Bible Study With Jairus

Bible Study with Jairus Revelation 21 (part 5) The Gemstones of the New Jerusalem Symbolize our Horizontal Fellowship with the Saints, While Israel's Pearls Symbolize our Vertical Fellowship with God

Bible Study with Jairus Revelation 21 (part 5)

The Gemstones of the New Jerusalem Symbolize our Horizontal Fellowship with the Saints, While Israel's Pearls Symbolize our Vertical Fellowship with God

 

What is the New Jerusalem made of? The walls are made of jasper, the city is made of pure gold, and the twelve gates are made of twelve pearls. Furthermore, the foundations of the city’s walls are adorned with twelve kinds of gemstones (Revelation 21:18-21). Jasper, gold, gemstones, and pearls are the four building materials used in the construction of the New Jerusalem. Since jasper is a type of gemstone, there are essentially three materials: gold, gemstones, and pearls.

 

Gold symbolizes the nature of God. In the Old Testament, gold was used in the construction of the temple and in the making of the Ark of the Covenant. These examples show that gold represents God’s uncreated nature. The streets of the New Jerusalem are also made of pure gold. I believe that gold represents God’s heavenly purity, which is contrasted with human earthiness. We were created from the dust of the ground, and clay cannot transform into gold. Even though Peter said that our faith, which is tested by fire, will become more precious than gold (1 Peter 1:7), we will always be created beings. We can never become as majestic, pure, and powerful as God is. Even when our lives are refined in fire to separate the gold from the rock, we cannot rival God’s holiness. God is pure and holy, like gold. Part of the New Jerusalem is made out of gold, which means that God Himself is an integral part of the city. The throne of God and the Lamb is at the center of the New Jerusalem. The presence of gold in the New Jerusalem reminds us that God is our tabernacle.

 

The walls and gates of the New Jerusalem are made of various gemstones and pearls. Pearls symbolize our vertical fellowship with God, which is made possible through the wounds of Christ. Like an oyster that secretes a pearly liquid when it is wounded by the piece of sand inside its shell, we are transformed by the suffering of Christ. The pearls represent the twelve tribes of Israel, which reminds us of our vertical fellowship with God and the transformation we undergo after experiencing His salvation.

 

The gemstones represent the apostles who provide the foundation for our growth in Christ. As we build each other up in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:11), we are built together as living stones that form a part of Christ’s temple (1 Peter 2:5). Christ is the cornerstone that connects both Jews and Gentiles in one holy temple. In the same way, the cross of Christ unites believers with each other and reconciles God and man (Ephesians 2:14-17).

 

While we have never seen clay turn into gold, we have seen clay transformed into gemstones under high pressure, and we have seen sand turn into pearls after the oyster is wounded. When we personally experience God’s life-saving grace and salvation, we are transformed into individual pearls. And when we are built together with other believers in Christ, we become different kinds of gemstones. Since each believer has undergone a different kind of suffering and transformation, we manifest as different kinds of gemstones. This is why the foundation of the city wall has so many different colors on display.

 

The New Jerusalem, as God’s dwelling place, is made up of both human and divine building materials. It contains gold, which represents God’s uncreated nature. It also contains gemstones and pearls, which represent the created, yet transformed, human nature. The New Jerusalem is the mutual dwelling place of God and man. It represents Immanuel, God with us.

 

The Literal and Symbolic Meaning of Eternal Dwellings

 

The descriptions of the New Jerusalem can be confusing at first glance. Is the New Jerusalem a literal city with literal houses? Or is it a completely metaphorical place that represents our bodies, our relationships, or other types of spiritual realities? I believe it is both.

 

The New Jerusalem is both material and physical, literal and metaphorical. Both aspects are equally real and valid. Today, the spiritual world is invisible to us. As a result, it seems less real. People often think that the visible, material world is the real one, and the unseen spiritual world is false. This is because their spiritual eyes have not been opened. The Bible tells us that the visible world is not the true reality; it is just a shadow. The invisible spiritual world is the true reality (2 Corinthians 4:18).

 

Let’s look at an example of how the New Jerusalem is both literal and metaphorical. In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul tells us that we will one day lay aside our earthly tents and receive a house from God. This house is not made by human hands, but is eternal in the heavens (2 Corinthians 5:1). In this passage, Paul is clearly talking about laying aside our physical bodies and receiving spiritual resurrected bodies. Paul says, “For indeed in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened, not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life” (2 Corinthians 5:2-4). Paul is saying that we long to be free from the limitations of the flesh and to put on the dwelling from heaven, which likely includes a spiritual body. In this passage, the word “house” means “resurrection body.”

 

However, God will also give us literal houses, or dwelling places, in heaven. Jesus mentions that His Father’s house has many rooms, and he is preparing a place for us (John 14:2). I believe that this is also true. In addition to having individual resurrected bodies and garments, we will also have houses to live in, and a city in which to reside—the New Jerusalem. This New Jerusalem is our eternal dwelling which descends from God out of heaven. It is our house not made by human hands, eternal in the heavens. In the past, I was taught to doubt the existence of material houses in heaven. However, in a vision, God showed me the house of a saint in heaven. Now, I believe that when people go to heaven, they will have material houses. However, the material things in heaven surpass our current understanding of material things. For example, after the Lord’s resurrection, He could not only pass through walls but also eat fish, demonstrating that His resurrected body transcends our comprehension.

 

Furthermore, the idea of clothing is also used in several ways. Revelation 21:2 says, “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” Since we know that the church is the bride of Christ, the Lamb’s wife, we can conclude that the New Jerusalem represents believers. The New Jerusalem is our collective dwelling place, and it is also adorned with spiritual clothing. Here on earth, we may think we are clothed, but we are actually naked and exposed before God. The Bible tells us, “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). In heaven, we will put on heavenly clothing and be fully prepared as Christ’s bride. In this passage, the idea of clothing is used metaphorically to describe the beauty of the city and the adornment of Christ’s bride. However, the idea of clothing is also used in a literal way as God describes the clothing of individual believers (Revelation 7:9).

 

The New Jerusalem is not only a spiritual building but also a material one. Revelation 21 clearly reveals that the city and streets of the New Jerusalem are made of pure gold. The walls are made of jasper, the gates are made of pearls, and the foundation of the city walls is made of various precious stones. These beautiful materials should not be seen merely as metaphors but as real, tangible materials. However, these tangible materials may also be alive in a sense that we do not currently understand. Therefore, the construction of the New Jerusalem may be an organic unity of both physical and spiritual building materials.

 

The Pearly Gates Symbolize Our Vertical, Personal Experience of God’s Salvation

 

According to Revelation 21:12, the twelve gates of the city are inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. I believe that the twelve gates not only represent Israel, but by extension, Jesus Christ. Jesus told the Samaritan woman, “Salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). Salvation came through Jesus Christ, a descendent of Israel. The Israelite Torah points forward to the coming of Christ, and Christ is the fulfillment of the law and prophets (Romans 10:4). As a result, the twelve pearly gates certainly symbolize Christ. Salvation is only found in Christ, but God chose to bring his salvation through the twelve tribes of Israel.

 

Salvation comes from the Israelites. Salvation was made possible through the incarnation of Jesus Christ, who became an Israelite. Without the Israelites, there would be no Jesus, and without Jesus, there would be no salvation. Therefore, the twelve gates, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, symbolize the collective human connection with God in a vertical sense.

 

Let me share another metaphor that helps me understand the relationship between Israel and our salvation to Christ. The Israelites are like the physical cables that bring internet signals into your home. The signal is then decoded in a modem and router. They turn the signal into a wireless connection. Finally, the signal is received by hardware on the phone or computer that interprets the signal. Without any of these elements, it would be impossible to connect to the internet.

 

In a similar way, Israel is like the cable that brings the signal into the home. Christ is like the router and modem that translates the Israelite heritage into a form that all of us can accept. But we need personal faith (like the hardware and software on a device) to receive the signal Christ brings. Through the connection of faith, we can connect with Christ, and through Christ, we connect with God.

 

Without the Israelites, it would be impossible to connect with Christ and God, just like it would be impossible to connect to the internet without a physical cable. This is what Paul is referring to when he talks about the blessing of Abraham: “So that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:14). Today, as Gentiles, we receive the blessing of Abraham through faith in Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit.

 

In the construction of the New Jerusalem, God continues to remind us that the history and heritage of Israel were necessary for our salvation. They are the gate, or portal, into the presence of God. The twelve pearly gates of the New Jerusalem, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel, are the way we enter God's holy city.

 

The Pearly Gates and Gemstones Symbolize Transformation

 

The twelve gates are twelve pearls (21:21). Pearls are formed when a piece of sand becomes stuck inside an oyster shell. The oyster is wounded by the sand and begins to secrete a substance called mother-of-pearl that coats the sand and transforms it into a pearl. Similarly, when the Lord Jesus was wounded on the cross, he secreted life-giving fluids that not only provided forgiveness for our sins but also opened the way for transformation. Through his death, we can be transformed into something brand-new, like pearls.

 

The Bible reminds us that Jesus was literally pierced for our salvation. Quoting an Old Testament passage, the Apostle John says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced” (John 19:37, cf. Zechariah 12:10, 13:6). Christ was pierced by His own countrymen, and one day those who pierced Him will look upon Him with sadness and grief. But there will be some who will look on Him with faith, just as the Israelites looked upon the bronze serpent lifted by Moses to receive salvation (John 3:14).

 

The Israelites were not the only ones responsible for piercing Jesus. Every person is responsible for nailing Christ to the cross. Our sins caused His wounds. However, His precious blood flowed forth from His wounded body, cleansing us from our sins and transforming us into pearls. Pearls represent the transformation of sinners into saints.

 

The twelve tribes of the Old Testament will eventually be transformed into individual pearls. We, as individual sinners, will be transformed into pearls after undergoing personal salvation and spiritual renewal. Even though there is a collective sense to this renewal, it is also a very personal story between God and the individual. No one else can write our story for us. Each of us must come to God personally through Christ, our mediator.

 

Similarly, gemstones are also the result of transformation. Under specific conditions, certain types of minerals can be transformed into gemstones. For example, clay can be transformed into garnet through intense heat and pressure. Similarly, we humans, who are made of dust (1 Corinthians 15:47-57), can be transformed into gemstones through intense pressure and fiery trials. The difficulties, sufferings and trials we face will ultimately change us into gemstones for the new Jerusalem, God's building.

 

Gemstones Also Symbolize Our Fellowship with Other Saints in Christ

 

Not only are we transformed on a personal level, but we are also built together collectively as living stones in God’s holy temple (1 Peter 2:4-5). We need to join with other believers to become the large gemstones that will form the foundation of the city walls. We are built upon the Lord Jesus, who is the cornerstone (Psalm 118:22), the foundation stone (Isaiah 28:16), and the top stone (Zechariah 4:7-9). He connects Gentiles and Jews—all believers—and builds them into a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. In addition to experiencing personal salvation, we must also allow God to build us together into the New Jerusalem.

 

God's will for us is not merely for individuals to be saved, but for us to be built together to become a holy city that displays His wisdom, greatness, and glory to the universe. The New Jerusalem is God's ultimate expression of these qualities. God’s life not only saves us, but it also transforms us into various types of gemstones. These gemstones include jasper, sapphire, chalcedony emerald, onyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth and amethyst—twelve types of gemstones in total. As we experience God’s many-colored grace (1 Peter 4:10), we join with other believers to become a beautiful spectrum of gemstones in the walls of the New Jerusalem.

 

Fellowship with God and with Saints is the Most Important Aspect of Eternity

 

What will we do for all of eternity? Aside from enjoying the various blessings that God has prepared for us, we will spend a great deal of time drawing closer to God and having more fellowship with Him. Jesus said, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). How can we be perfect as the Father is perfect? It will require an eternity of continuously drawing near to the Lord, being filled with God's holy nature, and being perfectly transformed into His image.

 

In addition to fellowship with God, we will also spend time in fellowship with the saints. We will continue building one another up for all of eternity! Even here on earth, we are richly blessed when we gather with other believers for fellowship and mutual encouragement. As we learn from each other’s stories and testimonies, experience each other’s love, and build each other up, we gain a richer experience of God’s many-colored work in their individual lives, which is a very beautiful thing. The fellowship we experience here on earth will be even richer when we reach the New Jerusalem.

 

Conclusion: We Must Strive to Experience Salvation and Edification

 

Today, every Christian must strive to experience God's salvation and edification. The word edification comes from a Latin word that means “to build.” We must not only seek to experience personal salvation (a vertical relationship with God), but we must also seek to be built together with other believers (horizontal relationships with other believers). In this way, we will be built together into the New Jerusalem. Only when we continuously experience vertical fellowship with God and horizontal edification with the saints can we “be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:16-19). This is the ultimate goal of the New Jerusalem—being filled with all the fullness of God.

Bible Study With Jairus - Revelation 21 Part 6 What Preparations Do We Need to Make to Enter the New Jerusalem?

Bible Study With Jairus Revelation 21 (part 6)

What Preparations Do We Need to Make to Enter the New Jerusalem?

 

What preparations do we need to make to enter the New Jerusalem? First, we must be filled with the life of Christ internally, and second, we must manifest the righteous deeds of Christ externally.

 

In Revelation 21, the New Jerusalem descends from heaven. This is only possible because the bride is prepared for her Heavenly Husband. The Bible clearly states that the New Jerusalem is the bride of the Lamb (Revelation 21:9). The Bible also says that the bride must be spotless (Ephesians 5:27). To prepare for her Bridegroom, the bride is clothed in fine linen, which represents the righteous deeds of the saints (Revelation 19:8). When this happens, the New Jerusalem (the bride) can descend from heaven.

 

The New Jerusalem does not need the light of the sun or the moon, for it is illuminated by the glory of God, and the Lamb is its lamp (Revelation 21:23). God’s life dwells within the city, and his light radiates outward, just like our inward purity manifests in outward righteousness. When we are saved by faith, we become the external manifestation of God's righteousness. Jesus Christ redeems our hearts at the moment of salvation, forgiving our sins because of His righteousness. As He continues to sanctify us, we begin to manifest His righteousness outwardly. What is true on the inside becomes visible on the outside. Not only are we justified positionally, but we are also filled with God’s righteousness dispositionally. Like the New Jerusalem, we manifest God’s glory outwardly. The New Jerusalem is absolutely not just a city descending from heaven; it is also a picture of the mature bride of Christ, whose righteousness is visible externally and not only internally. If it is true that the New Jerusalem cannot descend from heaven until the body of Christ becomes mature, we must seize every opportunity to mature spiritually to hasten the coming of the New Jerusalem.

 

Our Outer Lives Must Match Our Inner Lives: Justification by Faith and Clothed in Fine Linen

 

We often say, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” This saying reminds us that what is inside the book is more important than the cover. Similarly, we often say that we should avoid judging people by external appearance—height, weight, clothing, etc. We are told that these external differences are not essential to the inner life. Instead, what matters is character and inner qualities.

 

However, I believe we do need to pay attention to appearance and image. When buying a book, customers will judge a book by its cover. And as humans, our external appearance has a big impact on the way we are perceived. As the Chinese saying goes, “Clothes make the man, and saddles make the horse.” This means that an individual’s clothing does have an impact. A well-groomed appearance not only improves a person’s outward image and presentation, but it also reflects the person’s internal character. A person with a sloppy appearance is probably irresponsible on the inside, while a person who takes good care of their physical appearance is probably well-mannered and diligent on the inside, too.

 

Similarly, the bride of Christ will be clothed in pure white linen. This linen is not only her literal clothing, but it also represents the righteous deeds of the saints. The white linen is the outward manifestation of God's righteousness in the lives of the saints. In addition, the old heaven and old earth can be compared to a dirty garment that is taken off and cast aside (Hebrews 1:12). Following this train of thought, the new heaven and new earth are like a beautiful, new garment for the bride of Christ. Peter says that righteousness will dwell in the new heaven and new earth (2 Peter 3:13). This righteousness is seen in the bride of Christ, the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem is an elegant bride, beautifully dressed for her husband. She is filled with the righteousness of God and Christ on the inside and outwardly expresses His righteousness for all to see.

 

When we are invited to a formal event like a wedding, we should not wear casual jeans and flip flops. If we do, we will feel extremely awkward and wish we could disappear into the ground. In the same way, we cannot enter the marriage feast of Christ without a formal wedding garment. Even if we force our way in, we will be cast out for being dressed inappropriately. This is clearly explained in Jesus' parable in Matthew 22:11-13.

 

Just like a person’s external image and presentation reflects their internal qualities, the bride of Christ needs to have an external righteousness that matches her internal justification. External defilement is a manifestation of internal impurity, as Jesus stated in Matthew 15:11-20. Those whose spiritual garments are defiled cannot be part of the New Jerusalem.

 

If God has chosen us to be part of the New Jerusalem, our personal immaturity as Christians will delay the maturity of the body of Christ, thereby delaying the descent of the New Jerusalem from heaven. If the bride of Christ (synonymous with the Church, the body of Christ, and the New Jerusalem) is not filled with God’s light within and God’s righteousness without, then the New Heaven and New Earth will not descend from heaven, and this age will not come to an end. Every saved Christian is a part of the bride of Christ. We each need to manifest God’s righteousness in our lives so that we are prepared to meet our heavenly Bridegroom.

