Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 11:1
11:1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worshipthere.
The measuring rod, the one of the shepherd, or the shepherding word means the true teaching word that is trusted by God to a shepherd to be conveyed to congregation with faithfully, continuously, orderly, and repetitively as meal for the congregation. It becomes command to arrange what we must do and must not do as well as to measure our spiritual life.
There are two things that are measured by the shepherding word as follows:
We learn the first point, namely 'the temple of God'.
It refers to our life.
1 Corinthians 3:16
3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
The temple of God is the Tabernacle.
Exodus 25:1-9
25:1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
25:2 "Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.
25:3 "And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze;
25:4 "blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats' hair;
25:5 "ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood;
25:6 "oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense;
25:7 "onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.
25:8 "And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.
25:9 "According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.
The measurement is the heart that is willing to sacrifice. God never forces man. For example, God asked a man who had an infirmity: "do you want to be made well?".
Thus, the measurement of the temple of God or the Tabernacle is the heart that is willing to sacrifice. It starts from returning the tithe and the special offering.
The titheis a confession that we have been blessed by God. The base is righteousness (1/10).
The special offeringis a thanksgiving that we have been blessed by God. The base is willingness.
Malachi 3:8-9
3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.
3:9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
If we do neither return the God's nor fulfill the measurement of the temple of God, we will enter the persecution of Antichrist for three and a half years.
There are five materials which were offered for building the Tabernacle as follows:
The temple of God or Tabernacle is the form of unity that comes from different materials. Thus, the temple of God refers to our life that must be measured as well as the fellowship.
The fellowship starts from marriage, shepherding, inter-shepherding, up to the unity of the perfect body of Christ. We are different in tribe, social status, church organization, the ministry, and the gift of Holy Spirit, but we have one Head, that is one true teaching word. The right ministry must be encouraged by one true teaching word.
Acts 2:41-42
2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The temple of God meansas follows:
The Tabernacle comes from the unity whose materials are no longer mentioned because they have been one. The meaning is that we cannot be self-assertive in the fellowship of the body of Christ. If we want to show ourselves or we feel more important than others, we will ignore others. In the other hand, if we feel powerless, we will support each other.
If we are not self-assertive, there will be seven positives things in the temple of God as follows:
James 5:17-18
5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
5:18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
We can pray and worship God or we become the house of prayer. Then, the miracle happens. It starts from the life renewal from carnal man to spiritual one like Jesus, namely being strong and of good courage. We are not disappointed or desperate and do not leave God whatever the risk may come. We are faithful and fervent in the service and ministry to God until the end line.
1 Kings 19:1-4
19:1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword.
19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."
19:3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!"
Elijah was desperate in facing the false teaching and the dryness or economy crisis for three and a half years. We must still believe and hope to God, none else.
1 Kings 18:41-46
18:41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain."
18:42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,
18:43 and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again."
18:44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.'"
18:45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.
18:46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
We must keep on persevering, waiting the time of God. Then, the cloud, as small as a man's hand, or the lovingkindnes hands of God are able to do the great miracle for us. The impossible thing becomes possible.
It continues until the last miracle. We are changed to become perfect when Jesus comes a second time.
God blesses us.
Revelation 11:1
11:1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worshipthere.
The measuring rod, the one of the shepherd, or the shepherding word means the true teaching word that is trusted by God to a shepherd to be conveyed to congregation with faithfully, continuously, orderly, and repetitively as meal for the congregation. It becomes command to arrange what we must do and must not do as well as to measure our spiritual life.
There are two things that are measured by the shepherding word as follows:
- The temple of God.
- The altar and those who worship there (the Golden Altar of Incense).
We learn the first point, namely 'the temple of God'.
It refers to our life.
1 Corinthians 3:16
3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
The temple of God is the Tabernacle.
Exodus 25:1-9
25:1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
25:2 "Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.
25:3 "And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze;
25:4 "blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats' hair;
25:5 "ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood;
25:6 "oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense;
25:7 "onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.
25:8 "And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.
25:9 "According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.
The measurement is the heart that is willing to sacrifice. God never forces man. For example, God asked a man who had an infirmity: "do you want to be made well?".
Thus, the measurement of the temple of God or the Tabernacle is the heart that is willing to sacrifice. It starts from returning the tithe and the special offering.
The titheis a confession that we have been blessed by God. The base is righteousness (1/10).
The special offeringis a thanksgiving that we have been blessed by God. The base is willingness.
Malachi 3:8-9
3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.
3:9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
If we do neither return the God's nor fulfill the measurement of the temple of God, we will enter the persecution of Antichrist for three and a half years.
There are five materials which were offered for building the Tabernacle as follows:
- Metal: gold, silver, and bronze.
- Plant: wood, oil, and linen.
- Animal: skin, hair.
- Stone: jewels.
- Shells: for coloring.
The temple of God or Tabernacle is the form of unity that comes from different materials. Thus, the temple of God refers to our life that must be measured as well as the fellowship.
The fellowship starts from marriage, shepherding, inter-shepherding, up to the unity of the perfect body of Christ. We are different in tribe, social status, church organization, the ministry, and the gift of Holy Spirit, but we have one Head, that is one true teaching word. The right ministry must be encouraged by one true teaching word.
Acts 2:41-42
2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The temple of God meansas follows:
- [Verse 41] The right and saved life or the Court of the Tabernacle. It is not measured.
Revelation 11:2
11:2 "But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. - [Verse 42] The shepherded life that enters the sheepfold or has the perseverance in doing the three main services to God. It refers to the Holy Place. It continues to perfection or the Holy of Holiest.
The Tabernacle comes from the unity whose materials are no longer mentioned because they have been one. The meaning is that we cannot be self-assertive in the fellowship of the body of Christ. If we want to show ourselves or we feel more important than others, we will ignore others. In the other hand, if we feel powerless, we will support each other.
If we are not self-assertive, there will be seven positives things in the temple of God as follows:
- Be kindly affectionate to one another.
Romans 12:10
12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
We do neither harm, deceive, nor hurt others (because hurting others is the same as hurting God). We do not repay the evil with evil, but kindness. - In honor giving preference to one another.
- Admonishing one another.
Romans 15:14
15:14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
It is especially about the ministry [Hebrews 10:25]. - Edifying one another.
Romans 14:19
14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
We strengthen one another to create the peace. It is the strong foundation to receive the blessing of God. - Helping one another.
Ephesians 4:2
4:2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, - Confessing and forgiving one another.
James 5:16
5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. - Praying for one another.
James 5:17-18
5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
5:18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
We can pray and worship God or we become the house of prayer. Then, the miracle happens. It starts from the life renewal from carnal man to spiritual one like Jesus, namely being strong and of good courage. We are not disappointed or desperate and do not leave God whatever the risk may come. We are faithful and fervent in the service and ministry to God until the end line.
1 Kings 19:1-4
19:1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword.
19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."
19:3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!"
Elijah was desperate in facing the false teaching and the dryness or economy crisis for three and a half years. We must still believe and hope to God, none else.
1 Kings 18:41-46
18:41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain."
18:42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,
18:43 and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again."
18:44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.'"
18:45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.
18:46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
We must keep on persevering, waiting the time of God. Then, the cloud, as small as a man's hand, or the lovingkindnes hands of God are able to do the great miracle for us. The impossible thing becomes possible.
It continues until the last miracle. We are changed to become perfect when Jesus comes a second time.
God blesses us.