Bible Study With Jairus

Bible Study with Jairus: Revelation 18 (Part 3)

God Strips Away the Desires of Babylon

Beginning in Revelation 16, God deals with the sins of Babylon (16:19). This continues until chapter 19, where the saints praise God for judging Babylon, the great prostitute (19:2-3). Chapter 14 also discusses God's judgment on Babylon.

As we have mentioned multiple times, the great prostitute is the opposite of the Bride of Christ. While the Bride of Christ represents people who love Christ, Babylon represents people who have surrendered to evil spirits and the worldly system. Babylon is full of evil spirits and sinners.

How did these individuals become such a great prostitute? We cannot help but recall the Apostle John's definition of the world: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

We can also say that the world is Babylon, and Babylon is the world. This world is a system established by Satan and his evil spirits to entrap people. Satan uses the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life to take away people’s love for the Father and worship of Him.

Therefore, God's judgment on Babylon deals with these three elements by taking away the things people longed for. Each person longed for different items, including gold, gems, spices, food, expensive building materials and cloth, and other technology and produce (12-13). In the process of judging Babylon, God deprived people of the various things they were previously infatuated with, which included the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Revelation 18:14 says, “The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you and all your delicacies and your splendors are lost to you, never to be found again!” The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are the ripe fruits that the Babylonian people’s soul longed for.

The principle of God dealing with Babylon not only applies to the collective judgment of Babylon but also to the lives of individual believers. One significant factor hindering our spiritual maturity as believers is our love for the world. On a smaller scale, God deals with our love for the world the same way he dealt with Babylon. When God takes away things we love, He is actually saving us from the world's domination.

Satan’s Resistance to the Threefold Work of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

When we pursue victory in our individual spiritual lives, the primary hindrances to our growth are sin, the world, and the flesh. The Triune God is responsible for dealing with these three hindrances:

• Jesus Christ deals with sin through his precious blood. We must continually deepen our awareness of his sacrifice, as well as our commitment to repentance. In this way, we lessen the influence of sin and apply the cleansing power of the Lord's blood. The Lord Jesus appeared to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), and it is his job to help us rid our lives of sin.

Because God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are involved in our sanctification, Satan opposes all three through the world, sin, and the flesh.

The Father will ultimately judge the world, which is represented by the great prostitute. His method of judgment is to strip away the “fruits that our souls longed for.” When the things we love are taken away, we may feel sad and weep (Revelation 18:15). However, the ultimate outcome will be that the chosen ones who accept God’s discipline will be released from the grip of the city of Babylon (Revelation 18:4).

The Bible tells us that each member of the Trinity will complete their work.

• On the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished” to show that his work of redemption was complete (John 19:13).

Though we still live in the world, Jesus teaches us not to live for the world or allow it to dominate our lives. He tells us that we do not belong to this world (John 17:16). Therefore, it is foolish to try to gain the whole world at the cost of our souls (Matthew 16:26). Our task today is to live in the world but not live for the world.

When we are dominated by the world and do not live for the Lord, the Holy Spirit will intercede for us with groans that cannot be expressed in words (Romans 8). In answer to his prayers, the Heavenly Father may choose to rearrange our circumstances to discipline us. This may include taking away the things we enjoy the most. When this happens, we should not think that God does not love us. As stated in God’s word, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ; all things work together for the good of those who love God (Romans 8). God’s discipline is a sign of his love (Hebrews 12:6). The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together to help us break free from the world so we can live for God.

God’s ultimate goal is to grant us the glorious freedom of God's children and to liberate all creation from its bondage to corruption (Romans 8:21). These truths from Romans are mirrored in the book of Revelation. When Christ’s body is mature and becomes the Lamb’s wife (the New Jerusalem), God’s children will obtain glorious freedom. After God's children obtain His glorious freedom, God will judge all evil spirits, cleanse the entire universe, and bring about the restoration of all things.

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are working diligently to bring about God’s ultimate goal for His people and for the entire world. However, Satan is also working diligently to hinder the body of Christ from becoming the mature New Jerusalem. To do so, he uses the world, sin, and the flesh to resist the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

In this article, we will not delve deeper into the concepts of sin and the flesh. Instead, we will study the relationship between the world and Babylon.

Babylon the Great is Like a Spider Web

In John 17:14-16, Jesus prays to the Father, saying, "I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” We as God's chosen people do not belong to this world. The world is a system established by Satan, and the entire world lies under the sway of the evil one (1 John 5:19). The worldly system refers not only to the material world but also to the spiritual world. The world encompasses both spiritual and material aspects, and is filled with various idols set up by Satan's evil spirits and people ensnared by him.

