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 Sermon > Lecture Messages |
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Title |
Revelation Lectures(4) |
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Speaker |
Rev. Jaerock Lee |
Bible |
Revelation1:9-16 |
Date |
2006-11-03 |
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Revelation 1:9-16
[9] I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
[10] I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,
[11] saying, "Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."
[12] Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands;
[13] and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
[14] His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.
[15] His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.
[16] In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
In tonight's scripture, it says, "I, John, your brother."
He didn't mean a fleshly blood brother, but a brother in the Lord Christ Jesus.
Jesus clearly explained who is the true brother, sister, or mother.
Jesus said in Matthew 12:50, "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."
Therefore, John said that all the Christians who live by the will of Father God in the Lord are 'brothers.'
Transcending space and time, from the Apostle John to you who are living these days can also become brothers.
And when we go to heaven, all the people in heaven become children of Father God, and we will become brothers and sisters to each other.
Now, John called himself '(a) fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus."
First, 'the kingdom which is in Jesus' means the kingdom of the truth.
The purpose of our believing life on this earth is to enter heaven, the eternal kingdom of God.
And in order to enter this eternal kingdom of God, we must partake in 'the kingdom which is in Jesus.'
Just as Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life," Jesus is the truth itself. Therefore to partake in the kingdom of Jesus means to live in the truth.
And in order to live in the truth, we must partake in the tribulation and perseverance which are in Jesus.
Apostle John received much persecution when he was with Jesus in the days of Jesus' public ministry.
But the real persecution started after the Lord resurrected and ascended into heaven.
The Apostle John partook in the tribulation of Jesus to the extent that he was sent to prison, he was beaten, and he was threatened with death.
However in the midst of all such hardships, the reason he remained steadfast was his belief in the Lord Jesus.
He forgave even those who persecuted him; he was rather joyful and thankful as in the word of the truth.
All this was to partake in the perseverance of Jesus.
Dear brothers and sisters.
If you have faith, you will be thankful and joyful for the persecution and tribulation that is in the Lord.
It is just as Matthew 5:11-12 says, "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
When they receive persecution of God's children because of the Lord, some people may say, "Why doesn't almighty God protect His children? Isn't He supposed to destroy all the bad people who are persecuting them?"
But, you must understand that that the children of God receive persecution and tribulation which is all permitted in the will and providence of God.
And the fact is that because of the persecution, the gospel of Jesus Christ can be spread even further, and the faith of an individual can be strengthened.
As a result of the severe persecutions in the days of the early churches, Christianity was able to eventually be spread to Europe and the rest of the known world through Rome.
Just as the smallest seed of fire can be spread further when you stoke up a wood fire, the more severely the early churches were persecuted, the further they could spread the gospel by becoming like a seed of fire.
The same applied to this church as well when we think back,
If this church didn't receive any persecution, but we were prosperous, could we accomplish the world mission greatly like this?
Could the power of God be spread to the whole world like this?
Because of the persecution, our church was able to pray more fervently. We turned our eyes to the world, and accomplished the kingdom of God greatly like this.
If we had been too careful about others' opinions, we wouldn't have been able to talk about the spiritual realm. We wouldn't have been able to understand or experience the spiritual realm as clearly as we can now.
You wouldn't have hoped for New Jerusalem, and you wouldn't have run toward the spirit and the whole spirit as much as you do now.
You have tried hard to live in the truth in order to partake in the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and you have endured all the persecution and tribulation that you received because of the Lord with joy and gratefulness.
As a result of that, we are able to accomplish the kingdom of God greatly like this, and many of you march on toward the spirit.
Now, John said, "I was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus."
Those people who sent Apostle John to the isle of Patmos might have thought they did it as they pleased, but actually what they did was also in the providence of God.
It was what God allowed so that Apostle John could receive revelations in the most proper surroundings.
Therefore, the fact that Apostle John was sent to the isle of Patmos was to testify to the word of God and to the Lord Jesus Christ through revelations.
That's why Apostle John didn't say he was in the isle of Patmos because he was banished. He said, "I was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus."
Dear brothers and sisters.
Since the beginning of this church, I have piled up immeasurable prayers to God in order to receive revelations from God, and I looked for an environment to receive the revelation.
Since I didn't have a prayer place as I do now, I was looking for a place which was isolated from the world.
In order to interpret the word of God, and to testify to the Lord Jesus Christ, I've been doing it for the last 24 years.
But I feel sorry now, because I focus and concentrate on the spiritual study or the spiritual training less than before, even though I have such a place where I can pray and communicate with God as much as I want, I can't.
Just as Apostle John could communicate with the Lord and received revelations without being disturbed by any worldly things, I should have been helped to be in such an environment (by the people around me), but the reality is not so, and I feel sorry for that.
In the verse 10, it says, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet."