 

After Salvation, Victory Is Still Needed to Be Fully Prepared to Enter the New Jerusalem

 

When will the New Jerusalem be fully prepared for her heavenly husband? Is it when the number of Christians reaches a certain number of completion? Let’s look at some passages that seem to point in this direction.

 

• Paul said that when the number of Gentiles is complete, God's salvation will come to all of Israel and they will be saved (Romans 11:25-26).
• When speaking to the souls of the martyrs under the altar, God says that judgment will not come until the number of martyrs is completed (Revelation 6:11).
• The Lord Jesus told us that the gospel of the kingdom must be preached to the whole world before the end will come (Matthew 24:14).

 

Clearly, completed numbers are important to God. However, these completed numbers do not necessarily mean that everyone gets to be in the New Jerusalem, just like not every football player gets to be a part of professional football teams. However, a large number of Christians is required in order to produce a smaller number of highly-qualified Christian overcomers, just like a large number of football fans is required to produce a smaller number of excellent players. In the United States, a large base of football fans creates widespread interest in the sport. As a result, many students practice, train, and compete, and champions are produced. The wide base of football fans produces a great number of candidates for the team, but only a few excellent players are chosen. In the same way, I believe that the total number of Christians must reach a certain number in order to create enough high-quality overcomers to form the foundational group for the New Jerusalem. When this number is reached, there will be enough overcomers to create the New Jerusalem.

 

I believe that the believers who enter the New Jerusalem are the firstfruits, those who reached maturity and victory most quickly. Perhaps there will be other believers who will dwell in darkness, in a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 22:13). Revelation 21:24 clearly makes a distinction between people who live in the city and those who visit: “By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.” This indicates that some people, including the kings of the earth, do not dwell in the New Jerusalem. However, they will walk by its light and “bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations” (21:26). Since these kings are allowed to enter the city, they must be considered good, because “nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false” (21:27).

 

This absolutely does not mean there is a class distinction among God's chosen people—not at all. Every person has an equal opportunity to enter the New Jerusalem, but not every Christian takes hold of these opportunities or achieves victory in their spiritual life. In the letters to the seven churches, Jesus pointed out the trials each church would face, and described the rewards they would receive if they overcame the challenges. The churches each faced unique trials and were promised unique rewards. However, there was a common theme in all these promises: those who overcame would become part of the New Jerusalem.

 

One reason for the degeneration of the churches in Europe and America is the overemphasis on evangelism and neglect of discipleship. This leads to an increase in the number of Christians, but a lack of adequate teaching and maturity. Many Western churches do not emphasize the importance of suffering, overcoming trials, and the discipline of the Holy Spirit. These teachings are not well-received in the Western world, but they are indispensable to spiritual growth. In order to experience deep revival, build up the church, and prepare for the New Jerusalem, the church must reach spiritual maturity through the discipline of the Holy Spirit and suffering.

 

The New Jerusalem, Abraham, and the Great Cloud of Witnesses Are Waiting for Our Maturity to Enter the City

 

In Revelation 21, we learn that the New Jerusalem not only includes New Testament believers represented by the apostles whose names are written on the foundation, but also Old Testament saints represented by the names of the twelve tribes written on the gates of the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem is a city made up of saints from both the Old and New Testaments. They are witnesses of faith and vessels of God's glory, displaying God's glory, authority, and power in the world and throughout the universe.

 

However, these believers are waiting for today’s believers to mature so that they can all become part of the city at the same time. In Hebrews 11, God says that Old Testament saints are like runners in a relay race, continuously setting an example of faith for those who follow them. These Old Testament overcomers “all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13). The passage mentions that Abraham chose to live in tents “because he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Apart from this verse, the Bible does not tell us anything about Abraham’s vision of this future city. However, I believe this city is the New Jerusalem.

 

The New Jerusalem includes saints of all ages, including the overcomers of both the Old and New Testament. Since this city includes the overcomers of all ages, they cannot receive what they hope for without the addition of the overcomers of today. “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39-40). What is the “better thing” that God has prepared for us? It must be the New Jerusalem. When today’s believers mature to the point that they can become a part of the New Jerusalem, then all those who have died in faith throughout history will also become part of this city.

 

Conclusion: We Urgently Need the Growth of Life and the Manifestation of Righteous Deeds

 

In the letter to the church in Laodicea, God makes the following promise to the overcomers: “The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name” (Revelation 3:12). This is the Lord’s promise to individual overcomers. When a person experiences this type of victory, the name of the New Jerusalem is written on him or her and they become a part of the manifestation of the New Jerusalem.

 

By the time we reach Revelation 21, the church as a whole has overcome, or at least a group of overcomers has emerged. The bride is now prepared to meet her husband, Jesus. The preparation of these overcomers brings about the descent of the New Jerusalem. As each believer is filled with the life of Jesus Christ and God on the inside, they will manifest the righteousness of God on the outside. Only then will they become victorious overcomers who manifest God’s purpose in Christ for the universe.

 

Bible Study with Jairus Revelation 21 (part 4) The New Jerusalem: An Ever-Expanding Dwelling Place of God

Bible Study with Jairus Revelation 21 (part 4)

The New Jerusalem: An Ever-Expanding Dwelling Place of God

 

Throughout the Bible, God dwells with His people in a tabernacle or temple that mirrors a heavenly reality. In the Old Testament, God asked Moses to build the tabernacle according to the pattern God showed him on the mountain (Hebrews 8:5). Similarly, when David gave his son Solomon instructions for building the temple, he told him, “Every part of this plan was given to me in writing from the hand of the LORD.” (1 Chronicles 28:19, NLT). The word “tabernacle” is also found in some translations of the book of John, describing how Jesus Christ became human and lived among us, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). The concept of God dwelling with man finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Jerusalem, a place where God and humanity dwell with one another.

 

The entire New Jerusalem is essentially an expanded version of the Old Testament tabernacle and temple. Its glory surpasses even the grandeur of Solomon’s temple. The Apostle John, when describing the New Jerusalem, said, “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb” (Revelation 21:22). Just like the priests could enter the tabernacle and approach God’s presence, we can now approach the Father through Jesus Christ, the Lamb.

 

In the Old Testament, only Moses and the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only the High Priest could enter the Holy Place. The priesthood was limited to the descendants of Aaron, and God’s intimate presence was reserved for the select few. However, most Israelites could enter the outer court. I believe the same concept applies to the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem is the ultimate Holy of Holies, where God dwells with humanity. Therefore, I believe that the New Jerusalem is made up of overcomers, mature believers who have attained a level of intimacy with God that matches the Most Holy Place.

 

However, other believers may not have reached this level of spiritual growth, and they will remain in the Holy Place or the Outer Court. These believers have a lower level of maturity. I believe that if these individuals continue to learn and grow, they can still become a part of the New Jerusalem. Those in the Outer Court and the Holy Place will still have the opportunity to attain a higher level of spiritual maturity so they can enter the Most Holy Place.

 

For this reason, I believe that the size of the New Jerusalem (described in Revelation 21) is not fixed. Instead, it will continually expand in size as new believers join the city as living stones. When the angel measured the city, its length, width, and height were each twelve thousand stadia, and the width of its walls was one hundred forty-four cubits. These dimensions are not only literal, but also represent spiritual dimensions.

 

When we read and interpret this description of the New Jerusalem, we are often limited by our natural and physical understanding. However, if we can relate the New Jerusalem to the idea of God’s dwelling place (the tabernacle and the temple), it will help us gain a deeper understanding of it. The tabernacle built by Moses in the Old Testament was smaller than the temple built by Solomon, and the temple was smaller than the New Jerusalem. The dimensions of God’s dwelling place were constantly expanding. In the same way, I believe the New Jerusalem will expand as more and more believers join it.

 

The New Jerusalem is the bride of Christ and the wife of the Lamb; wouldn't its dimensions continue to grow throughout eternity? Would God deprive those who lack maturity—who are not yet spiritually mature enough to enter the Most Holy Place—from continuing to mature so they can enter the Most Holy Place? I personally believe this does not align with God's nature. God longs for our continual spiritual maturity. We need an eternity to be conformed to the image of Christ and be perfected like our Heavenly Father. Therefore, I believe that the dimensions of the New Jerusalem may not be fixed. Perhaps God continues to measure the New Jerusalem repeatedly. Each time he measures it, He will find that the dimensions of the New Jerusalem have changed as more and more mature believers have been added to the city.

 

The New Jerusalem is the Tabernacle Where God Dwells with Humanity

 

Both the tabernacle and the temple contained the Most Holy Place, the Holy Place, and the Outer Court. These three areas symbolize the different levels of intimacy between man and God. In the Outer Court, members of the Israelite community could come and offer sacrifices on the bronze altar with the help of the priests. In the New Testament, the bronze altar reminds us of the precious blood of Christ that removes our sins. However, many Christians who have been cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus have not yet experienced deep sanctification of the soul or renewal of the mind (Romans 12:1). In the same way, many Old Testament Israelites could not enter the Holy Place, despite offering their sacrifices in the outer court.

 

Only the descendants of Aaron were allowed to serve as priests and enter the Holy Place. The descendants of Kohath were initially allowed to carry and tend to the furnishings of the tabernacle in the Holy Place, but they could not serve as priests. The Kohathites were jealous of the other Levites who had the privilege of priesthood. Because of their greed and envy, the Kohathites faced severe punishment. Why did God forbid them from entering the Holy Place? Because they were not holy enough. God did occasionally make exceptions to the rules for those who were holy enough. For example, even though Ephraimites were not allowed to serve as priests, Samuel (a descendant of Ephraim) was able to approach God as a priest because of his Nazarite vow. In the New Testament, all Christians are allowed to be part of God’s royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). I believe that if the Kohathites had lived a life of holiness and contentment, God may have allowed them to serve as priests as well.

 

Let us briefly review the furnishings in the Holy Place:

• The table of the bread of the Presence, symbolizing God's provision of sustenance and the supply of His Word
• The golden lampstand, symbolizing the illumination of the Holy Spirit
• The golden altar of incense, symbolizing the prayers of the saints. Note: In the book of Hebrews, the golden altar of incense is considered part of the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 9:4).
• The veil that once separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was torn on the cross, opening the way between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. This represents the body of Christ being torn so we could enter God’s presence.

Within the Most Holy Place, there was:

• The ark of the covenant (with the two tablets of the covenant)
• The golden urn holding the manna
• Aaron’s staff that budded (Hebrews 9:4).

These elements symbolize deeper fellowship and relationship with God. We will not elaborate on these symbols here any further, but you can refer to my other articles on the Old Testament for more details.

 

Since the Bible clearly states that both Moses' tabernacle and Solomon's temple were built according to the heavenly pattern, and both the tabernacle and the temple include the Most Holy Place, Holy Place, and Outer Court, it logically follows that the heavenly tabernacle must also have these divisions. Revelation 21:22-23 makes it clear that the New Jerusalem represents the Most Holy Place because there is no temple in the city; God and the Lamb are its temple. Moreover, the city does not need the sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. These words remind us of the Most Holy Place. In the tabernacle, the Most Holy Place had no natural light. It was illuminated by the light of the golden lampstand from the Holy Place. In heaven, the Lamb is the lamp of the city. This can remind us of the lamplight entering the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place. It can also remind us of how the golden altar of incense could be included either in the Holy Place or Most Holy Place.

 

The Holy Place represents our soul, and the Most Holy Place represents our spirit. When our soul is fully immersed in God's Spirit, it becomes like the Most Holy Place. However, our bodies still need to be glorified. The New Jerusalem reminds us of the glorified body, since it represents the body of Christ and the bride of the Lamb  and displays God's glory throughout the universe. I believe the New Jerusalem may be the dwelling place of God and of people whose souls, spirits, and bodies are completely sanctified.

 

However, there are still walls separating the New Jerusalem from the outer realms. Outside the city are the nations that will walk by the light of the city, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it (Revelation 21:24). From this verse, it appears that the nations live outside the city, and only the kings can enter. The verse does not mention that all the people of the nations can enter the city. While verse 26 mentions, "they will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations," there is no explicit indication that all the people of the nations can enter. Nevertheless, this realm in which the nations are illuminated by God’s glory and bring their offerings into the city may represent the Holy Place.

 

So, is there an Outer Court? Surely there must be. Verse 27 says, "Nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false." Isaiah 66:24 says that in the New Heavens and New Earth, worshipers will go out of the city to witness the corpses of those who have rebelled against God and are experiencing the torment of unquenchable fire and undying worms (Isaiah 66:24). This, of course, includes those in the Lake of Fire who cannot enter the city. But does the Outer Court also include those who are in darkness, weeping and gnashing their teeth (Matthew 8:12)? I believe it does. Many sinful Christians, even those allowed into God's kingdom after the Great White Throne Judgment, may not have entirely rid themselves of sin in their spiritual lives. Therefore, they may still need to learn the lessons of the Outer Court and experience repentance and cleansing through the blood of Jesus Christ. Revelation 22:2 says that the leaves of the Tree of Life are for the healing of the nations. These nations still need healing, and perhaps they represent those living in the Outer Court.

 

From our study of these scriptures, we see that the New Heaven and New Earth still seemingly have three parts: the Most Holy Place, the Holy Place, and the Outer Court. The New Jerusalem, which I believe represents the Most Holy Place, is only one part of the New Heaven and New Earth. Outside of the New Jerusalem are other realms that represent the Holy Place and the Outer Court.

 

God’s Measurements and Counting in the Bible Are Constantly Changing, Symbolizing the Spiritual Condition of People

Several times throughout the Bible, God counts His people or measures His temple. For example, when Jacob and his family first entered Egypt, God reported that there were 70 individuals who left Canaan. Later, when God commanded Moses to take another census during the Exodus, he counted 600,000 Israelite men. Including women and children, the number of Israelites may have been close to 3 million. After enduring four hundred years of suffering, the Israelites had increased in number and in spiritual stature, becoming a great army of God.

 

When God counts His people, it is a way to show His faithfulness in taking care of His people. However, when David conducted a census of the people, God punished him. Why? Because only God is allowed to count and measure our spiritual stature. David’s action was driven by pride and self-glory, and God saw it as a great evil.

 

In the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, God sent an angel to measure the temple. Ezekiel 40 mentions that the angel’s appearance was like bronze, and he held a linen cord and measuring rod to measure the temple of God. There are many details here that we cannot cover in full. However, it’s important to understand that these measurements were a symbolic way to assess the spiritual condition of the Israelites. Through the measurements, God exposed the Israelites’ idol worship. The purpose of this measurement was to help the Israelites see and be ashamed of their spiritual condition. It also provided them with a pattern for building the temple of God. God told Ezekiel, "Son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities, and they shall measure the plan. And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple and its arrangement…." (Ezekiel 43:10-11).

 

Similarly, in Revelation, the Apostle John was instructed to measure the temple. He was given a measuring rod and asked to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worshiped in the temple (Revelation 11:1). He was not allowed to measure the outer court, since it had been given to the Gentiles to be trampled. In Revelation 21, the angel speaking to John took a golden measuring rod and measured the city, its gates, and its walls. The Bible then provides the dimensions of the city and the walls.

 

I believe that by measuring the temple, God was evaluating the worshipers and the extent of their spiritual growth. Ephesians 2:21 says that in Jesus, “the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” I believe that in this passage, the angel is measuring the growth of the spiritual temple. These dimensions symbolize the level of maturity of the spiritual temple and the spiritual stature of believers. In the next section, we will discuss in more detail why I believe that the dimensions of the New Jerusalem (the spiritual temple) are not fixed.

 

The Dimensions of the New Jerusalem May Not Be Fixed

 

Why do I say that the dimensions of the New Jerusalem may not be fixed? If the dimensions of the New Jerusalem (symbolizing the level of maturity of the body of Christ and the bride of Christ) were fixed, it would mean that God would no longer allow the New Jerusalem to grow and change. This would mean that no additional saints could enter or become part of the New Jerusalem.

 

I've shared the story of Ni Yongfa before, and I'll use it once again. When Hudson Taylor came to China to preach the gospel, a Chinese man named Ni Yongfa was very excited to learn about Christ and trust in Him for salvation. However, he later became very discouraged. He asked Hudson Taylor, "How long have you British known Jesus Christ?" Hudson Taylor replied, "For over 1,400 years." Ni Yongfa became angry and said, "My father spent his entire life searching many religions, including Buddhism and Taoism, hoping to find eternal life. But he never found it and died with regret. You’ve known about Jesus Christ for 1,400 years, and only now are coming to tell us?" I believe that people like Ni Yongfa’s father will continue to enter the New Jerusalem if they enter eternal life through God’s grace and then pursue God with all their strength. My guess is that people may still have a chance to receive the gospel after death. The Bible does not explicitly say this, but some prophetic revelations show that people can still learn about the Bible and receive the gospel after death. In my view, it's hard to imagine that God would discriminate against those saints who didn’t have the opportunity to trust in Christ during their lives on earth, whether they were born in Old Testament times or simply never heard the gospel during New Testament times.

 

When the New Jerusalem reaches a certain stage, God’s work for this stage will be complete. This completion will usher in the coming of eternity. However, this does not mean that the dimensions will never change in eternity, or that God will no longer measure the dimensions of the New Jerusalem. The size of the New Jerusalem (twelve thousand stadia) is approximately the distance from Los Angeles to Dallas, and this size does not even fill the whole Earth, let alone the entire Universe! God's ultimate goal is that His glory will fill the Earth, as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). Perhaps one day the entire Earth will become the New Jerusalem. Maybe the Earth will not simply be destroyed but renewed. One day, the old heavens and the old earth will be rolled up like a garment (Hebrews 1:12), but the New Heaven and the New Earth will be unfurled like a new garment.