The worldly system of Babylon is like a spider web, and Satan and his evil spirits are like the spiders who are lying in wait for their prey. Humanity is caught in the web when sinners follow their sinful way or God’s chosen ones are deceived. The web of evil includes not only evil spirits, but also fallen human systems such as politics, religion, society, and other aspects. This treacherous web is woven by sinners with the assistance of evil spirits. Babylon is an all-encompassing giant spider web, a comprehensive world system comprised of evil spirits, sinners, and a fallen world.

When we love this world, anything in the world has the potential to entangle us in the spider web set up by Satan. These things are clearly listed in Revelation 18:12-13, such as gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of costly wood, bronze, iron, and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and slaves. This list comprises twenty-nine tradable goods, but it is by no means exhaustive. This list simply gives examples of material things our souls crave. When we love these things more than we love the Lord, we fall into the snare. The mention of "slaves" also indicates that our affection for people can also be part of the worldly temptation. Jesus even warns, "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:37). If we love anyone or anything more than God's word, then these people, things, or objects have become idols in our hearts, taking over and dominating us.

However, God called his chosen ones to come out of the Babylonian spider web: "Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues.’" (Revelation 18:4) He gives the same call to us today.

A Woman and A City

In the Bible, God refers to the Bride of Christ as a woman and also as a city, the New Jerusalem. Babylon is also referred to as a woman and a city, Babylon the Great. Why does God use these two images to refer to both Babylon and the Bride of Christ?

First, let's talk about the Bride of Christ. When God uses the image of a woman’s relationship to her husband, he is reminding us of our loving relationship with God. After creating Adam, God removed one of his ribs and used it to create Eve as a wife. God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone.” He then created the institution of marriage, in which “a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Paul discusses the same verse in the book of Ephesians, stating that the union of a husband and wife is a great mystery that points to the relationship between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:31-32). As the bride of Christ, we are God's counterpart, the wife of the Lamb. In the Old Testament, Israel is also compared to the wife of the Lord. In the New Testament, Christ is the Bridegroom and the Church is the Bride. We are created to love and worship God, and the concept of a bride reminds us of our loving relationship with God.

On the other hand, the image of a "city" reminds us of our relationship with God and our role as vessels. God is all-encompassing and desires to fill all things. We are vessels created by God to be filled with His glory. When God dwells within us, our life with God is manifested as a city that contains the presence of God. The body of Christ, as a spiritual temple, is the work and building of God. We are built together with God through the Spirit. The New Jerusalem is the result of us being filled with God.

Similarly, Babylon is described as a woman to remind us that she is the harlot of Satan. When people love the world and the things in it, they demonstrate their love for Satan, which is spiritual adultery. James 4:4 says, “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (NIV). When we are snared by worldly things which are under the control of the evil one, we essentially demonstrate our love for Satan. The heart of the struggle between God and Satan is a battle for the love and worship of humanity. If people choose to love God, they become the Bride. If they choose to love Satan, they become the harlot. The Apostle John agrees with this truth by stating that if we love the world, the love of the Father is not in us. By loving the world, we choose to love Satan instead of God. When Satan tempted Jesus, he offered Him all the splendor and glory of the world if He would bow down and worship him. However, Jesus responded, "You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve" (Matthew 4:10). Even though Jesus used the word “worship,” he could have substituted the word “love,” since Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Babylon is also described as a city because it is an evil temple of Satan. It is the outworking of people who are filled by Satan. Just like New Jerusalem is the temple of God in the Spirit, Babylon is the temple of Satan.

Babylon, the great harlot, is full of jealousy towards the Bride’s loving relationship with God. Throughout the ages, the harlot has killed many of God's children out of jealousy. These martyrs cry out for God's judgment from beneath the altar. God comforts them and asks them to be patient for a little while, until the number of martyrs is complete (Revelation 6:9-11). Finally, when the number is complete, they stand by the sea of glass praising God (Revelation 15). Thus, this vision initiates the domino effect of God's final judgment. The harlot and city of Babylon are a part of God’s sovereign work that eventually leads to the maturity of God’s Bride (Romans 8). Once the Bride of God is mature, God will destroy the harlot and the city of Babylon.

Conclusion: The Great Cost of Our Love for the World

When we love the world, we are in essence building the city of Babylon, which represents the world and is built on a sandy foundation. However, when we love Christ and cherish the word of God, we are building on the rock, which is destined to endure forever.

Many Christians and people of the world do not resist the temptations of the world and Satan. They love the present world like Demas did (2 Timothy 4:10), or like Lot's wife who became a pillar of salt. If we are unwilling to let go of the world, we will lose many valuable things, as the Babylonians did. Paul teaches that even if we are saved, we will be saved “so as through fire.” Our works (represented by hay, sticks, and straw) will be burned up (1 Corinthians 3:15). When God burns down the city of Babylon, He will destroy the useless works of those who loved the world, and countless people will mourn because their works are consumed (Revelation 18:15, 19). Just like God dismantled the Tower of Babel, which was built by sinful and deceived people among God's chosen ones, God will dismantle the works of his people who choose to live for the world.

