word of God, and how much you were sanctified on earth; these will decide your fine linen in heaven.
That is how the brilliance, magnificence, and beauty of the fine linen is decided.
Moreover, the number of souls you evangelized, the extent of your faithfulness, how much you prayed and devoted yourself are all factors reflected in the fine linen.
And there are rewards of patterns and decorations of the fine linen, and of various head ornaments.
However, the most important factor that decides the fine linen is the sanctification of heart.
Furthermore, depending on how much more you accomplished the spirit, the color and magnificence of the fine linen are decided.
By the way, the spirit that you have accomplished in your heart is revealed by your deeds.
They are revealed as righteous deeds before God.
In addition, your rewards will be given in heaven to the extent of the righteousness of deeds.
You may already know how much brighter and cleaner your fine linen becomes and what kind of ornaments are given as to what you do and how you do it.
Therefore, I hope that you will be wise enough to prepare your fine linen that you will wear in heaven in advance though good words and righteous deeds.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
Just how much effort and time does a bride take for preparing the wedding dress that she will put on just that one time in her lifetime?
How can I look prettier?
How can it look more splendid and beautiful?
How can I make it more appealing? The bride will think of these things.
Now, what kind of effort and heart do you have to put in to prepare for a dress that you will wear when you welcome the Lord, the best bridegroom?
Moreover, the fine linen is for the clothes that you will wear in heaven forever and ever.
It doesn't mean that you will wear only one garment forever.
No matter how many clothes are given, however, the brightness and brilliance of all the clothes are fixed the same.
To the extent that you have cultivated your heart into spirit on earth, the brightness and brilliance of your clothes are decided.
Upon these basics, various patterns and ornaments are decided to the extent that you have devoted yourself to the kingdom of God.
Even though other's clothes are more beautiful and splendid than yours, you will never be envious and jealous of them.
You will rather show your respect and thanks to those who put on the clothes that are more beautiful and brilliant than yours.
I ask you to imagine the fine linen that you will wear in heaven.
May you wear much more beautiful and brilliant garments than you expect, when we join the Wedding Banquet with the Lord, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray!
[Amen] |
|