 

The New Jerusalem, Living Stones, and the Mutual Indwelling of God and His People

 

We are God's tabernacle, and God is also our tabernacle. We are a royal priesthood, and we are also living stones being built up into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5). As living stones, we will become the precious stones in the walls of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:11, 18-20). We will also be built into a spiritual house—the New Jerusalem—a dwelling place for God (Ephesians 2:22). God is our tabernacle (Revelation 21:22); our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19); and we are living stones in the New Jerusalem, the tabernacle of God. In the New Jerusalem, God and man will mutually indwell one another. We are God’s tabernacle, and He is our tabernacle. Through Jesus Christ, we can enter into intimate fellowship with God. As Ephesians 2:18 says, "For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father."

 

 

Bible Study With Jairus Revelation 21 (part 3) Sets of Three in the Book of Revelation: The Work of the Trinity, Three Types of Judgments and Rewards, and Three Times That God Says “It is Finished”

Bible Study With Jairus Revelation 21 (part 3)

Sets of Three in the Book of Revelation: The Work of the Trinity, Three Types of Judgments and Rewards, and Three Times That God Says “It is Finished”

 

In this devotional, we will look at several sets of three revealed in Revelation and the Bible as a whole. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each have a threefold work: the Father created the world and planned redemption, Jesus Christ finished the work of redemption, and the Holy Spirit completed the work of preparing the bride. By the time we reach Revelation 21, the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has been accomplished. As Christians, we must experience a threefold salvation of our spirit, soul, and body, and humanity will also face three different outcomes.

 

First, we will look at the Trinity’s three statements that “It is done.” Revelation 21:5-6 says, “And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ And he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.’” Who is speaking here? My understanding is that it is God the Father. In fact, God says “It is finished” at three key points throughout the Bible.

• After completing the work of creation, God the Father said, “It is very good” (Genesis 1:31), and He rested (Genesis 2:2). The Father’s work of creation was finished.
• After Jesus completed the work of redemption on the cross, He also said, “It is finished,” and gave up His spirit (John 19:30). The Lord’s work of redemption was completed.
• In Revelation 21, God again says, “It is done.” The Holy Spirit is finished preparing the Church to be a spotless bride for Christ and God. God now renews everything and declares, “It is finished!”

At this point, the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has been accomplished.

 

In addition, the book of Revelation describes three outcomes for three different types of people.

• Overcomers will receive the inheritance and rewards.
• Those who do not overcome will undergo continued discipline.
• Those who reject and disobey God will be thrown into the lake of fire.

 

These are the three final outcomes for humanity as revealed in Revelation 21. The one who overcomes will inherit all things (Revelation 21:7), including all the blessings of the New Jerusalem and the privilege of drinking from the river of the water of life (21:6).

 

Where there are overcomers, there must also be those who do not overcome. Although this passage does not specify what will happen to those who do not overcome, we can make some inferences. The Bible clearly states that only the overcomers will inherit all things, implying that those who do not overcome will not have this heritage. I believe some people are saved but do not overcome.

 

The third group consists of those who have not been saved at all. These people reject God, and they will be thrown into the lake of fire. “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death” (21:8). May all people see God's threefold work and the threefold salvation we need, so that we may all enter eternity and be victorious.

 

The Words of Revelation 21:6 Might Have Been Spoken by the Father

 

The New Testament contains very few words spoken directly by God the Father. This has puzzled many Christians. Why does the Father speak so much in the Old Testament, yet He seems so sparing with His words in the New Testament? Hebrews 1 offers an explanation: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2). Much of what Jesus Christ said and did was based on what He saw the Father say and do (John 12:49). However, Revelation 21:5-7 says, “And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ And he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.’” My personal understanding is that these are the words of the Father. He speaks in praise for the completion of the work of the Holy Spirit and declares that the overcomers will become sons of God. Jesus Christ is the firstborn Son of God and our elder brother; we are all sons of God. Therefore, I believe these are the words of the Father, affirming that the work of redemption, deliverance, and maturity has been accomplished, and that we are now able to become His sons.

 

The Father concludes by saying, “Behold, I am making all things new!” He then says, “It is finished.” Revelation contains this same phrase at least twice, and this may be the final instance. “It is finished” signifies the completion of God's economy and His plan. Then God says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.”

 

The relationship between the Father and Son will help us understand the Father’s role in the New Testament. The Father is the planner and designer of everything. Hebrews mentions that God is not only the designer and builder of the heavenly city, but of all things (Hebrews 3:4, 11:10).

 

So what is the role of Jesus Christ? Just like an executive team carries out the will of the board of directors, the Lord Jesus carries out the will of the Father. When the Lord Jesus came to earth, He said, “I have come to do the will of my Father. Whatever I see the Father doing, I do likewise. I do not act according to my own will, nor do I speak on my own authority.” While many people do not accurately perceive the Father's will or hear his words, Jesus understood the Father’s will perfectly. In this verse, Jesus was essentially saying, "I have come to fulfill the Father’s will. Whatever the Father says, I say; whatever the Father does not say, I do not say."  This verse helps explain the scarcity of direct communication from the Father in the New Testament. While we seldom hear the Father speaking directly, this does not mean that He is not communicating. In fact, Jesus heard his voice clearly.

 

The Father also spoke to other disciples. For example, Peter heard the Father speaking and revealing Christ’s identity. In Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do you say I am?” The disciples replied that many people thought he was Elijah, John the Baptist, or one of the prophets. However, Peter declared, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus told Peter, “This was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven” (Matthew 16:17 BSB). The Father revealed this important insight to Peter, and he can reveal his nature to us as well. Jesus said many times that no one knows the Father except the Son, and no one knows the Son except the Father. The Father reveals to us the Son’s true nature and leads people to believe in the Son.

 

The Father, who works behind the scenes to design His eternal plans, then holds meetings with the Son and discusses how to execute them. The Bible mentions several such meetings. In Isaiah, we see the members of the Trinity having a meeting and asking, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And Isaiah responded, “Here I am. Send me” (Isaiah 6:8). In Genesis, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit met together and conferred about creation: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). The Father created His plan, the Trinity met together to discuss it, and Jesus executed the plan.

 

What kind of plan is this? In eternity past, God made a plan to extend the eternal fellowship of the Trinity to mankind. In John 17:21, Jesus desires that humans join him in the unity that he already shared with his father: “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (NIV). God already had perfect fellowship within the Trinity, but he desired a larger family. He wanted humans to belong to him as his children and as his bride. This is God's great plan. It was hidden within creation but was not revealed for many years.

 

Most likely, God created angels before he created humans. There may have been quite a bit of time that elapsed between the creation of angels and mankind. However, when God created humans and revealed his plan to include mankind in the fellowship of the trinity, this must have made Satan jealous. Even though God created humans a little lower than angels, He allowed humans to share in God's life and enter into intimate fellowship with God. Though not equal to God, humans could approach God personally. This is something the angels, as ministering spirits, could never do. I believe Satan was shocked and jealous when he learned of God's plan, so he came up with a plan to ruin humankind. Satan turned his back on God and tried to ruin God’s plan by tempting Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. When humans sinned, they could no longer enjoy intimate fellowship with a holy God, and God's plan was temporarily ruined. However, God is sovereign, and He did not allow Satan to have the final word. He had a greater plan that included a plan to redeem mankind. God foresaw the fall of humanity, so He planned that the Son, Jesus Christ, would become flesh and remove our sins on the cross, bringing us back to God. This is the work that Jesus Christ completed. After Jesus Christ completed this work, He ascended to heaven, and the plan of redemption was finished.

 

When the Lord Jesus was crucified, He said, "It is finished," meaning that the work the Father entrusted to Him was complete. After the completion of the work the Father gave Him, He sat down on the throne, in the place of highest authority, and received the name which is above every name in heaven, on earth, and even under the earth. When Jesus ascended to His throne, the Father sent the Holy Spirit in the name of the Lord Jesus to prepare a bride for the King.

 

In the Old Testament, Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac. In the book of Esther, the eunuch anointed Esther with oil and prepared her to meet the king. In a similar way, the Holy Spirit anoints us with the words of the Lord Jesus. These words renew, regenerate, and transform us. The Holy Spirit applies the completed work of the Lord Jesus to our individual lives. Just as the eunuch anointed Esther with oil, we need to be filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit from the inside out. We need to be cleansed by the water of the Word so we can become a spotless virgin prepared to meet our Bridegroom. This is the work of the Holy Spirit today.

 

The famous South African pastor, Andrew Murray, said that the work of the Holy Spirit is to apply the completed work of the Lord Jesus on the cross to the life of every believer. He said that when we pray, the indwelling Christ prays to the Christ in heaven. The work of the Holy Spirit in the church today is to sanctify us, make us holy, and transform us so we can become part of the New Jerusalem.

 

The Holy Spirit Will Certainly Accomplish His Sanctifying Work in the Church

 

In this passage, the Father is praising the finished work of the Holy Spirit. He had already praised the work of the Son. When Jesus was baptized, the Father spoke, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The Father does not speak much in the New Testament, but at that moment, He approved of the entire life work of Jesus Christ. When the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, He said, “It is finished.” Although the Bible does not explicitly record the Father saying "It is finished," it is implied by what happened after the crucifixion and resurrection. God the Father exalted Jesus to the highest place, seated Him at His right hand, and gave Him a name which is above every name. These actions demonstrate that God the Father approved of Christ’s work.

 

Now, the process of sanctifying the church is the work of the Holy Spirit. First, the Holy Spirit applies the word of the Lord Jesus to our hearts so we can be saved. Then, the Holy Spirit sanctifies and renews us, transforming us into part of the New Jerusalem. When the work of the Holy Spirit is complete, the Father says, “It is finished.” At that moment, God's plan has been accomplished through the cooperative work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

At this moment in history, the Father’s work of creation has been completed. In addition, the Father has completed his work of planning and preparing for our redemption. Jesus completed the work of redemption on the cross, and after that, the Father sent the Holy Spirit in Jesus' name. The work of the Holy Spirit is to sanctify the church and make it a spotless bride. Today, the Holy Spirit is in the process of finishing this task.

 

However, in recent times, many people have seen the corruption and weakness of the church and have lost hope, believing that the church has no future. Rather than hoping for the church’s maturity, they simply hope that Jesus comes quickly, rescues the faithful few, and destroys the rest of the world. Many hold to this escapist theology. They believe the church cannot be sanctified, so they simply wait for Jesus to intervene at the end of time.

This is a completely erroneous understanding of the Bible’s teaching and reflects a lack of faith in the Holy Spirit. If this view were true, it would mean that the Father designed the plan of redemption, Jesus completed it on the cross, but now the Holy Spirit is failing in His role. However, the Bible says that the church will ultimately triumph. The Holy Spirit will certainly complete his work of sanctifying, consecrating, and filling us, making us part of the New Jerusalem.

 

We cannot destroy God’s plan, but we can delay it. The Holy Spirit’s work will not be complete until the church is victorious. If the church does not mature, it will continue to delay the completion of the Holy Spirit’s work. If believers continue to believe the erroneous escapist theology, it will have a significant impact on the church.

 

For example, believers who have an escapist theology focus only on praying a prayer of salvation and then waiting to go to heaven. They ignore the importance of cooperating with the Holy Spirit in the work of sanctification. This leads to spiritual immaturity and a lack of influence as the church fails to be salt and light in the world. The American church today is a case in point. Although 65% of the population claims to be Christians, the church has had very little impact on society at large. One would expect that if the majority of the population were Christians, these believers would have a positive impact on the media, entertainment, and educational platforms. But instead, we see increasing corruption in those areas. As a result, children in the U.S. are growing up without reverence for God. Has God’s word lost its power in American society and in the church? No. The state of American society does not mean that God’s word has lost its power, but that the church in America has stopped focusing on sanctification.

 

A simple example is divorce. We recognize that there are many reasons for divorce, and that God allows divorce in cases of adultery and domestic violence. However, many divorces happen because individuals are unwilling to accept the difficulty and spiritual growth involved in marriage. Furthermore, many divorces are due to adultery, which is a sin and a reflection of the lack of sanctification among believers. God’s word clearly states that what God has joined together, no man should separate (Matthew 19:6). However, many churches do not teach sanctification to believers. If the church continues to believe that these things don’t matter—that all that matters is praying the sinner’s prayer and going to heaven—it will continue to lose its influence in society.

 

I believe that this escapist mentality is a grave misunderstanding. In heaven, there will likely be continued discipline that will help us escape from the corruption that comes from lust so we can partake in God’s divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). The lack of teaching on such truths in the American church has led to a general tendency toward sin among believers.

 

Conclusion: We Must Continually Pursue Holiness to Overcome

 

The book of Hebrews says, "Without holiness, no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). This shows that holiness is of great importance. Certainly, we experience a degree of holiness when we believe in Jesus for salvation. But we must also attain a greater level of holiness so we can become a part of the bride who is clothed in fine linen, bright and pure. If the bride is not prepared and does not wear fine linen, bright and pure, then Jesus Christ will not return and will not marry the bride.

 

The work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will be completed, and the Holy Spirit will finish the work of sanctification in His bride, the church. The work of the Holy Spirit is to bring individuals to repentance, cleanse us, sanctify our souls, and renew our minds. One day, He will also give life to our mortal bodies. On the collective side, the Holy Spirit will transform us from sinners into children of God, and ultimately into the bride of Christ. We will then become part of God’s holy temple, built together as living stones in the New Jerusalem.

 

The triune work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit corresponds with the threefold salvation of the spirit, soul, and body. We not only need to be filled with God's righteousness on the inside (soul and spirit), but also manifest God's righteous deeds externally (body). These righteous deeds are symbolized by fine linen. When we reach maturity, we will become part of the New Jerusalem and live as Christ’s bride for all of eternity.

Bible Study With Jairus Revelation 20 (Part 4) The Order and Structure of God’s Judgment

Bible Study With Jairus Revelation 20 (Part 4) The Order and Structure of God’s Judgment

 

 

As we study the judgments in Revelation 20, we will focus on two key themes. First, we will learn about the structural patterns of God's judgment. Second, we will emphasize the importance of spiritual maturity in Christ’s body.

 

God judges the world in a certain order, which resembles chopping down a tree in reverse. God begins by judging Babylon the Great, which ensnares God's chosen people, much like branches and leaves. Next, God judges the beast and the false prophet, who ensnare the kings of the earth and their armies, akin to the trunk of a tree. Lastly, God judges Satan and the nations he incites to rebel, which can be seen as the root of the tree.

 

God also judges the world in a specific pattern. He always judges both evil spirits and wicked people at the same time. While dealing with Babylon the Great, the beast, the false prophet, and Satan, He simultaneously deals with the elect who were formerly ensnared by Babylon the Great. While wicked people and defiled objects are burned, evil spirits are simultaneously judged. The kings of the earth and their armies are slain by the sword that comes from the mouth of the one who sits on the white horse, and the armies of the rebellious nations are consumed by fire from heaven. Why do these two evil forces need to be exterminated at the same time? It is logical to conclude that if there were no people strengthening the forces of evil spirits by worshiping idols and offering sacrifices to them, the evil spirits would have no authority to deceive and enslave humanity. Therefore, in judging Babylon the Great, the beast, the false prophet, and Satan, God must also judge the "fuel" behind them, which is human worship. God and Satan are both competing for human worship. So, before God judges Satan, it is necessary to expose and do away with humanity's worship of Satan. This is one reason why God temporarily releases Satan—to expose and judge those whom Satan has deceived. Of course, this includes those who refuse to repent.

 

In Revelation 20, when Satan is released from the pit, he deceives Gog and Magog and tempts them to fight against Jesus. I’ve been taught that Gog and Magog refer to Russia. This teaching may come from Ezekiel 39:1, which says: "And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal." The next verse mentions that they come from "the uttermost parts of the north." Some interpret this to mean that "Rosh" refers to Russia and "Meshech" to Moscow. However, I have not been able to verify this. Revelation 20:8 specifically mentions "the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog," which suggests that Gog and Magog might not only refer to Russia but also include other nations as well. Of course, we cannot be certain, because the Bible does not explicitly identify Gog and Magog. No matter what this term refers to, we know that God is judging the last remaining elements of Satan-worship that still exist in earthly kingdoms.

 

We see the same pattern in God’s simultaneous judgment of sinners, evil spirits, the beast, the false prophets, and Satan. Before God judges Babylon the Great, He first calls His elect out of the city. Then He judges the material objects and evil spirits that Babylon the Great used to bind people. Finally, he burns Babylon the Great. Similarly, before God judges the beast and the false prophet and throws them into the Lake of Fire, Christ slays the kings of the earth and their armies with the sword that comes out of His mouth. In the same way, before throwing Satan into the Lake of Fire where the beast and the false prophet are, God will destroy the rebellious nations surrounding the camp of the saints.

 

After God judges Satan, the Great White Throne judgment takes place. This judgment will determine the fate of many people. Sinners will be thrown into eternal torment in the Lake of Fire, which is the second death. God is righteous, and the wicked, especially those who cooperate with evil spirits, will first undergo judgment through the first death. Then, after God judges all kinds of evil spirits, He will condemn many sinners to the second death, which is eternal torment in the Lake of Fire.