Apostle John said 'the Lord's day.' In a narrow meaning, the Lord's Day refers to Sunday.
Since the day when Jesus Christ abolished the authority of death, resurrected, and became the savior of mankind is Sunday, the Sabbath day was changed to Sunday from Saturday which used to be a Sabbath day in the Old Testament times. And we call it the Lord's Day.
So, Apostle John was saying that he was in the Spirit and received the revelation on the Lord's day, namely Sunday.
But it doesn't mean that he receive all the revelations in just one day. Starting from this day, he received the revelations over many days.
However, in a broad sense, the Lord's Day means 'Everyday.'
To those who live in the truth completely, not only Sunday but also everyday is the Lord's day when they always walk with the Lord and communicate with the Lord.
And it's because I am in the Lord and the Lord is in me.
Another meaning contained in the Lord's day is that it was the day that the Lord Himself approved.
Everything has its own time. It's not that we make communication with the Lord whenever we want. The Lord chooses the most proper time.
Since the person must be ready as well, the Lord who knows everything chooses the best time, and it is the Lord's day.
Like this, John was in the Spirit and received the revelation on the Lord's day. Now what does it mean to be in the Spirit?
To be in the Spirit is to feel what is coming from the original space of Father God, and thus to understand deeply the heart of Father God.
It is to feel the perfect goodness and limitless power of God flowing from the original space of Father God.
Therefore, when in the Spirit, we can listen to the voice of Father God directly, see visions, and understand Father God's will and heart contained in them.
For example, when we say we see visions, it doesn't end just by seeing and hearing; the feeling of it comes to our heart, and we can understand the deep heart of Father God.
Since we experience the works of the Holy Spirit who searches even the depth of God when we are in the Spirit, we can understand the deep heart of Father God.
Also, we are in the original space of Father God so that no forces of darkness can hinder us.
Only in such a situation, we can hear the secret things of heaven, and receive the revelation of the spiritual realm.
But it doesn't mean that anyone can receive the revelation when in the Spirit.
No matter what level of faith you are in, from the 1st to 5th, you can experience the feeling of being in the Spirit.
But the level of being in the Spirit is different according to the level of faith.
In order to communicate with God and receive revelations freely, you must be at least in the 4th level of faith, the level of sanctification, and be in the Spirit.
In order to receive the revelation, you must not have your own thought; you must completely be isolated from your own things.
Therefore, only when you come into the level of sanctification are you ready to receive the revelation. And at the same time, depending on how fervently you cry out in your prayer, the level of being in the Spirit differs.
But once you come into the deeper level of spirit, in other words, the whole spirit, you are always in the Spirit.
Of course, you will be in a deeper level of being in the Spirit when you cry out in your prayer even if you are in the level of the whole spirit. However, even if you don't pray, you are always in the Spirit.
For example, when I deliver a message, I do so always in the Spirit.
Of course I'm always in the Spirit not only when I deliver a message. But especially when I deliver a message, in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit pours onto me from heaven.
If I don't control myself, I would preach not for a couple of hours but for many days even without any script.
It's possible because I can testify to the word of God by freely finding pairs (paired verses) in the 66 books of the bible.
Apostle John who was in the Spirit came to hear a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet behind him.
Apostle John compared the voice of the Lord to the sound of a trumpet because the sound of a trumpet was loud in his days.
Since it was not the time that an amplifier was used to make a loud sound, he compared the Lord's loud and resonant sound to the sound of a trumpet.
Also, since it was the word from the lips of the Lord, he compared it to a trumpet which we blow with our lips.
I myself have heard the voice of God many times. The voice is so clear and graceful yet so loud and resonant that it cannot be compared to anything in the world.
It is the voice that you will never forget once you hear it.
The voice of the Lord is the same.
But why did Apostle John say that he heard the voice behind him?
That's because, just as someone is standing in a line waiting for something, the Lord also spoke to him when the time came as if the Lord waited right behind him for the appropriate time.
The Lord already knew when Apostle John would give prayer which would bypass the gate of the spiritual realm, be in the Spirit and ready to receive the revelation.
So, the Lord could send an angel when it was time as necessary, or He himself could come to John as spirit and talk to him.
The important thing here is that the Lord works on the precise time.
From this coming Sunday, in the Sunday Morning Service, the message about 'Heaven' will be preached.
When I received the revelation about heaven, God did it at the precise time.
God already knew when He would tell me about the secrets of heaven. He already knew the time and waited.
And He prepared me so that I could be ready for the time.
Even though I had to go down from a mountain prayer location to attend the Friday All Night Service and the Sunday Services, God commanded me to fast three days and to continue to pray.
And when I obeyed, starting from that Sunday, God started to tell me about the hidden secrets of heaven.