However, if we are willing to consecrate ourselves and forsake the world, we will become part of the Bride of Christ. We will dwell with God in eternity as Christ’s beloved bride, and we will also be the eternal temple of God, the New Jerusalem.

May we not only detach ourselves from the city of Babylon but also refrain from participating in its building. Those who persist in unrepentance will face the ultimate fate of being thrown into the lake of fire with the beast and the false prophet (Revelation 14:10, 19:20-21).

Bible Study With Jairus

Acts 10 (Part 2)

The Story of Peter and Cornelius:

A Faith Leader and a Political Leader Collaborate to Bring the Gospel to the World

Should Christians be involved in politics? And how does that question relate to the story of Cornelius and Peter? That is what we will learn in this devotional.

I have been taught in church for many years that Christians should not get involved in politics. However, more and more American Christians have begun to realize the dangers of not participating in politics. They’ve seen how ungodly people are seizing power, Christian and conservative groups are being persecuted, and America is in danger of losing its religious freedom. All this has led many American Christians, including Chinese Christians in the United States, to actively participate in politics and strive to change the society.

What does the Bible say about politics? Many Christians have begun to realize that the Bible never teaches believers to avoid politics. As king, David surely participated in politics. As we will see, the resistance to political involvement may stem from a misunderstanding of the teaching of submission to authority mentioned by Paul in Romans 13.

There’s no doubt that participating in politics will be controversial, but the price of not participating in politics is also high. If the church avoids politics, Satan will use the spirit of religion and evil political forces to persecute the church. For example, he used the religious forces of Judaism in Jerusalem, combined with the evil political forces of Herod, to kill James and capture Peter in Acts 12.

However, God can also use the cooperation of godly church leaders and godly political leaders to combat the schemes of Satan. In Acts 10, we see how Peter, a representative of true faith, and Cornelius, a godly Gentile political leader, worked together to expand the reach of the gospel from the small circle of Jerusalem to a vast number of Gentiles. Their collaboration had extremely far-reaching significance and removed the limitations that the religious spirit was attempting to place on the gospel.

If godly faith and upright politics do not work together, the religious spirit (false beliefs) will combine with evil politics, causing great harm to society and limiting the influence of the truth. We must reflect on God’s teaching in Genesis 1:26, in which God commands us humans to rule the earth. The church represents God’s authority in the world, and political avoidance may not necessarily be in line with biblical teachings. Christians should be salt and light in the world. Though we should not jump into political battles purely for our own benefit, we should learn from Peter's example and influence politicians to spread the gospel and the kingdom of God.

What Does the Bible Say About Christians in Politics?

Let’s examine the origins of the belief that Christians should not participate in politics. First, Christians point to the fact that we must pursue a spiritual kingdom, not a worldly kingdom. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, the disciples hoped that He would free the earthly kingdom of Israel from the oppression of the Romans, but the Lord told them, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” (John 18:36) It was not God’s will for the disciples to fight Christ’s captor, because he had to be crucified to fulfill God’s plan of redemption. But this does not mean that we should avoid our responsibilities in the world. Elsewhere, Jesus taught us to be salt and light and to influence the entire world. He also taught us to make disciples of all nations. Naturally, this includes winning politicians to Christ through participation in politics. Our partial and one-sided understanding of some of the teachings of the Bible has led us to a faulty theology, which in turn led us to pursue a heavenly kingdom to the exclusion of positively impacting the world.

Second, some wrong theological ideas promoted in the United States in the 1970s taught that Jesus could come back at any time, so there was no need for children to go to college or to actively participate in society or politics. At the time, books about Jesus’ return were very popular, and many Christians dressed in white and waited on the mountains for the Lord to rapture them. But nothing happened. Now, it is 2024, and the Lord has still not returned. These erroneous teachings create obsessions with the Lord’s return while leading Christians to neglect their participation in everyday society. Because of these fallacious teachings, American Christians have gradually lost their influence in the realm of education. Since the 1950s, American public schools have gradually stopped allowing the teaching of the Bible and prayer. Little by little, children have been influenced by leftist ideas, resulting in generations of children who have been brainwashed by the far left. In addition to this, homosexuality has become rampant and has even begun to affect children in primary schools. Christians in the United States are gradually awakening to this phenomenon. They realize they have lost influence in schools, school boards, media, entertainment, and politics at the local and national levels. Some Christians are even facing small amounts of persecution. Not only are anti-God voices filling schools, media, and entertainment, but many Christians are being persecuted for praying and adhering to biblical values. As a result, many Christians have begun to reflect on their role in politics. They have not only returned to their faith, but also reconsidered the teaching that political involvement is wrong. As a result, many Christians have started influencing society by actively participating in politics and being salt and light in the spheres of media and entertainment.