 

Each stage of judgment will only arrive when a certain quota of overcomers is reached. When Christ’s bride is ready and the body of Christ is mature, God’s judgment will begin. This is because the maturity of the church and the individuals within the church is the tool through which God judges evil spirits and Satan.

 

God's Judgment of Satan and the Rebellious Nations Reveals That God's Cleansing of Us Is a Continual Refining Process

 

Before God's final judgment of Satan, He successively judges Babylon the Great, the beast, and the false prophet. Before the fall of Babylon, the beast was using Babylon for his purposes. Babylon the Great had ensnared many believers and was described as a prostitute. However, after the fall of Babylon, the beast uses the false prophet and the kings of the earth instead. He possesses them and uses them to engage in a great battle against Christ and His bride at Armageddon, only to be defeated.

 

The successive judgement of these individuals and spiritual forces can remind us of the way God progressively sanctifies us in our personal lives. God cleanses us through an ongoing refining process. Our salvation through faith in Christ is only the first step. Paul says, "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life" (Romans 5:10). What does it mean to be "saved by His life"? It means not only that our spirits are reborn and our souls are spared from judgment in the Lake of Fire, but also that we will experience continual renewal and transformation of our minds (Romans 12:1). Ultimately, this leads to the redemption of our bodies, where we will receive glorified bodies.

 

Our salvation is a threefold salvation: spirit, soul, and body. When sin entered us, it first killed our spirit, then defiled our soul, and ultimately caused our body to become sick and eventually die. God’s salvation involves the reversal of this process. God regenerates our spirit, renews our soul, and ultimately heals our body. We as believers have been filled with the “Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead,” who “will also give life to [our] mortal bodies” (Romans 8:11); yet our bodies still become sick and ultimately die. Why is this? Because healing is a gradual process. While there are times when our physical illnesses are healed by God, our ultimate and final healing lies in receiving a resurrected body. Similarly, our spiritual growth and the transformation of our souls are also gradual processes. In particular, the impurities in our soul must be cleansed through a continual refining process. Just like gold is refined through repeated exposure to fire to cleanse away impurities, we must experience repeated tests and trials in order to produce a faith as precious as gold. When gold is exposed to intense heat, the dross rises to the top, is exposed, and is removed.

 

In the same way, trials help expose our sin and bring it to the surface so it can be dealt with. God continually refines us through trials to help us break free from the corruption that comes through lust, so we can partake more and more in God’s divine nature. Peter makes this point very clear in his epistles. How can we escape the corruption brought by lust? The first step is often to truly grasp the depth of our sin. Our sins must be exposed so we can see them clearly and break free from them.

 

In many ways, the same principle is true of the church as a whole and of humanity as a whole. We can view these final tests and trials—the judgment of Babylon the Great against those it ensnared, the defeat of kings and armies in the battle with the beast and the false prophet, and the burning of the rebellious nations in the final battle with Satan—as a refining process that deals with the uncleanness of humanity. Through various trials, these impurities are exposed and dealt with. The sins of those deceived by the evil spirits of Babylon the Great, the beast, the false prophet, and Satan are revealed and removed. Once these sins are dealt with, humanity becomes purer. At this point, those who oppose God are exposed and condemned, while those chosen by God and those who have chosen God are allowed to enter eternity. God is just. If someone suffers the second death in the Lake of Fire and complains that God is unjust, God will show them the opportunities He gave them in the past, as well as how they chose to reject and oppose Him during the trials. They will have no grounds for complaint. God is a just God. He selects every person worthy of eternal life to enter eternity, while those unworthy of eternal life make their own choice. From this perspective, it is necessary to give everyone the opportunity to make a choice, as well as the chance to go through trials to prove their choice.

 

How God Uses the Judgment of Babylon the Great to Bring About the Preparation of Christ’s Bride

 

Every act of God’s judgment exposes both the sins of evil spirits and humanity, and each exposure brings about God’s judgment and cleansing. When the work of evil spirits is revealed, they lose their control over people. Evil spirits thrive in darkness. They manipulate people in secret. But when the Spirit of God comes upon the people they controlled and drives out the demons through His power, that is when the kingdom of God comes upon us—just as Jesus said in Matthew 12:29.

 

Babylon the Great is like a vast and complex spiderweb. Satan and evil spirits weave this web of lies and deceit. The web includes systems of sin and wickedness. Sinners not only contribute to weaving this web through their sinful choices, but they are also ensnared in it. Even many of God’s chosen people have been trapped in it due to their sins. Therefore, before judging Babylon the Great, God specifically calls His chosen ones to come out of her. God then judges Babylon’s treasures—material objects that once dominated His people in many ways. By stripping away these enslaving elements, God frees His chosen ones from this web of captivity.

 

Let me share a modern-day example of being trapped in Satan’s web. In today’s world, many individuals who from Christian families have drifted away from God because of the hectic pace of working on Wall Street. In addition, many children are negatively influenced by the content produced in Wall Street. If God were to remove Wall Street, it would help free these individuals from the snares of Wall Street’s influence. This does not mean that Wall Street has no good aspects. Like the golden cup full of abominations (Revelation 17:4), it has some beautiful and shiny aspects. However, its net influence is negative.

 

God's judgment of Babylon is a judgment against the harlot, against the adulterous woman. Through this judgment, some of God's elect are delivered from the great harlot and become part of the Bride of Christ, the body of Christ. Through suffering, they reach maturity and ultimately become a bride prepared for her husband, as mentioned in Revelation 19. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us so we are prepared to meet our bridegroom, Jesus. Jesus sanctifies us and presents us to Himself a spotless virgin (Ephesians 5:25-27). This passage reminds me of Abraham's servant bringing Rebekah to Isaac to become his bride. It also reminds me of the process Esther went through to prepare to meet the king. The eunuchs gave her beauty treatments and then presented her to the king. In the same way, the Holy Spirit will prepare the church to meet her heavenly Bridegroom.

 

How God Judges the Beast and the Kings to Bring About the Millennial Kingdom

 

Once the Holy Spirit completes His work of preparing the bride, the marriage supper of the Lamb may begin. At this supper, Jesus Christ and His bride celebrate their union. This union must take place before the battle at Armageddon, where the Lord and His bride (the heavenly army) confront the beast, its kings, and their armies. This great battle occurs after the destruction of Babylon the Great, after God's elect have been rescued from the snare of Babylon the Great. At this time in history, the kings aligned with the beast and the false prophet are likely in opposition to God. The Lord uses the sword from His mouth to slay the kings and their armies, and the birds of heaven feast on their flesh.

There are two groups of believers in Babylon the Great. The first group consists of those who refused to compromise with the great prostitute and who were martyred for their faith. These believers are the overcomers. The second group consists of the believers who were deceived by Babylon the Great and then rescued by God's mercy from her snare. They may not necessarily be overcomers, but because they are elect, they might enter eternity with the overcomers.

 

Similarly, at this moment in history when humanity is tested by the beast and the false prophet, it exposes the heart of humankind and separates them into two different groups of people. The first group is those who refused to worship the beast and its image, and who did not accept the mark of the beast. These people are also overcomers. They will also be part of the first resurrection of the Millennial Kingdom, along with all the previous overcomers, and will reign with the Lord for a thousand years. All those who worship the beast and its image and accept the mark of the beast will share the same fate as the beast and the false prophet, being cast into the Lake of Fire. Thus, God once again separates those who are worthy to partake in the first resurrection and reign with Christ from those who are not. In other words, when humanity is tested by the beast and the false prophet, this trial refines one more final group of overcomers so they can receive their reward in the Millennial Kingdom. They will then reign with Christ for a thousand years, ushering in the coming of the Millennial Kingdom.

 

 

How God's Judgment of Satan and the Rebellious Nations Brings About the Arrival of Eternity

 

The Millennial Kingdom will not begin until Christ’s bride is prepared, Christ and His bride have won the victory over the beast and the false prophet, and the angel has bound Satan for a thousand years. This thousand-year period serves as further preparation for the arrival of eternity. Our destiny is to reign with Christ for all eternity. In comparison, this thousand-year reign with the Lord is a brief period of training. I believe those who reign with the Lord are the overcomers, and they will be the first to be resurrected and be free from the second death. Their mission is to continue leading more people to Christ and bringing them to maturity.

 

Trials help bring people to maturity, and they also expose which people truly believe in Christ and which do not. A person may appear godly on the outside but not truly believe in Him on the inside. However, trials help expose our true selves. Someone who seems devout on the outside may deny the Lord when trials come, just as Peter did. This is why trials are essential, even during the Millennium Kingdom.

 

I don't understand why some people will still turn against Christ during the Millennium Kingdom, after seeing the Lord reign on earth. But we also don't know why Satan and a third of God’s angels rebelled, despite knowing being with God face to face. This shows how cunning and deceitful Satan is. It shows that seeing the Lord is not necessarily the same thing as believing in Him. Even when Jesus came to earth in the flesh, many saw Him but still did not believe in Him.

 

To help us further understand how people can turn against Jesus’ leadership after a thousand years of peace, let us look at some examples from history. Both the United States and Israel experienced long periods of peace followed by a sudden descent into destruction. As long as our sin natures remain, we are at risk of falling into sin. In Deuteronomy, Moses warned the Israelites that after entering the Promised Land, they would gradually forget God. He said, “When you father children and children's children and have grown old in the land, if you act corruptly by making a carved image in the form of anything, and by doing what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, so as to provoke him to anger” (Deuteronomy 4:25). Just as Moses prophesied, the Israelites, after settling in the land, grew weak and fell away from God. The same thing happened in the United States. At one point, America began walking down a path of decline. Many people abandoned God and began worshiping idols. These idols included money, entertainment, evil spirits, and so on. Therefore, God's discipline came upon the United States. However, countless Christians prayed for repentance, and I believe circumstances are changing and a revival is coming. Both the history of Israel and the history of America (a Christian nation) demonstrate that nations can deteriorate after long periods of prosperity. In the same way, during the Millennial Kingdom, many people will grow weak and falter after living in peace for so long.

 

After the thousand-year period is over, Satan must be temporarily released. The trials he brings will demonstrate which people are worthy of eternal life and which people are not. After this separation takes place, eternity will begin. The Bible does not tell us whether new overcomers will emerge during this time, but I certainly hope that there are. I believe that anyone who seeks God will receive His reward. However, one thing seems clear: the people who participate in the rebellion will be consumed by fire from heaven. The Bible does not say that these people are thrown into the Lake of Fire. After this judgment, the Great White Throne judgment will occur, and anyone whose name is not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire.

 

Conclusion

 

The Bible contains many things that we cannot know for sure, such as the exact identity of Gog and Magog. Many speculate that they refer to Russia, but we cannot determine if this interpretation is correct. These names may simply refer to the nations who participate in the rebellion at the end of the millennial kingdom and receive God’s judgment. We will only know for sure who Gog and Magog are when God reveals their identity at the end of the millennial kingdom. However, their identity is ultimately not important or relevant to our spiritual growth.

 

When reading Revelation, many people focus on speculating about who is who, what will happen when, and other details. But this is a waste of time. When we read Revelation, we must focus on the roadmap that God gives to the church for how the church will grow and mature. We must learn how to build up the body of Christ and prepare the bride for her future Husband. Only then will she be ready for the marriage feast of Christ and His bride, the battle of Christ and His army against the beast and the false prophet, and God’s ultimate judgment against them in the Lake of Fire. The bride’s maturity and preparedness will ultimately usher in the millennial kingdom and the eternal state.

 

The body of Christ is not just an abstract concept; it is made up of individuals like you and me. Every member of the body is important. The degree to which you and I, as members of the body, mature in our spiritual lives will ultimately determine the degree to which the body of Christ matures. We must seize every opportunity to grow spiritually. This includes embracing trials, which are God’s tools to help us mature. If we are not spiritually mature, we can never progress to the next stage of God’s eternal plan. This is why speculations and fantasies are a waste of time compared to the ongoing work of sanctification and preparation for eternity.

Bible Study With Jairus - Revelation 20 Part 1 How Can Christians Overcome Satan's Temptations and Avoid Wandering in the Wilderness

Bible Study with Jairus Revelation 20 (part 1)

How Can Christians Overcome Satan's Temptations and Avoid Wandering in the Wilderness

 

Revelation 20:1-3 tells us that the ancient serpent who deceived the nations was bound by an angel and imprisoned for a thousand years. Before this, the church endured numerous trials before she entered the Millennial Kingdom. After the Millennial Kingdom, Satan will be temporarily released to continue testing people.

 

The Israelites' time in the wilderness was a period of testing. God’s people needed to overcome Satan’s temptations and learn the lessons God was teaching them so they could enter the Promised Land. Otherwise, they would continue aimlessly wandering in the wilderness. Similarly, God’s chosen people today (Christians) need to overcome Satan’s temptations and avoid wandering endlessly in the wilderness.

 

From studying Revelation 20, we can make the following observations about Satan’s tests and temptations.

• First, Satan’s testing will last a long time. Though many believe Jesus will come soon, this might be an unrealistic expectation. We need to be prepared to endure long-lasting hardships and trials.
• Second, many people give too much weight to their hardships, attributing too much power to Satan. They fear Satan as if he is omnipotent, while failing to recognize God’s ultimate power and sovereignty. Many people seem to fear Satan even more than they revere God. This is a grave error.
• Third, trials and tests are permitted by God. Satan's testing cannot exceed the limits allowed by God. God only allows us to be tested according to what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:15) and according to His will.
• Fourth, trials help us grow. We must understand God's will, obey it, grow, and overcome each trial. This is the way to overcome Satan and avoid wandering in the wilderness.

 

Many Christians fail to learn the lessons God is trying to teach them through trials. As a result, their spiritual lives stagnate and they continue wandering in the wilderness. If individual Christians do not mature in their spiritual lives, then the church (the body of Christ) cannot reach the level of maturity God desires. Just as Israel could not enter the Promised Land until she reached a certain level of maturity and faith, the church will not enter the Millennial Kingdom and the eternal state until she learns the lessons God is trying to teach her through trials. Difficult circumstances, including Satan’s temptations, help bring us to spiritual maturity. When Christ’s body reaches maturity, her maturity will be manifested in the Millennial Kingdom.

 

Many Christians enjoy discussing end times and trying to determine when key events will take place. However, they neglect the lessons of spiritual maturity that God is trying to teach them through their circumstances and trials. Since the coming of the Kingdom is contingent on the maturity of Christ’s bride, the church, these believers are putting the cart before the horse. In other words, the return of Jesus and the coming of the Millennial Kingdom are not as near as many imagine because His bride is not yet prepared, and our spiritual lives have not yet reached the level of maturity God desires.

 

Satan's Temptations Will Last for a Long Time

 

At the end of the book of Revelation, God's method of dealing with evil is like chopping down a tree—starting with the branches, then the trunk, and finally the roots.

• Satan is the root of all the evil in the world. He is dealt with last. Satan, the ancient serpent who deceived humankind, will be locked in the bottomless pit for a thousand years (Revelation 20). After that, he will be temporarily released to deceive the nations. His final destination is the lake of fire and sulfur (Revelation 20:7-10). When God sends Satan to the Lake of Fire, God is metaphorically chopping at the root of the tree, completely removing the source of all sin, which is Satan.
• The beast and the false prophet are like the trunk of the tree. They are thrown alive into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:20). There, they join the beast and the false prophet who fought against Christ and His bride's army, as well as the kings of the earth and their armies. This happens after the bride has made herself ready (Revelation 19:7). This is like removing the trunk of the tree.
• Babylon the Great is like the branches and leaves of a flourishing tree. Babylon is the dwelling place of demons, the haunt of every unclean spirit, and the nest of every unclean and detestable bird (Revelation 18:2). Babylon the Great is a collective entity formed by demons, evil spirits, and sinners, and she deceived the nations (Revelation 18:3). God's judgment in the end times begins with chopping down the branches and leaves of this flourishing tree. Revelation 17 also describes the punishment of the great prostitute, and Revelation 16 records the seven bowl judgments. These judgments, along with the previous ones, prepare the way for the final judgment of Babylon the Great, the beast, the false prophet, and Satan.

 

I am narrating this process in reverse, hoping to give you a clear vision of where we stand today and where we are in God’s redemptive timetable. We have not yet experienced the scenarios described in Revelation 18-20. Satan has not been bound in the bottomless pit. The bride of Christ is not yet prepared, and she has not yet joined with Christ to defeat the beast, the false prophets, and the kings’ armies (Revelation 19). And Babylon the Great has not yet fallen (Revelation 18:2).

 

How do we know that Babylon the Great has not yet fallen? Because the judgment of Babylon in Revelation 17 happens after the seven bowl judgments recorded in Revelation 16. To evaluate whether Babylon has fallen yet, we must ask ourselves whether we have experienced the disasters of the seven bowls. The first bowl judgment is poured out on those who have the mark of the beast and worship its image. While there is much discussion about the possibility of the COVID-19 vaccine and microchips being the mark of the beast, there is no conclusion yet, and personally, I don’t believe that they are. Therefore, it is unlikely that we have experienced the scenario described in Revelation 16.

 

In Revelation 13-15, two beasts appear and wage war with the saints. The overcoming saints sing praise to God on the sea of glass (15:2). Have any of these events already taken place? Can we say with certainty that the beast has appeared in the world today? Even though the spirit of the antichrist is already at work on earth, no one can assert with confidence that the beast has appeared. So, we have not yet experienced the scenarios described in Revelation 13-15.