In order to open the gate of spiritual realm and receive the revelation, we must pile up prayers and prepare ourselves in justice so that the enemy devil and Satan cannot accuse us.
Even though God wanted to tell us about the secrets, if we are not ready yet, God first makes us prepared and then tells us about them.
But now, the situation is totally different from before.
At that time I had to cry out in my prayer and prepare myself to open the gate of the spiritual realm and receive the revelation, it's not like that today.
The gate to make communication with Father God is always open so that God gives me the answer as soon as I ask something.
So, I receive many revelations that I cannot explain to you from this altar every week.
Now in the verse 11, there are the names of the 7 churches.
It says, "saying, "Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.""
As I told you before, the 7 churches mentioned here do not refer only to the churches in Asia Minor, but also to all the churches nowadays transcending space and time.
When we categorize all the churches in the world, they can be categorized into 7 churches.
Therefore, the word that was given to the seven churches is the word that applies to all the churches these days, and it is like a signpost or guidepost.
Also, the word that is given to the seven churches not only applies to churches. It also applies to every individual whom the Holy Spirit resides in like you.
Therefore, you can check your individual faith through this word given to the seven churches.
The verse 12 says, "Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands."
When John turned to see the voice that was speaking to him, he saw seven golden lamp stands.
Then, what kind of meaning do the 7 lamp stands have?
The golden lamp stand refers to the church built by faith in the Lord.
It is the church that the Lord purchased by shedding His blood; it is the body of Christ Jesus.
The number 7 means 'complete or perfect.' So the church is truly built in the name of the Lord.
Then, why does a golden lamp stand mean a church built by faith in the Lord?
Gold carries the meaning of an unchanging faith.
And the lamp stand shines out the light.
It plays a role of shining light in the world.
But the actual thing that emanates light is a candle.
The candle melts down and sacrifices itself to produce the light that radiates.
Therefore, that which plays the role of this candle which sacrifices itself to shine the world and lead it to the truth is the church.
And just as the brightness of the light may different from each other, the brightness of the light of the churches, even thought they are all built by faith in the Lord, are different.
Therefore, the brightness of the light that the lamp stand emanates shows how much the church is sanctified and accomplished the heart of the Lord.
Then, what does the candle in the lamp stand mean?
The candle means the truth.
Also, the candle refers to a Christian who accepted Jesus Christ and lives in the word of the truth.
Just as the brightness of the candle light is different, the spiritual brightness of each believer is also different depending on how well they are living in the truth.
The more completely and perfectly a believer practices the truth, the brighter the light is from him, just as the greater the number of candles the greater and brighter is the light that can shine.
Also, depending how well the congregation lives in the light and shines the light in a church, the brightness of the church is different.
Therefore, a golden lamp stand which shines light brightly refers not only a church that is built by faith in the Lord but also an individual in whom the Holy Spirit builds a holy temple.
But, the seven golden lamp stands that Apostle John saw in tonight's scripture symbolize the seven churches.
Now, from the verse 13 and onward, it describes the look of the Lord that Apostle John saw.
Since John had spent 3 years with the Lord on this earth, it is reasonable that Apostle John was the one who knew well what the Lord looked like among those around Him.
But the appearance of the Lord that the Apostle John was familiar with was His appearance that was in the flesh.
There are many great differences between the look of the Lord who was in flesh, and the appearance of the Lord who is now in glory.
As a simple example, when the Lord resurrected three days after He died, not only the disciples abut also the ladies, such as Mary Magdalene, couldn't recognize Him.
And now, the Lord is in glory that we cannot even begin to imagine.
Apostle John was seeing such a Lord, and he was explaining the appearance that he saw.
He said, "and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength."
Then, what kind of meaning is there in this appearance of the Lord?
We will take a look into this in the next lecture.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
What if God lines up all the churches in the world according to the brightness of its light?
Of course, the brightness of light is not the brightness of the fleshly light, but the brightness of the spiritual light; in other words, it is how brightly spiritual light flows out from the church.
Then, there will be various degrees of thebrightness of the light ranging from the church which shines very very bright light to the church in which the light has already been extinguished.
God cannot but love the church which shines the brightest light, and the congregation of the church will be also be loved by God.
Likewise, it's very important which church you belong to.
However, the kind of a church that a church becomes is also up to its congregation.
Depending on how bright the light of each individual shines, the brightness of the whole light can vary.
Also, sometimes one very bright light shines much brighter than many dim lights that are gathered.
Therefore, please give it a serious thought why this church is loved by God, and why there are so many evidences that this church is loved by God by considering the truth.
And I hope that all of you who listen to this message will be the one who will truly live in the truth.
The light of prayer in a church should never be put out, and you must continue to gather in the temple.
May you become loved by God, and your church become loved by God because such people who are loved by God gather in the church, in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, I pray! |
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