 

Going back even further on God’s redemptive timetable, Revelation 12 records the battle between the woman and the dragon and the birth of the male child. I believe the male child represents the victorious members of the body of Christ, who will rule the nations with a rod of iron (12:5). There are no clear signs to suggest that this event has already happened. Does the church today—whether in other countries or in Christian nations like the United States—have the ability to rule the nations? Far from it. So, we have not yet experienced the events of Revelation 12. Similarly, Revelation 11:15 declares, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.” This has not happened yet, either.

 

The disasters mentioned in Revelation 6-10 (the seven seals and seven trumpets) are still far from fulfillment. Similarly, the events of Revelation 4-5, where heaven is opened and we see God at work on His throne, are still a mystery to many. As the body of Christ, we have not yet experienced heaven opened. We have not yet clearly seen God’s throne or His kingly reign.

 

Therefore, we can conclude that the church is still in the era described in the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 1-3. These letters not only describe the work of Satan in each congregation, but also the promises of victory that Jesus gives.

 

From this discussion, it becomes clear that we are nowhere near the return of Christ. The process of defeating Satan and his minions (including the beast, the false prophet, various evil spirits, demons, and sinners who make up Babylon the Great) is a long-term process that is nowhere near completion. Many people are discussing the imminent return of Jesus, but I believe this is an unrealistic expectation. Of course, I long for the return of Jesus, but according to this timetable, we are still many steps away from His return to reign.

 

When the Lord appeared to me in 2004, He clearly stated that once the body of Christ, the bride, and the New Jerusalem are completed, He will return. We are still far from the bride being ready, the body of Christ maturing, and the New Jerusalem being built. When we gain a clear understanding of the reality, we can focus our discussion on growing in maturity rather than on Christ’s imminent return. We can learn how we can participate with God in our spiritual growth, including the growth that comes through Satan’s trials and tests.

 

In Trials, We Must See That God is Far Greater Than Satan

 

In Revelation 20:1-3, an angel comes down from heaven, holding a great chain and the key to the bottomless pit. He binds the dragon (also called the ancient serpent, the devil, and Satan) for a thousand years and casts him into the abyss, shutting it and sealing it so that he can no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years are completed. Afterward, he must be released for a little while.

 

What can we learn from these verses? We can learn that Satan is not nearly as powerful as we often imagine. In this passage, we see that one angel by himself can bind and subdue Satan. Of course, the angel is doing these things by God's command and authority, but he is still doing them by himself. In the modern church, Satan is often portrayed as extremely powerful—sometimes to the extent that it seems he is greater than God. When a Christian is bound by a spirit of fear in their personal life, they may feel that Satan is greater than God. We may even begin to believe that Satan is all-powerful. As a result, many people fear Satan more than God. However, this passage teaches that Satan is finite and can be bound by a single angle.

 

Let’s look at a few more examples of Christians attributing too much power to Satan. When I was pursuing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, I often heard the following objection: “Don't pursue the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. If you seek the Holy Spirit, what if you end up receiving an evil spirit instead?" Such thoughts are widespread in many evangelical churches. However, Luke 11 clearly teaches that if we ask our Heavenly Father, He will certainly give us the Holy Spirit, not an evil spirit (11:13).

 

Additionally, even though the Bible teaches us to speak out for righteousness, many Christians are afraid to speak out in the face of evil because they fear the reactions of evil people. Fearing evil people is essentially the same as fearing Satan, because Satan is behind their sinful actions. This fear of Satan is a mindset that permeates the world and even the church. In many instances, Christians fear Satan more than they fear God. They think Satan is powerful, dark, and hopeless, while their concept of God is weak and limited. In everyday life, they do not demonstrate a faith in God’s omnipotence. But their actions show a strong belief in Satan’s power. This passage provides a much-needed reminder that Satan is not all-powerful and can be subdued by a single angel.

 

Who is this angel that binds Satan? The Bible does not specify whether it is Gabriel or another archangel; it simply says that an angel is given authority by God to bind Satan, and Satan is bound for a thousand years. Even after being temporarily released, he is still under God’s sovereignty. When darkness seems to have dominion, God is still seated on His throne, controlling all things. We must remember God’s sovereignty and his ability to work all things together for the good of those who love God.

 

The entire book of Revelation is structured around God's provision, sovereignty, and His kingly plan, even during times of trial. After describing the trials that the seven churches will face, the book of Revelation describes the throne room of God (Revelation 4-5). John sees heaven opened, and he realizes that God is still at work on His throne, promising rewards to His victorious saints. Similarly, the next several chapters include many difficult seal judgments, but in between the sixth and seventh seal, God pauses the judgment to show John a vision of 144,000 conquering believers. They had come out of the great tribulation and were serving God before His throne (Revelation 7:15). These people are likely martyrs who were killed during the great tribulation. They were willing to pay the ultimate price for their faith, but now they are being richly rewarded: "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (7:16-17). Before the sixth seal, there was much suffering, and after the seventh seal and the seven trumpets, there was even more suffering. But God does not forget to comfort the apostle John (and all suffering believers) through these visions of hope amidst suffering. There are also encouraging visions between the sixth and seventh trumpet judgments, just as between the sixth and seventh seal judgments. The messages of hope include the message of the seven thunders (10:3), the invitation to eat the little scroll (10:10), the command to measure the temple (11:1), and the story about the two witnesses (11:3-12). These visions encourage suffering believers to see God's sovereignty and His will in the midst of pain.

 

The principles revealed in Revelation are the same as the principles we experience in our lives today. God is in control of all things, and even in the midst of suffering, He continues to provide. God works all things together for His good purposes, even trials and trouble. However, the trials described in Revelation are much greater than the trials we face on a daily basis. If we cannot trust God’s purpose and provision in our everyday lives, how will we have strength to overcome these apocalyptic disasters described in Revelation? God will not suddenly give us supernatural strength that we have not already cultivated in our everyday lives. If we cannot obey God in the small trials of life, we should not imagine that we will somehow have the strength to resist the mark of the beast. This is fantasy and self-deception. We need to be victorious in the various small trials of life today so that we can face the greater trials that are coming in the future.

 

As we have mentioned before, Revelation 12 is the turning point of the book of Revelation. After the vision of the woman (12:3) and the birth of the male child (12:5), the battle becomes fiercer. Satan is cast down from heaven to earth (12:4, 9). In his fury, he intensifies his persecution of the woman and her remaining children (12:17). Afterward, the two beasts emerge, one after the other, and they escalate the persecution of those who refuse to receive the mark of the beast. However, amid this harsh persecution, the Holy Spirit graciously provides another vision in chapter 14, showing the 144,000 standing victorious on Mount Zion.

 

The next trial is the fall of Babylon the Great (14:8), God’s continued judgment of the world, and the world’s continued persecution of believers. During this time, many more believers are martyred. However, in chapter 15, God continues His pattern of encouraging and warning believers by giving a vision of the overcomers standing victorious on the sea of glass. This is followed by the seven bowl judgments (chapter 15), but in the midst of these severe judgments—between the sixth and seventh bowl judgment—the Lord again reminds believers to stay alert, because He is coming soon, like a thief (16:16). This leads into the judgment of Babylon the Great, the beast, the false prophet, and the ultimate judgment of Satan.

 

These trials and judgments become more and more severe as the book progresses. Yet in the midst of these harsh judgments, God continues to provide visions to encourage believers. Today, we face trials that are much less severe than the ones revealed in Revelation. If we cannot learn to experience God's provision and see His purpose in the smaller trials, it will be difficult for us to do so in the bigger ones. Let me give an example to illustrate. Since my daughter grew up in the United States, she is not accustomed to facing hardship. My wife and I often think about the greater hardships that we faced in China growing up. When our daughter complains about everyday situations, like cold water in the swimming pool, we tell her, “You need to learn to endure hardship. Your mother and I grew up in China under much more difficult situations. If you cannot tolerate small trials, how will you be able to tolerate the greater difficulties you will eventually face in life?” However, no matter how much we said, we found that she still could not endure hardship as we once could. Many children raised in the United States have not experienced very much hardship compared to children who grew up in third-world countries. As a result, their ability to handle setbacks and pressure is limited. Although their mindset is healthier, children from the United States have less survival ability than those who have experienced hardship.

 

Similarly, when God called Hudson Taylor to China to spread the gospel, he intentionally moved to a poor area in East London to undergo what he called “hardship training.” There, he survived on bread and water. Through these difficulties, he tried to prepare himself for what was ahead. However, even with this training, he was still not prepared for the hardship he would face when he arrived in China. Since the Chinese people were resistant to foreigners, no one would rent him a house. He had to live in an idol’s temple. He could not sleep at night because every time he closed his eyes, beggars would steal his luggage. Because Hudson Taylor had trained himself to endure hardship for many years, he was able to overcome the difficult circumstances he encountered in China. As a result, he had the resilience and fortitude he needed to spread the gospel to countless Chinese people.

 

These examples show that if we do not learn to endure hardship in small situations, we will not be prepared for bigger ones. If we as Christ’s body do not learn obedience through everyday difficulties, we will not be prepared for greater suffering (such as those described in Revelation. We must learn to understand God's will in hardship, while also learning what God wants to teach us through it.

 

God's Trials for Us Will Not Exceed What We Can Bear

 

In order to learn the lessons God wants to teach us through our suffering, we must understand the nature of suffering. First, we must understand that Satan does not attack us because of our past sins and failures. We all have sinned, and we all have weaknesses. But if we sinned before we came to know Christ, or if we sinned as a believer and then repented, we are cleansed and forgiven by Christ’s precious blood. If we still think that our past failures and sins are causing Satan’s attacks, this perspective is rooted in fear. Once we truly repent and God forgives us, Satan has no right to attack, because the blood of the Lord overcomes him. No one, including Satan, can bypass the cleansing of the Lord's blood in order to attack you.

 

If this is true, then why do we often experience various attacks from Satan in our lives? Because even though we know about the Lord's redemption and the power of His precious blood, we fail to apply them or repent, thus giving Satan a foothold to attack us through fear and other means. If we live in sin despite our faith in Christ and knowledge of the truth, we give Satan a foothold, which often leads to attacks.

 

We must recognize that it is impossible for Satan to attack us without God's permission. Satan is under God's control, and Satan is not greater than God. He can only attack us within the limits that God sets. As we see in the Book of Job, Satan must first ask for God's permission before he can attack a person. God sets limits on Satan’s attacks, as we see in Job 1:12. God said, "You may attack his family, but you may not harm him.” Later, God allowed Satan to attack Job's body as long as he did not take his life. Again, God established His authority over Satan. Since God is the one who determines whether Satan can attack us and to what extent, we must seek His will during times of suffering and spiritual attack. Every attack has a purpose in God's plan. If we are in sin, God may want to use suffering to deal with areas of uncleanness in our lives. Even if we are blameless like Job, he can use suffering to help us grow in our knowledge of God and experience Him more fully (Job 42:5). When we experience suffering and spiritual attacks, we must seek God’s will and ask Him how he wants to use this suffering to help us mature and make us holy. Unfortunately, many Christians fail to seek God’s guidance when facing hardships and spiritual attacks. Sadly, they miss the opportunity to receive help from God.

 

Two people can face the same type of suffering with very different outcomes. One person may allow God to use the difficult circumstance to make them more like Him. This person grows in maturity and makes spiritual progress. Meanwhile, another person may fail to understand God’s purpose in suffering. They are unwilling to seek God’s will and submit to Him, and they fail to deal with sin and uncleanness in their lives. As a result, they continue wandering in the spiritual wilderness. Like the Israelites of the Old Testament, they fail to enter the promised land of God's blessing.

 

We Must Allow God to Remove our Sins and Uncleanness Through Suffering

 

Nothing happens to us by chance; every event is a part of God’s good purpose. Watchman Nee from the Inner Life Movement, Mrs. Jessie Penn-Lewis from the British Inner Life movement, and Madame Jeanne Guyon from the Catholic church all teach that God works through suffering—even the attacks of Satan. When we encounter suffering, we need to seek God through prayer so we can enter His presence, understand His purpose, and obey His will. As we do, we can learn God’s intentions to work all things together for good, and we can grow in obedience and prayer. If we fail to do this, we will waste the opportunity to learn what God wants to teach us through our circumstances.

 

If we fail to learn the lessons God is teaching us, we will continue to go in circles, facing the same tests over and over for years or even decades—just like the Israelites, who went in circles in the wilderness for forty years. Ironically, we will continue to face tests whether we learn the lessons or not. But if we don’t learn the lessons God wants to teach us, we will continue to repeat the lessons at the same level rather than progressing to the next level. Let me use the example of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test to illustrate this point. When grad students take the GRE for admission to grad school, all students answer the same number of questions. If the student answers the questions correctly, they are given increasingly harder questions to answer. If they continue answering the harder questions correctly, the test continues to increase in difficulty. Their final score may be in the top 5% or 10%. However, if the student answers incorrectly, the computer continues to give them questions on the same level. They do not advance, and they get a score in the 40-50% range. Like the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, they make no progress.

 

In the same way, the individuals who make up the body of Christ (referenced in Revelation 20) need to continue making progress and growing in maturity. When facing the same daily circumstances, some Christians continue on an upward trajectory, growing through the hardships God sends. They keep advancing in their spiritual journey. However, other Christians face the same struggles over and over without learning what God wants to teach them. They continue to struggle with relationships, conflicts, or circumstances without growing or maturing. After decades, they are still facing the same difficulties. Their personality has not changed for the better, and they are still wandering in the metaphorical wilderness.

 

Today, Satan disguises himself within our fleshly desires, difficult circumstances, or conflicts with our loved ones. He uses these circumstances to attack us. Why does God allow Satan to attack us through the people around us? Because He is testing us to see if we can conquer our bad habits, overcome our sins, and turn to Him in the midst of difficulties. If so, we can move to a deeper level of spiritual maturity.

 

So, while Revelation reveals the difficult circumstances that the entire body of Christ faces in end times, as well as the level of maturity the church as a whole reaches, some individual Christians will not share in this level of victory. Throughout history, there have always been victorious saints. I believe the 144,000, the firstfruits, are examples of overcomers. It is likely that these overcomers include not only victorious Christians across generations but also all the victorious saints from the Old Testament. For example, Hebrews 11 lists numerous examples of faithful saints from Adam onward. I believe they are part of these firstfruits as well.

 

Even though there have been many victorious individual believers throughout the ages, these overcomers did not receive what was promised because they were waiting for the remaining members of the body of Christ to mature (Hebrews 11:39). Verse 40 says, "Since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect." In the book of Revelation, God uses these various circumstances, especially these increasingly difficult trials, to bring more members of the body of Christ to maturity. This allows them to enter into the freedom and glory of God's children, which ultimately leads to the liberation of all creation from its bondage to corruption so it can join God’s children in freedom and glory (Romans 8:21).

 

Conclusion:

I believe that the entire body of Christ must reach maturity in order for the New Jerusalem to be fully complete. The number of chosen overcomers must reach 144,000, and the bride (the body of Christ) must become mature in order for the Lord Jesus to return. Even the martyrs, who cry out in Revelation 6:10 for God to judge those who dwell on the earth and avenge their blood, are told that they must wait until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who are to be martyred like they were is complete. Not only is there a specific number of people who must be martyred, but there is also a set number of people who must reach spiritual maturity.

 

Therefore, when we read Revelation, we should not focus solely on speculating about when Jesus will come back or identifying who the beast and false prophet are. Instead, we must read Revelation from the perspective of spiritual growth. We need to pray for all members of Christ’s body to recognize the necessity of progressing toward spiritual maturity. However, since every individual has free will and can decide how to live their lives, not everyone will choose the path of maturity. Those who submit to God and seek His will in the midst of life’s trials will mature more quickly and may even become part of the 144,000.

 

The first three verses of Revelation 20 are connected to the verse that follows. Revelation 20:4 says, “Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed.” I believe the word "those” does not refer to the Lord. Instead, the word refers to people who have attained spiritual maturity and as a result have been granted this authority. This group may include the twelve apostles, since the Lord promised them, “You who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” As we grow spiritually through the trials of life and the attacks of Satan, we are led to the thrones God has prepared for us. This does not mean we are exalting ourselves, but rather that when our spiritual lives reach that level, God bestows upon us the authority to judge. The ability to judge others is not about taking an aggressive or vocal stance, but about being filled with the life of God. It is God’s life within us that judges the world, judges people, judges evil spirits, and judges Satan. The more God’s life and His presence are expressed in us, and the more we are sanctified, set apart, and conformed to the glorious image of the Son of God, the more authority we receive to judge. This is a matter of spiritual maturity, not merely a matter of position. When we are saved in Christ, we receive the authority to judge the world, Satan, and evil spirits. Paul explicitly states this regarding our position in Christ: “Do you not know that we are to judge angels?” However, if our spiritual life has not matured to that level, we will be unsuccessful in exercising this authority, just like the seven sons of Sceva were when they attempted to cast out a demon in Acts 19. When they rebuked the demon, the demon did not obey them. Instead, it replied, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15) If your level of spiritual maturity has not reached the necessary level, you will lack the authority to reign from the "throne of life" and judge others.

 

Therefore, as the end of the book of Revelation approaches, it emphasizes the collective maturity of Christ’s body. When we read the conclusion of Revelation, we must understand it in the context of the full maturity of Christ’s body. At this point, only one or two chapters remain before the entire old creation comes to an end. At that point, Christians will be revealed in glory with Christ, victorious. If Christ’s body has not yet matured to the extent that some believers can sit on thrones—or that the collective body of Christ can do so—how can we judge Satan and the old creation or bring God’s eternal purpose to completion? It would be impossible. Therefore, these events show that the body of Christ—Christ’s bride which is also a victorious army—has reached a certain level of spiritual growth. The maturity of the body of Christ and the maturity of individual believers is achieved through trials, attacks from Satan, and challenging circumstances. These difficulties enable us to grow and mature so we can overcome, gain the fullness and abundance of God's life, and eventually gain the authority to rule over the universe and Satan and to trample on serpents and scorpions. The final judgment in Revelation is intimately connected with the maturity of Christ’s body. When the body of Christ matures, believers can sit on thrones with Him. Without this maturity, which leads to reigning together with the Lord on the throne, the final judgment in Revelation would be impossible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bible Study With Jairus Revelation 21 (part 2) Why Is There No Sea in the New Heaven and the New Earth?

Bible Study With Jairus

Revelation 21 (part 2)

Why Is There No Sea in the New Heaven and the New Earth?

 

Revelation 21:1 says, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more." Why does it say here that the sea was no more? Does this mean that in the new heaven and new earth there will be no large bodies of water where water gathers? Not necessarily. Revelation 22:1 mentions the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Because this water flows endlessly, it could eventually form a sea. Though we can’t know for sure, I believe that this verse does not refer to literal bodies of water, but to the symbolic meaning of the sea in the ancient world.

 

To many ancient authors and thinkers, the sea represented chaos and unrest. It was a holding place for the souls of the dead and for evil spirits. We can see this idea in several passages in Scripture. The Lord Jesus permitted the unclean spirits to enter the herd of pigs, which then rushed into the sea and drowned (Luke 8:26–39). This suggests that there are unclean spirits in the sea. In the books of Daniel and Revelation, we see many dragons, beasts, and evil powers rising out of the sea with Satanic power and authority (Revelation 13:1–2, Daniel 7:3). These verses indicate that the sea contains beasts and evil spirits.

 

Additionally, the sea was seen as a holding place for the spirits of the dead. Revelation 20:13 says that when death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, the sea also gave up the dead who were in it. This passage equates the sea, death, and Hades as dwelling places for the dead. Verse 14 further states that death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. These passages indicate that the sea is a holding place for the dead.

 

The Bible does not provide many details about the sea as a holding place for the dead. We do not know how the souls in the sea differ from the souls held in death and Hades. However, the Bible does clearly state that these three places will give up their dead. This indicates that they are distinct from each other. In addition to the fact that death and Hades are ultimately thrown into the Lake of Fire, this chapter also mentions that in the New Heaven and New Earth, “the sea was no more.” This likely does not mean there will no longer be any bodies of water in the New Heaven and New Earth, but rather that certain functions of the sea in the old heaven and old earth will no longer exist.

 

I believe that the sea contains the bottomless pit, which confines various evil spirits, including the beast and Satan, and also holds the spirits of those who perished in Noah’s flood (1 Peter 3:19–20). Revelation 11:7 explicitly states that the beast came out of the bottomless pit. Revelation 9 mentions that locusts came out of the bottomless pit. Apart from being the place where the beast and evil spirits are confined, the bottomless pit is also described in Revelation 20:1 as the location where Satan is bound for a thousand years. Once Satan is released from the bottomless pit and thrown into the Lake of Fire, the bottomless pit and the sea will no longer be necessary.

 

When all the dead are resurrected and judged before the Great White Throne, some will enter eternal life, and others will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Evil spirits, the beast, the false prophet, and Satan will all be thrown into the Lake of Fire to be punished forever. Therefore, the sea will no longer be needed as a holding place for evil spirits, the beast, the false prophet, Satan, and the souls of certain people.

 

The sea, as it existed in the old heaven and old earth, served a specific function in the old creation. But when the old creation is rolled up like a garment (Hebrews 1:10–12), the sea's purpose will be rendered obsolete. We will examine this idea in detail in the next section.

 

The Old Heavens and the Old Earth Will Be Rolled Up Like a Garment

 

Hebrews 1:10-12 says, "And you, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end." This scripture is deeply significant and will greatly help us understand the disappearance of the old heavens, old earth, and sea in the book of Revelation. In this passage, the old heavens and earth are likened to an old garment that will one day be rolled up and removed.

 

When my daughter was younger, other families at church used to give her hand-me-downs that their children had outgrown. The clothes no longer fit their children, but they fit my daughter perfectly. Many of the clothes were beautiful and in good condition, and my daughter enjoyed wearing them. In the same way, we used to pass along clothes that our daughter had outgrown. They were not torn or unwearable; they simply did not fit her anymore because she had grown.

 

In the same way, as Christ’s body grows in stature to become more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:13), she will outgrow her former garments. I believe the old heavens and earth will be laid aside because the church has outgrown them. As Christ’s body, the bride, grows in maturity, she will no longer need her old garments. As God's sons enter into God's glory, they will no longer need the old earth. Instead, they will put on the New Heaven and New Earth as their new garment.

 

When the bride of Christ is fully mature, she will wear fine linen, bright and pure (Revelation 19:8). She will “grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). Her life will be full of Christ’s life and she will be filled with all the fullness of God. “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:23). When the fullness of God fills the church, and through His body fills the universe, a new heaven and earth must come. The New Heaven and Earth are the new clothes that God has made for Christ’s bride.

 

The New Earth is also a new living and activity space for the bride, and it is full of righteousness. Peter explained, “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). Before this, Peter also mentioned that the day of the Lord will come like a thief. At that time, “the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn” (2 Peter 3:10-12).

 

Peter said that God’s righteousness will dwell in the New Heaven and New Earth. God is righteous, Christ is righteous, and the bride of Christ is wearing fine linen which represents the righteous deeds of the saints (Revelation 19:8). Daniel 12:3 says, "And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." This indicates that the righteousness of the saints will shine like the stars for eternity. If these righteous individuals fill the New Heaven and New Earth, then we can indeed say that righteousness dwells in the New Heaven and New Earth. For the body of Christ is made up of righteous people, and they will inhabit the New Heaven and New Earth.

 

The New Heaven and New Earth are undoubtedly our dwelling place, but they can also be seen as our garment. As believers grow in maturity and the righteousness of God fills them, the old heaven and old earth will metaphorically burst at the seams. Like old wineskins mentioned in Mark 2:22, the old earth will no longer be able to contain the spiritual growth and expansion of Christ’s body, the church.  At this time, the old heaven and old earth will be removed and will be rolled up like an outgrown garment (Hebrews 1:10-12).

 

In addition, Peter says that the old heaven and old earth will be burned and the elements will melt with fervent heat. When these elements are melted, will they be refined like gold, or will they be destroyed in the Lake of Fire? Will they be purified of impurities and made even more precious? Or will they be annihilated? Personally, I believe that the elements of the old heavens and old earth will be refined and purified of impurities so they can become part of the New Heaven and New Earth.

 

As people of the old creation, we are also part of the old heavens and old earth. Yet inside us is an element of newness that will one day fill our entire being. Paul says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Revelation 21:5 states, "And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.'" Once we have received the life of Christ, we begin the process of becoming a new creation, a process that will ultimately transform us into a bride filled with righteousness. The old heavens and old earth will then be transformed to match our level of growth, maturity, and newness. At this time, the old heavens and old earth will no longer be suitable as our dwelling place because they are filled with impurity. Just like we will one day receive glorious bodies, we will also receive a glorious new place to live.

 

As We Grow Spiritually, We Must Shed our Old Garments

 

Let’s look at some analogies that help us understand that the old heavens and the old earth are like old garments that need to be left behind as we grow. The first analogy is a snake that sheds its skin. As a snake grows, its skin can no longer accommodate its size. Perhaps its skin is only five inches long, but its body inside has grown to six inches long. The five-inch skin can no longer accommodate its growth and has become a hindrance to further growth. At this time, the snake must shed its skin to continue growing.

 

At every stage of spiritual growth, there must be an outward renewal to match our inward growth. When I was 4 feet tall, I wore clothes that fit my height. But when I grew to 5 feet, my 4-foot clothes no longer fit and had to be replaced. This doesn’t mean the 4-foot clothes disappeared; they simply were too small for me. In the same way, why must the old heavens and the old earth be rolled up like a garment? Why will the sea no longer exist? Because the life of God’s Son within us has grown to such a degree that the old heavens and the old earth—like old garments—can no longer contain the new spiritual life we now possess.

 

May God grant us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to understand this spiritual truth. Paul said, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). Our outer self—our physical body—is temporary, like a garment, while our inner self—our spiritual life—is permanent. As our inner self is renewed and grows day by day, our outer self wastes away. This experience is like the transformation of a dragonfly nymph into a full-grown dragonfly. Each time it sheds its skin, it is more mature and closer to being a full-grown dragonfly. Similarly, as we leave behind our old self, we gain a renewed spiritual life. This is a continuous process. Paul explains, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18). We must continually put off the old self, like an old garment, and put on the new self, like a new garment. One day, when we enter into glory and receive our glorified bodies, the transformation from nymph to dragonfly will be complete.

 

Jesus said to His disciples, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains” (Matthew 24:7–8). In this passage, who or what is being born? I believe new life is being birthed into the world in several ways. First, the male child is being born (cf. Revelation 12:5). Second, Christ’s bride is preparing to enter eternal glory (Revelation 19:7 and Romans 8). And finally, the New Earth and New Heavens are coming into being. When the sons of God enter into God’s glory, the New Jerusalem will descend from heaven, and the birth pains will come to an end. At that time, the New Heaven and New Earth will be filled with righteousness.

 

The present suffering we experience—wars, famines, and earthquakes—are birth pains that bring forth the new creation. They are part of the process by which the old heaven and old earth are left behind, much like a snake shedding its skin. In Romans 8, Paul mentions that all things work together for the good of those who love God. Certainly, this includes even the negative things. The old heavens and earth contain many bad things, such as war, famine, earthquakes, and the sea, which may contain negative elements. However, God is using these negative elements to promote the ultimate birth of the new creation.

 

The purpose of the old creation is to bring forth the new creation. Once the new creation is fully revealed, the old creation will no longer be needed. For example, an eggshell is crucial for preserving the life of the developing chick, but once the chick hatches, the shell is no longer needed. Similarly, when the New Heaven and New Earth are revealed, the old heaven, old earth, and sea will no longer be needed. Like an eggshell, they will be discarded after the new life has emerged.

 

However, the converse is also true. Before the new life emerges, the eggshell is crucial for the survival of the growing chick. In the same way, the old heavens and earth are essential for the growth and maturity of the body of Christ. Just as our old bodies are crucial for our survival until we receive our resurrected bodies, the old creation is necessary until we receive new creation. Right now, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Eventually, the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to our mortal bodies. When we finally enter God’s glory, He will give us resurrection bodies. But before the new creation arrives, we must preserve the old creation, because the new creation comes from the old creation.

 

The Sea is a Temporary Symbol of Judgment

 

As we have seen, the sea is a symbol of evil and contains evil spirits, beasts, souls of the dead, and Satanic elements. The sea may also contain the bottomless pit, which holds all kinds of evil. The sea functions like a prison where certain souls and evil spirits are confined as part of God's judgment.

 

1 Peter 3:19-20 says that Jesus “went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.” The prison mentioned here is Tartarus, the deep, dark pit. The same concept is also mentioned in 2 Peter 2:4: “God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment.” Clearly, this gloomy pit contains evil spirits and the souls of sinners—likely the ones who rejected Noah's invitation to board the ark. This passage says that Jesus went to this place of judgment to proclaim the gospel. If, in God's mercy, these souls eventually repent, then some of them may enter eternal life at the Great White Throne judgment.

 

God also mentions the angels that live in this place of judgment. Jude 1:6 says, “And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day.” When these spirits are judged at the Great White Throne, they will no longer need a temporary holding place. The gloomy pit and the sea will no longer be needed. Even Hades and Death will be thrown into the Lake of Fire.

 

When the sons of God enter God's glory, all creation will be liberated and set free. The entire old creation will pass away. Today, the old creation is gradually passing away. It is decaying day by day, just like our bodies. But the new creation is being renewed day by day. When one day the new creation is fully developed, the old creation will pass away.

 

Conclusion: We Must Experience Continuous Transformation and Growth

 

When the new creation arrives, the old creation will pass away. The new creation grows from within the old creation, and the old creation serves as a protective shell for the new creation, which is developing within it. Just like a snake needs its skin or a growing chick needs its shell, we need the old creation while we are growing and developing. But when we reach full maturity and enter God’s glory, the old creation will pass away.

 

Currently, the evil elements of the old creation are being used by God for his good purposes. They are the suffering that creates our maturity, and the birth pains that bring forth new life. One day, we will be set free from the old creation which has held us in bondage.

The process of growth and renewal is not only being experienced by the church as a whole, but also by individual Christians. Our outer self is decaying day by day, while our inner self is being renewed day by day.

 

We have seen that the sea is a temporary place for holding souls who will be judged. We must remember that judgment is merely a means to an end. God’s end goal is for people to repent, be saved, and mature in eternal life. This is the purpose of our loving God, whose thoughts toward us are thoughts of peace, not of disaster (Jeremiah 29:11). These words were originally spoken to the Israelites while they were in exile for their rebellion. Yet even then, God assured them of his good plans for their lives. In a similar way, we are now under the rule of Satan because of human sin and rebellion. However, God’s thoughts toward us are still good. Our difficult circumstances, hardships, and pain will ultimately help us grow and mature. When our new life is fully mature, we will shed the old life and enter into the new creation.

 

Bible Study With Jairus - Revelation 20 Part 2 Why Is Satan Released After the Millennial Kingdom?

Bible Study with Jairus: Revelation 20 part 2

Why Is Satan Released After the Millennial Kingdom?

 

In the second half of Revelation 20 (verses 5–15), we learn about the Millennial Kingdom, the release of Satan, the rebellion of the nations, and the Great White Throne judgment. This passage raises several interesting questions.

• After the thousand-year reign of Christ, during which time Satan is bound in the bottomless pit, why is Satan released to test the nations? Wouldn’t it be better if he remained in the pit?
• After experiencing the personal reign of Christ on earth, why do the nations still rebel?
• Why can’t the Millennial Kingdom transition directly into eternity?

These questions were raised by one of the members of the Bible study I teach, and they are perplexing questions for many. In this article, I will attempt to provide an explanation from the perspective of spiritual growth.

 

The temple worship of the Old Testament is a helpful metaphor that helps us understand this passage. In the Old Testament, God’s people approached Him in three stages. First, they entered the outer court, where they could worship God but not see Him face to face. Then, they entered the Holy Place, where they were only separated from Him by a veil. Finally, they entered the Most Holy Place, where the priests could experience face-to-face fellowship with Him. This progression from the outer court to the Holy Place and Most Holy Place represents a gradual process of drawing closer to God, partaking of His holy nature, and escaping the corruption in the world caused by sinful desires (2 Peter 1:4).

 

Although Christ's death has opened the way for all people to approach the Most Holy Place, only a small number of believers throughout history have attained this level of spiritual maturity. Few believers know how to draw near to God in the Most Holy Place. Those who reach this level of spiritual maturity are the overcomers, and when their number is complete, the Millennial Kingdom will begin.

 

The Millennial Kingdom is the result of the small-scale victory of a few overcomers. However, God desires to replicate this victory on a larger scale. During the Millennial Kingdom, the overcomers will help even more believers mature in their spiritual lives under Christ’s leadership.

 

At the end of the Millennial Kingdom, God releases Satan to test and deceive the nations. The release of Satan represents humanity's final trial, in which all people are given the opportunity to choose Christ and defeat Satan. The release of Satan will again separate these individuals with mature spiritual lives from those who rebel.

 

At this time, the majority of people on earth achieve spiritual victory. These individuals, along with original overcomers, will become part of the holy city, the New Jerusalem, and the prepared, spotless bride that descends from heaven as described in Revelation 21:2. Those who fail this final test, who join Satan in making war against the saints, will face ultimate destruction by fire (Revelation 20:9). After this, Satan will also be cast into the lake of fire and sulfur.

 

Without this final trial, there would be no widespread victory to usher in the new heaven, new earth, and the New Jerusalem. Suffering and trials are indispensable parts of the path toward spiritual maturity. Only those who have undergone and overcome trials are worthy of eternal life and of entering the new heaven, new earth, and the New Jerusalem. I believe that even in eternity, these mature believers will have the opportunity to perfect and assist others who have entered eternity but whose spiritual lives remain immature, including those allowed into eternity after the Great White Throne judgment. In the new heaven and new earth, people’s spiritual lives will still exist on a continuum between the outer court, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place. People will continue to have the opportunity in eternity to allow their spiritual lives to grow and mature further.

 

The Relationship Between Personal Spiritual Struggles and the Release of Satan

 

I have mentioned many times that there are many similarities between God's methods of dealing with the collective church and His methods of guiding our personal spiritual growth. When we see God’s work in our individual lives to lead us through suffering and trials toward spiritual maturity, we will have a deeper understanding of how He leads the church as Christ's bride toward maturity. In our personal spiritual journey, our usual attitude toward difficulties is to pray for God to remove them. However, God's solution is often not to remove the difficulty but to increase His grace. Paul once prayed three times for God to remove the thorn in his flesh. Regardless of what that thorn was, it must have been a significant difficulty in Paul's spiritual life. But the Lord's response to him was, "My grace is sufficient for you" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

 

Watchman Nee shared a similar story about a difficult situation he was facing in his life. No matter how much he prayed, the difficulty was not removed. One day, while he was on a boat trip, he saw the small boat stranded among various reefs. While he was concerned about how the boat would get out, the tide suddenly rose, and the boat smoothly floated away from the reefs. He immediately received the revelation that God's way of dealing with his difficulty was not to remove the rocks (the trouble), but to increase the grace (the rising tide).

 

This insight can help us understand why God released Satan to test the people on earth. Just like we find it difficult to understand why God does not remove our personal trials in answer to our prayers, we also struggle to understand why God released Satan after the Millennial Kingdom.

 

Jesus has already gained victory over Satan through His death and resurrection. However, each individual believer (as well as the collective church) must apply Christ’s victory to their personal lives. If Satan were bound without the saints achieving victory, our problem would not be ultimately solved. The difficulties we face are key to our maturity. When Satan is released after the Millennial Kingdom, he tests the nations and provides an opportunity for people to grow in maturity.

 

When Satan is released, God’s people will be victorious. As Jesus said, Satan has no hold on Jesus and no power over him (John 14:30). Therefore, whether Satan is released or not is not the key; the key is whether or not we gain the victory.

 

Some people believe that Satan is released to test the generation of people who were born during the Millennial Kingdom. According to this belief, these children born during the Millennial period do not yet know Jesus. However, this view raises some questions.

• If people continue to be born during the Millennial Kingdom, would any of them reach the end of their normal human lifespan and die without learning to know God?
• If Jesus is publicly reigning as King, how could there still be people who do not know God?

We cannot answer these questions for sure, but we do know that many people still oppose God after the Millennial Kingdom. Satan convinces them to rebel against God and attack the camp of the saints, which indicates that they do not know God. Despite having seen God and Christ personally reigning on earth, these people still rebel against them.

 

I believe these people’s final fate is similar to Satan’s. Revelation 19 mentions that these people are killed by the sword from Jesus' mouth, but there is no mention of their eternal end. However, the Great White Throne judgment will certainly reveal their final outcome.

 

Satan’s Final Deception and Humanity's Ultimate Rebellion Usher in the Great White Throne Judgment

 

God is the judge of the living and the dead. As Peter said, God's judgment begins with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17), those who are currently alive. The judgment we experience while we are alive is an opportunity for our spiritual growth.  

 

The dead will also eventually face judgment as an expression of God's justice. Many who have died may not have had the opportunity to hear the gospel, but perhaps they will hear it in the afterlife. Perhaps God's judgment of them will be based on their conscience and the record of their deeds. Those not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:12-15). Perhaps the dead will still have the opportunity to receive the gospel’s teachings in the afterlife. While this is not explicitly taught in the Bible, some prophetic writings mention similar ideas. For example, author Lai Wangxiulan mentions that the Lord told her that some people in the valley of the dead were receiving teachings from the Bible. Those who repented would enter paradise, while those who did not repent would go to hell. These accounts may refer to the judgment the dead will face in the future.

 

If these accounts are true, they help us better understand the passages in this chapter. If the dead still have an opportunity to repent in the future, then those who have died and faced judgment throughout history may not necessarily suffer the second death. It is important to clarify here that not everyone will have the chance to hear the gospel and repent after death. Only those who did not hear the gospel while alive, and are awaiting judgment at the Great White Throne, may have this opportunity. In addition, I believe the gospel will be preached to other people who were not immediately condemned to hell but who are awaiting judgment at the Great White Throne.

 

Ultimately, the fate of these individuals is God’s decision. At the Great White Throne, God will give the final verdict regarding the ultimate fate of the dead. Before this judgment, trials and sufferings may have provided people with the opportunity to decide whether to gain the victory and enter eternity. Those who are victorious are certainly those who have chosen Jesus Christ as their life and have entered eternity, but not all who have chosen Jesus Christ as their life are necessarily overcomers.

 

Understanding the Millennial Kingdom from this perspective might help us better grasp why Satan is released. First, what is the spiritual condition of the people alive during the Millennial Kingdom? If some are not yet saved, then the final trial by Satan is significant—it separates the wheat from the tares. One issue within Western Christianity is that many believers equate Biblical knowledge with a true relationship with God. If a person is familiar with Biblical terms, they assume they are close to God. If individuals alive during the Millennial Kingdom make the same mistake, this trial by Satan will expose their hearts.

 

Some people will be killed by the sword proceeding from the Lord’s mouth, but the Bible does not explicitly say they will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. God’s word says that he will burn the tares. Because of this, I believe that if these individuals sincerely repent after death (before the judgment at the Great White Throne takes place), they may still have the opportunity to enter eternal life.

 

When I was sharing the gospel with Chinese students on an American campus, I encountered a recent immigrant student who needed help. I provided him with a lot of assistance, but he did not accept the Lord. However, we became friends. Even though we are no longer in the same city, I still remember him in my prayers, hoping that one day circumstances will come into his life to help him ultimately accept Jesus Christ. He is my little lamb, and I care for him deeply. Similarly, I believe that God cares for and shepherds the people born during the Millennial Kingdom—even those who rebel. The trials that arise from Satan's temporary release after the Millennial Kingdom may cause some to stumble, but they may lead others to repentance. As I have mentioned before, suffering and trials are merely the means to an end. The ultimate goal is repentance and blessing of eternal life with God. God's mercy and wisdom are beyond what we can imagine.

 

David: I Will Make Your Enemies a Footstool for Your Feet

 

Finally, let’s talk about the importance of victory. One day, God will turn Satan’s trials into a stepping stool for us, helping us ascend to the victorious throne. As David said in the Psalms, "God has prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies" (Psalm 23:5).  This means that even when we face attacks from our enemies—just as David experienced countless attacks from Satan—God sets a table before us in the presence of our enemies. The question is, will we focus on the enemy's attacks, or will we focus on the table set before us by God?

 

The Bible says that the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet (Romans 16:20). Why? Because it is God's will and pleasure to give you the victory. And how do you crush Satan under your feet? You must overcome the trials, suffering, persecution, and stumbling blocks in your path, and you must also recognize the table that God has set before you in the midst of your suffering. When you live in the peace of God, you are lifted up to the third heaven to sit with the Lord on His throne. As a result, the God of peace crushes Satan under your feet, and you realize that the difficulties that once hindered you have become your footstool. David said: "The Lord said to my Lord, 'I will make your enemies your footstool.'" One day, Satan will become your footstool. He will become a stepping stool to help you ascend to the throne of God. God will make everything work together for your good, and you will see how great and beautiful God's will is.

 

With each small difficulty we overcome, we conquer Satan in one more way. Each trial becomes a stepping stool that allows us to ascend to the crown of life and the throne.

Bible Study With Jairus Revelation 19 (part 2) The Church’s Maturity Will Pave the Way for the Final Judgment and the Millennial Kingdom

Bible Study With Jairus
Revelation 19 (part 2)

The Church’s Maturity Will Pave the Way for the Final Judgment and the Millennial Kingdom

 

In Acts 19, we read about the seven sons of Sceva who attempted to cast out some demons. But they were not successful. Instead, the demons overpowered and harmed the men. The evil spirits even mocked them, saying, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15).

 

The inability to cast out demons is not limited to the seven sons of Sceva; it is a common experience for many Christians today. Demons and evil spirits are often at work in the lives of individuals and congregations, yet we are unable to identify and cast out these evil spirits. Not only can individual Christians be possessed by demons, but churches can also become a dwelling place for Satan when they accept the teachings of demons. The reason for this is a lack of spiritual maturity. Only when we reach the level of spiritual maturity of Paul or of Christ will we be able to successfully cast out demons from our lives and the church.

 

The final chapters of Revelation, including the latter part of chapter 19, describe the casting out of evil spirits on a cosmic scale. The Lord Jesus and His bride defeat the beast, the false prophet, and their kings at Armageddon. They then cast these evil forces out of the world. This passage not only describes the victorious Christ, but it also describes the bride’s pure white garments. I believe these garments represent purity and maturity. Even though the Lord Jesus has already won the victory on the cross, the beast and his followers cannot be judged until the bride reaches a place of victorious maturity.

 

This principle not only applies to the end times, but also to our present-day spiritual lives. Difficulty and oppression from evil spirits are tools that God uses to bring us to maturity. As we mature spiritually, we will be victorious over the evil spirits that are affecting a certain area of our lives.

 

Let's take a detailed look at the latter part of this chapter, which includes descriptions of Christ, His bride, and their victory over the beast, the false prophet, and the kings. This passage not only contains future prophecy, but also wise principles that we can apply to the church and the world today.

 

In Revelation 2:26, Jesus promised the church in Thyatira that the one who overcomes will be given authority to rule the nations with a rod of iron. We often think that this victorious authority will happen automatically once we go to heaven. As a result, we often overlook the process of suffering that is necessary to reach this victorious state. We forget that we need to apply Christ’s victory to our lives today so we can gain victory over sin and struggle. Only then will we have the maturity to rule over the nations with authority. If we merely hope for the arrival of the Millennial Kingdom so we can reign with Christ, we overlook the process and jump directly to the end. It is impossible to attain victory without going through the process of suffering. As Paul encouraged the disciples, “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Suffering is an indispensable path to growing in spiritual maturity, attaining a victorious life, and entering God's kingdom.

 

What is true of the individual believer is also true of the collective church. The maturity of the bride and the victory of the church, as recorded in Revelation 19, are the result of countless individual believers gaining maturity through suffering. Without the victory and maturity of individual believers, there is no collective maturity of the church as the bride and body of Christ.

 

Many Christians do not pursue personal spiritual growth and victory, but only long for the New Jerusalem to descend from heaven or for the sudden return of the Lord Jesus. This is irresponsible and childish behavior, akin to spiritual infancy. Without suffering, there can be no spiritual maturity, and many Christians who are unwilling to learn and grow from suffering are destined to fail to reach spiritual maturity.

 

The Fullness of Life Within and the Manifestation of Righteousness Without

 

In Revelation 19, the victorious bride is wearing fine linen which represents the righteous acts of the saints. On the surface, it may seem like this verse is encouraging us to do righteous deeds. However, if we are not filled with God's life within, we cannot produce righteous deeds (fine linen) outwardly.

 

Jesus said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil” (Matthew 12:34-35). What fills our hearts will inevitably be revealed externally. Jesus' brother, James, also said, “Can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water” (James 3:12). Only when we are filled with the life of Jesus Christ and God can his life be manifested in the righteous acts of the body of Christ, which is the bride.

 

We must first experience the filling of the Holy Spirit and the life of Jesus Christ in our spirits, and then we can experience the outward renewal and transformation of our souls and offer our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). When we are filled with God's life, we will live out the righteous deeds of Christ, manifesting the fine linen.

 

Jesus Christ is the fullness of God, and the body of Christ is the fullness of Christ. Therefore, together with Christ the Head, we become the fullness of God, manifested throughout the universe, filling all things. Without the inward fullness of Christ, we cannot accomplish external acts, such as casting out evil spirits. Only when the church is full of Christ will the final judgment take place. The church’s maturity brings about the judgment of all things, including the beast, the false prophet, the kings, and even Satan.

 

In the letters from Jesus to the seven churches, we see that God intends for the church to receive the fullness of God's life within. In the letter to the church in Thyatira, overcoming believers receive authority to rule the nations with a rod of iron (Revelation 2:26). As we’ve discussed in other lessons, we can only receive this rod of iron by overcoming “the deep things of Satan” (2:24), which means exposing and removing the work of Satan and evil spirits from our lives. How can we remove evil spirits from our lives? This can only happen when Christ’s life fills us. The more we are filled with the life of Christ, the less room there is for Satan and evil spirits to work within us. Jesus was so filled with the Holy Spirit that he could say about Satan, “He has no claim on me” (John 14:30). As we are filled with Jesus Christ, we can conquer Satan and produce the righteous deeds that are mentioned in the next letter, the letter to Sardis.

 

After the letter to Thyatira lays the foundation of being filled with Christ’s life internally, the letter to the church in Sardis explains how the church can manifest outward righteousness. Jesus promises that those who overcome in Sardis will be dressed in white garments and will walk with Him in white (Revelation 3:4-5).

 

The message to these two individual churches reflects the experience of the universal church in Revelation 19. In other words, the authority to rule the nations with a rod of iron (which results from being filled with Jesus’ life) and the promise of being clothed with white garments (messages to Thyatira and Sardis in Revelation chapters 2-3), is fully expanded and manifested in Revelation 19. The latter part of Revelation 19 describes how Christ’s victory and the church’s victory give them the authority to rule the nations with a rod of iron and to defeat the beast, the false prophet, and the armies of the kings. It also shows the bride, clothed in white, walking with the Lord. The bride, as the victorious body of Christ, joins the Lord in judging the nations and the evil spirits behind them.

 

This principle is not only applicable to the end times described in Revelation, but can also be applied to our personal spiritual lives today. If we are filled with the life of Jesus Christ, we can overcome the deep things of Satan and defeat the enemy's work in us. Then we will be able to walk with the Lord in white garments, displaying Christ's righteous deeds in our lives. Through his victory, we can be included in the 144,000.

 

The Crown on Christ's Head and the Robes Dipped in Blood

 

How do we experience being filled with God’s life today? By looking to Christ and imitating Him, as Paul said, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). How do we imitate Christ? By having a true knowledge and revelation of Him. When Jesus came to the earth, many did not recognize Him, and some even mistook Him for Elijah or John the Baptist. However, when He asked His disciples who they thought He was, Peter declared that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Peter received this revelation from God the Father Himself. As a result, Jesus called Peter the rock, and said the church would be built upon this rock, and the gates of hell would not be able to overcome it.

 

The degree to which we are filled with God's life depends on how deeply we comprehend the revelation of Jesus Christ. As we gaze upon and look to the Lord Jesus, we experience transformation. Just as a mirror, we reflect the glory of the Lord, and are transformed into His glorious image, from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:16). The truth revealed by Paul is the key to understanding the victory of the churches of Thyatira and Sardis in Revelation 2-3. Our understanding of Jesus, particularly through revelation, will ultimately allow us to transform into his image.

 

In Revelation 19, Jesus reveals a vision of his traits and characteristics that can help His people reach maturity. Revelation 19:11 tells us that “the heavens were opened.” This is reminiscent of what happened in Revelation chapters 4-5, when John sees “a door standing open in heaven,” and hears the sound of a trumpet. He is then taken in the Spirit to heaven, where he sees God’s throne and God’s work on the throne. Therefore, John sees that “the heavens were opened” here, and then begins to unveil a series of characteristics and descriptions of Christ.

 

The characteristics of Christ described in Revelation 19 are the key to the church’s transformation and victory. By knowing Christ personally and understanding the traits of Jesus Christ revealed in Revelation 19:11-16, the church is built up to maturity. The depiction of Christ in this passage is inseparable from the subsequent description of the church wearing white garments and judging the beast, false prophet, and the kings with the Lord. The more we understand and absorb the revelation of Christ, the more we understand our identity and position in Christ, and the more authority we gain to govern the universe and tread on serpents and scorpions.

 

The descriptions of Christ in Revelation 19 are deliberate and significant, emphasizing His role as the ultimate judge coming to judge the whole world and to avenge the martyrs. In Revelation 6, John saw the saints under the altar, crying out for justice (6:10). In that passage, God told them that the number of those to be martyred was not yet completed. By the time we reach Revelation 19, the number is complete and the time has come for justice.

 

The cry for justice from the saints, which is a request to judge Babylon the Great, has already been recorded in detail in the first half of Revelation 19. The second half of the chapter describes Christ as the great Judge who judges the Beast, the False Prophet, and the kings of the earth. Verse 11 reveals Jesus sitting on a white horse. He is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. Verse 12 describes Jesus’ eyes as being like a flame of fire, which symbolizes judgment. On His head are many diadems, symbolizing His victory. The verse also says He has a name written on him that only He Himself knows, which indicates His complete victory in every aspect. He is clothed in a garment dipped in blood, referring to the work of His precious blood, which has permeated His robe. This symbolizes that His body (the church) has been cleansed by His blood. These saints have been purified by the blood of Jesus and have been martyred for His testimony. The fine linen worn by the saints has also been purified by His blood. The righteousness of Jesus Christ fills both Christ and His body, the church. The more we understand Christ, who is the head of His body, the more we experience the purity of His cleansing blood in our lives (represented by the fine linen worn by the saints).

 

Revelation 19 describes Christ’s body, the church, as a heavenly army. They are riding on white horses like He is, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, following Him. This confirms what I said earlier, that the body of Christ, the church, is cleansed by Christ's precious blood, righteousness, and holiness.

 

As the description of Jesus continues, we learn that He has a sword coming out of His mouth, which can strike down the nations. He will rule them with a rod of iron (19:15). This further confirms that Revelation 19 depicts the victory of both Christ and believers. Like the believers in the church of Thyatira, all victorious believers will rule the nations with a rod of iron.

 

The letters written by Jesus to the seven churches are secrets to victory for both individual Christians and the church as a whole. While the letters to the churches teach the principles to individual churches, Revelation 19 reveals the victory that happens when the collective church applies the principles. The principles revealed in both passages are the same, and understanding these principles will help us better comprehend the book of Revelation. The former is a prototype, the latter is its fulfillment.

 

Revelation 19:15 tells us that Jesus Christ will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty, bringing about the final judgment on the beast, the false prophet, the kings, and Satan. In verse 16, we learn that on His robe and thigh, He has a name written: King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. He is the Lord who judges all.

 

The Relationship Between the Help of the Heavenly Army and the Maturity of Our Lives

 

In Revelation 19:17, an angel summons the flying birds to gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings and of nations. The flying birds are a part of God's creation, and they help Him execute judgment upon the rebellious kings and people. This demonstrates that even angels and birds can help execute God's judgment, when He commands it.

 

The false prophet, evil beasts, and kings whom God is judging are part of a greater system that ironically helps God’s chosen people grow and mature. They are like scaffolding that remain in place until the construction is complete. What is God building? He is building the New Jerusalem. The evil kings are like scaffolding, which remain in place until construction is finished.

 

Another image that helps us understand the role of the kings of the earth is the image that King Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream in Daniel 2. A stone that is not cut by human hands will strike the feet of the great image, crushing it. The stone will then fill the earth, at which point the whole earth will become the kingdom of our Lord and Christ.

 

The beast, the false prophet, and others are merely branches attached to the great tree (Daniel 4). When it is cut down, the stump of Jesse will remain (Isaiah 11:1). Then new branches will grow from the stump. The great tree of Christ and His new bride will grow.

 

Revelation 19:19-21 records how the beast and the kings of the earth, along with their armies, fight against the one riding the white horse and are defeated. The beast and the false prophets who worship its image are captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. The rest are slain by the sword that comes from the mouth of Him who sits on the white horse, and all the birds are gorged with their flesh. Jesus Christ judges the beast, the false prophet, and the rebellious kings and civilians. Those who worship the image of the beast will receive a double punishment. Their souls will be tormented eternally in the lake of fire, and their flesh will be eaten by flying birds. This is a symbolic image, paralleling the cutting down of the branches of Nebuchadnezzar's great tree.

 

Conclusion: We Must Eagerly Long for Spiritual Maturity

 

Many people read the book of Revelation from the perspective of the end times. They focus on understanding its signs so they can identify the Antichrist and the beast in the present-day world. While it is important for us to be alert and recognize the signs of the end times and the characteristics of the Antichrist so we can be watchful in prayer, our main focus in reading the book of Revelation should be on spiritual growth. Without spiritual maturity in our individual Christian lives, it is impossible to gain the victory over Satan in our own personal lives. Before we can even speak of ruling the nations, we must overcome Satan in our own lives and in the lives of our families. It is unfortunate that many Christians look forward to ruling the nations when they cannot even rule their own lives. As a result, Satan is gaining a foothold in their lives and the lives of their families. They are not making use of the tools Jesus has provided, which will give us victory and authority over Satan in our personal lives. Only when we rule over Satan with a rod of iron in our own lives will we be able to use our God-given authority to rule the nations with a rod of iron.

 

Similarly, when Christ’s church reaches maturity, we will receive a rod of iron to rule the nations and bring judgment on the rebellious nations, the false prophet, and the beast, ushering in the millennial kingdom. I hope that all Christians will deeply meditate on the seven letters Jesus wrote to the churches, as they lay the foundation for the judgments depicted at the end of Revelation. Without the collective maturity of Christ’s body, the church, the millennial kingdom cannot come. The millennial kingdom is not merely something that descends from heaven; it is the fruit of our spiritual maturity.

 

Our job is not simply to wait for the return of the Lord Jesus. He declared, “I am coming soon,” over two thousand years ago, yet He has not yet returned. He is waiting for us to mature spiritually so that we can become His pure bride and His powerful army, ready to marry Him and defeat His enemies. May we all pray in this way: “Lord, I long for Your return, but I desire even more to mature quickly.”

 

Bible Study with Jairus Revelation 19 (part 1) God's Salvation Approaches Its Completion

Bible Study with Jairus
Revelation 19 (part 1)

God's Salvation Approaches Its Completion

 

In Revelation 19:7, the Biblical story of salvation reaches a turning point of great significance. This verse says, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready” (NIV). The bride’s preparation is a source of great joy. Why is this such an important turning point?

 

Romans 8:21 reveals an important link between the salvation of God’s people and the restoration of all creation. One day, God will release His creation “from its bondage to decay” and bring it into “the glorious freedom of the children of God” (Romans 8:21, NIV). This will only take place when God’s sons are revealed (Romans 8:19, NIV). God will ultimately restore all of creation to its original perfection—but only when God’s children are also set free and revealed.

 

God says: “all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). But his purpose links together creation and his children. All creation longs to be set free. It waits with eager longing for the sons of God to enter into glory. Only then can it be set free from bondage (Romans 8:21). This passage reveals God's method of salvation.

 

The story of God’s plan to restore this broken world can be traced back to Genesis. After He created the universe, God declared that his creation was good. But when He created humanity, He called mankind “very good.” This was before humanity’s fall.

 

Before the fall, everything was good, and God’s design for his creation remained intact. However, after Satan’s rebellion, both the heavens and the earth were defiled. One-third of the angels were cast out of heaven, and after humanity succumbed to Satan's deception and rebellion, all of creation fell under a curse. As a result of this disrupted order, lions became predators and venomous serpents began to harm humans. All these were consequences of creation being subjected to bondage.

 

Yet, Isaiah speaks of a future restoration when all things will be renewed: “The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain” (Isaiah 65:25). Even serpents suffer under this bondage. Because Satan used a snake for his evil purposes, all serpents were cursed by God. However, when all things are restored, even snakes will no longer harm anyone.

 

So, how can all of creation be restored? What is the overarching theme of God's plan of salvation? God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus, through His sacrifice on the cross, became our redemption, taking away our sins so that we might return to the Father. God accomplished this work through Christ and now offers salvation to all who believe. But not everyone will accept his salvation and enter into the glory of the sons of God. The difference between those who accept His gift and those who do not is a central theme of the Scripture.

 

Jesus Christ is the firstborn Son of God, and all who believe are also sons. We are predestined to enter into God’s glory. However, we go through stages of growth and maturity as we grow into our full glory as sons of God. After being born again, we start out like little children. Then we grow and mature to become full-grown sons. Finally, we become heirs of God through Christ. These stages represent the continual process of transformation. As we mature and ultimately enter into the glory of God's sons, God promises that creation will be set free from its bondage.

 

In Revelation 19, God's plan of salvation is near completion. The bride represents the mature sons of God as they enter His glory. At the same time, the judgment of the great harlot symbolizes God's judgment on Satan and the evil spirits, who have subjected creation to bondage. During the Battle of Armageddon, Christ and His bride defeat the beast and his great harlot. After this battle, the creation will be set free from its bondage.

 

From Children to Heirs: A Spiritual Progression

 

The Bible reveals a process of maturation for God’s children, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. God’s sons must move from infancy to childhood and then to mature sons ready to become heirs. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were like infants, needing the law as a guardian to discipline and guide them (Galatians 3:23-25). However, when Jesus Christ came, He became the fulfillment of the law, so that everyone who believes in Him would be justified by faith (Romans 10:4). The Israelites had to transition from being led by the law as their guardian to accepting the personal leadership of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As we trust in Him and grow spiritually, we become mature sons, ready to inherit His glory.

 

When the Apostle Paul speaks of God’s children, he uses two distinct Greek words to describe the progression from children to heirs. In Romans 8:16, the word "children" in Greek is teknon ("The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God"). However, in verse 17, it says, "and if children, then heirs." In this verse, the word for children is “huios,” which refers to a mature son. This is the word used when the Father says of Jesus, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).

The entire Biblical story, from the Old Testament to the New Testament, describes a process of growth in the lives of God’s children. But many Israelites rejected this growth, and as a result, many failed to recognize Jesus when he appeared.

When the disciples asked Jesus which prophet was the greatest, Jesus said that John was greater than all Old Testament prophets; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven was greater than John (Matthew 11:11). Why? Because no OT prophet had Jesus or the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. But even the least in the kingdom of heaven has Jesus and the Holy Spirit living within them. Since Jesus is greater than Solomon and the temple (Matthew 12:6), those in the kingdom of heaven who have Jesus and the Holy Spirit dwelling within them, are naturally greater than John. But since many Israelites rejected this process of growth and maturity, they were unwilling to accept the justification that Jesus brought.

 

In 1 John 2:12-14, the Apostle John mentions three stages of spiritual growth that mirror the stages of natural development. Believers start out less mature, like little children. They then grow in maturity, like young men. Finally, they reach the stage of a spiritual father. I believe the American church is in the young man stage. On the other hand, countries like China are in the first stage of maturity. These countries have not yet been evangelized, and the percentage of believers is still very small. For example, in China, there are only about 6% Christians. Although the spiritual life of each individual Christian can vary greatly, the spiritual life of China as a nation is often very immature. The influence of Christian culture within society is also quite limited. In contrast, the United States is in the young man stage because 65% of the population identifies as Christian, and Christian culture has permeated society. Although there is still much corruption in the United States, it is still stronger than countries like China, which are in a pre-gospel state. As the Chinese saying goes, “The sickly camel is still bigger than the horse.”

 

That is not to say that American Christians have no room for growth. Many American Christians refuse to grow spiritually, and teenagers are in rebellion. This creates many issues in society. If the American Christians would continue to grow spiritually, they would not only be able to address the political and social issues in the United States, but they could also bring a greater and more positive influence to the world.

 

What does maturity look like in a child of God? On an individual level, maturity refers to a victorious life, reigning with the Lord on the throne (Revelation 3:21). On a collective level, it refers to entering into the glory of God's sons, reigning with Jesus Christ. At that time, we become the mature heirs of God as his bride. This is the scene described in Revelation 19:7-9.

 

The three main sections of the Bible also mirror the three stages of growth and maturity in the life of God’s people.

1. The first stage includes the entire Old Testament and the Gospels. During this period, the Israelites are like spiritual children. In the Gospels, the Lord Jesus told His disciples that there were many things they did not understand and could not yet bear, and that they would only understand them when the Holy Spirit came.
2. The book of Acts and the epistles address the church’s spiritual growth pains. In one of Paul's letters, he mentions that the Corinthians should have grown to the point of eating solid food, but instead, they were still spiritual infants, only able to drink milk.
3. In John’s letters, some believers have reached the stage of spiritual “fathers.” The Book of Revelation highlights various trials that have helped believers mature. Although there have been victorious saints throughout the ages, the collective process of spiritual growth began in Genesis and ended in revelation.

 

The Bride’s Fine Linen Represents the Manifestation of God’s Glory

 

Another metaphor that God uses to describe His people is the Bride. What does the term "Bride" mean? It means we are filled with the life of Jesus Christ to the extent that His life is manifested through us, and we become His replica. We do not shine on our own, but we are clothed with bright, clean, fine linen, allowing God's light to shine through us. The fine linen represents the righteous deeds of the saints. When we are justified by faith in Christ, we are filled with the life of God. This life makes us pure and bright, like a bright inner light. This light shines out through the semi-transparent fine linen we are wearing. The linen represents our righteous acts, which demonstrate the life of God within us.

 

The Bride of Christ, a replica of Christ, signifies the completion of God’s will. In addition, this metaphor describes a pairing. Those chosen by God as His bride become the New Jerusalem, which is described in the next chapter as the Lamb's wife (see Revelation 21). These three metaphors all describe the experience of God’s people. We are the sons of God waiting to be glorified; we are the bride of the Lamb; and we are the New Jerusalem.

 

After we are transformed by God's redemption and united with the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, all things will enter into God's glory. This is what is spoken of in the beginning of Colossians 3, where Paul says, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Like a carnation flower hidden within its seed, our lives are hidden with Christ in God. When He is revealed, we will also be “revealed with Him in glory.” One day, Jesus Christ will be revealed as described in Revelation 19, and we will also be revealed with Him and will enter into the glory of God's sons. Right now, we are like the seed of a carnation—not very impressive or beautiful. But when Christ’s life is revealed, the beauty of our lives will unfurl like a flower.

 

At that time, the scene described in Revelation 19 will take place. We will praise God, and He will judge the great harlot. Before we reach this level of maturity, however, all creation will be ruled by the great harlot, Babylon the Great. This is why Revelation 19:1-6 records the judgment of Babylon the Great.

 

The Harlot, Babylon the Great, Creates Suffering and Growth

In Revelation 19, the great city of Babylon (the harlot) is mentioned for the last time. After that, it is burned. In Revelation 18, it is important to note that God crushes Babylon the Great rather than simply burning it. This is because Babylon the Great has imprisoned many believers. During a process of purification, God saves the lost sheep trapped in Babylon the Great. Only then does he begin to burn Babylon (18:9). In this chapter, God tells us once again that “the smoke from her burning goes up forever and ever” (19:3).

 

In Romans, Paul says that believers will one day enter into the glory of the children of God. After our victory, when the scene described in Revelation 19 takes place, all things will be restored. We as believers will be freed from the oppression of the enemy, and creation will be set free from bondage. All of creation will be renewed, just as Isaiah foretold.

 

Babylon the Great is evil, but her influence is a double-edged sword. As Paul says in the book of Romans, all things work together for good for those who love God. Babylon’s oppression is bad, but it will be used by God to create good. The sufferings Babylon creates help push people toward spiritual maturity. On one hand, she oppresses us, but on the other hand, these sufferings force us to mature. The intense sufferings described in Revelation are part of God’s plan to create intense maturity.

 

In Revelation 19:1, a great multitude in heaven praises God, shouting “Hallelujah.” They praise God's judgment as true and just and glorify God for avenging the blood of His servants (19:2). This corresponds to the prayer of the saints under the altar in Revelation 6, who cried out for vengeance but were told to wait a little while until the number of those who would be killed like them was complete. I believe that in Revelation 19, the number of martyrs who would be slain by Babylon the Great has reached its full number. This is why God judges Babylon the Great. In 19:3, the saints once again say, “Hallelujah.”

 

I also noticed that the saints say, that “the smoke of her [Babylon’s] burning goes up forever and ever.” Although it doesn't mention Babylon being thrown into the lake of fire in this passage, the reference to “burning forever” points indirectly to the judgment of the great harlot in the lake of fire. This is the first time I have noticed this.

 

The next passage describes the 24 elders who are praising God because His work has been completed. All they can say in response is, “Amen, Hallelujah.” These 24 elders are mentioned three times in Revelation, each time in the context of worship—particularly when God accomplishes a great work. At those magnificent moments, the 24 elders, along with the four living creatures, worship the One who sits on the throne, saying, “Amen! Hallelujah!” Here, the 24 elders have nothing else to say but “Amen” and “Halleluiah,” because God has finished His great work.

 

In the Bible, there are three significant places where the completion of God’s great work is mentioned. After the Heavenly Father completed the work of creation in the Old Testament, the Bible says “the heavens and the earth were completed” (Genesis 2:1). After the completion of His work of creation, God rested. Similarly, when the Lord Jesus was crucified, He also declared, "It is finished." His death on the cross marked the fulfillment of Christ's work of redemption. However, in the book of Revelation (10:7, 16:17, 21:6), the term "It is done" refers to the bride being fully mature and prepared for her husband, Christ (Revelation 21:6). This indicates that the work of the Holy Spirit was finished. He had transformed Christ's body, the church, into a spotless bride presented to God. After all creation is restored, and God's work is fully completed, then God says, "It is done." Heaven then bursts into joyous celebration and praises God. Following the praise of the 24 elders, a voice from the throne resounds, calling all creation to worship God. I believe this signifies Christ on the throne, leading all creation in worship of God. Subsequently, the heavenly multitude, which is the Body of Christ, responds to Christ’s leadership and begins to praise God.

 

Conclusion:

 

The vision presented in Revelation 19:1-10 portrays a heavenly scene in which God's salvation nears completion.

 

The first half of Revelation 19 reveals three topics:

• The judgment of Babylon the Great
• The preparation of the bride
• Christ leading the bride (and all creation) in to praise God.

 

The latter half of the chapter unveils Christ's body (the bride) engaging in battle under Christ’s leadership. In the Battle of Armageddon, the church and Christ battle the beast, the false prophet, and the kings who are allied with them. Ultimately, they are defeated, and the beast and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire.

 

What event precipitates the final judgment? The maturity of Christ’s bride. When she is fully prepared and mature, and the sons of God enter into glory, all these events begin to unfold. God will not judge Babylon the Great until the bride is mature and the number of martyrs is complete. But when the bride is ready, God judges and burns Babylon.

 

At the same time, the bride attends the marriage supper of the Lamb, and Christ takes her as His own. Christ then leads His bride (and all creation) in a magnificent song of praise to God, who sits on the throne. The 24 elders also bow down to worship and praise God.

 

Finally, the words of Paul are fulfilled: All things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth will be united in worship of God through Christ, fully manifesting God’s wisdom to all creation. Paul writes that his goal is “to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 3:9-10). Perhaps this is why the 24 elders are so awestruck. When all things are restored, and all of creation worships God under the leadership of Christ and His bride, they marvel at God’s wisdom and offer heartfelt praise.

 

As Christ’s bride enters the glory of the sons of God, all creation is released from its bondage, and we as believers begin to share in Christ’s glory. After Christ is united with His bride, they confront the beast, the false prophet, and their kings before finally defeating Satan, the ancient serpent.

 

Today’s church is far from mature. We are not yet ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb. This is why I do not believe we are in the end times. Christ’s return cannot be imminent because His bride is not yet mature. We must set aside our speculations about the last days and instead learn the lessons of maturity that God wants to teach us through suffering in this present age. Only then will we be prepared to become Christ’s mature bride.