Third, a one-sided understanding of Paul’s teaching on submitting to authority in Romans 13 has caused Christians to be too passive. Total submission to those in power is very popular among Chinese Christians. Because of the severity of persecution, they did not dare say no to evil politics, so they used Romans 13 to cover up their cowardice. However, this teaching is not in line with God’s teachings. Of course, Paul did teach that we as Christians should submit to government authorities because they were ordained by God to administer justice. However, the Bible also says many times (often through the mouth of Peter) that we should obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). In the past, I was deeply influenced by the idea of total submission, but God showed me through dreams and visions that Christians should participate in China’s political movements to uphold social justice and promote the spread of the gospel.

Cornelius Needed Visions to Help Him Recognize and Accept Peter's Message

God not only guides Christians, but he also guides people who do not know Him to guide them toward salvation. Acts 10 describes how Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian cohort, was a god-fearing man who prayed often. As a result, God gave him a vision and asked him to go to Peter to preach to them the gospel.

The same thing happened to me. Looking back, I can see that God was subtly guiding me, even when I did not yet know him. In recent times, I have heard many testimonies of Muslims in the Middle East who converted to Christ after God gave them dreams and visions. In the dream, Jesus appeared to them and asked them to read a certain passage in the Bible, leading to their salvation. This shows that God can come in person to directly preach the gospel to people. So why did God choose to send an angel of God to ask Cornelius to invite Peter to preach the gospel to him? Because God wanted Cornelius and Peter to collaborate, as we mentioned at the beginning of this lesson. Even though God or an angel could have preached the gospel to Cornelius directly and saved him and his family, God wanted the righteous political forces represented by Cornelius to join hands with the godly religious forces represented by Peter so that God’s gospel could extend beyond the small religious circles in Jerusalem to the entire Gentile world. This shows the magnificence of God’s great plan.

God revealed to me that the “Chinese Whistleblower Movement” that started in 2017 was from Him. The purpose was to provide a platform for Christians to preach the gospel. In turn, when the gospel is preached, it will change the hearts of the Chinese people and provide a solid foundation for democracy to take root in China. I will share more of these revelations in my upcoming content. For now, I will share that when I followed God's guidance to join this movement and publicly stated what I believed to be God's plan, I received a lot of opposition from the Buddhist and atheist members and founders of this group. They could not accept the idea of Christianity taking the lead in their movement. I quickly realized that these politicians needed God’s supernatural revelation through dreams and visions so they could humble themselves and recognize the importance of the gospel. After they resisted my attempt to join them, I saw God gradually begin to guide them through circumstances so they could learn the lesson of humility and learn to recognize God's will. I pray that like Cornelius, they can understand God’s will and humbly accept the guidance of God’s gospel.

Peter Needed Visions To Break Through His Narrow Religious Ideas

Likewise, Peter needed a vision from God to overcome his rigid religious ideology. First, God needed to break down the idea that Jews and Gentiles could not have contact. In the Old Testament, God restricted contact and intermarriage between Jews and Gentiles, mainly to protect the Israelites from worshiping idols as the Gentiles did. He wanted to preserve the purity of the Jewish line through whom Christ would come. After Jesus Christ accomplished redemption on the cross, the Jews no longer needed these dietary and social restrictions. Jesus made all things and people clean again. But as a Jew, Peter continued to follow the Old Testament way of thinking. Therefore, when God gave him a vision of different types of unclean animals and asked him to “kill and eat,” he said that he had never eaten anything common or unclean. But God said, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” The same vision was given to him three times in a row.

Visions and dreams convey God’s message through pictorial language. The various animals represented the Gentiles. They were originally unclean, but God had now cleansed them. God was telling Peter to boldly throw off the shackles of religion and preach the gospel to the Gentiles.

When the Lord Jesus was on earth, he did indeed teach his disciples to preach the gospel only to the Jews. However, after his crucifixion and resurrection, the Lord Jesus taught his disciples to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Times had changed, and so had God’s guidance. The redemption accomplished by the Lord Jesus on the cross changed everything.

Paul spoke extensively on this topic. He said that Jews and Gentiles were originally separated, but because Jesus destroyed this hostility on the cross, Jews and Gentiles have now been reconciled. We are now members of one body (Ephesians 2:11-17 ). "For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father" (Ephesians 2:18). Though these truths were later revealed through Paul, Peter did not have access to this revelation at the time he met Cornelius. That is why God had to reveal this truth to him through visions.

The Jewish people were God’s greenhouse, where his redemption was planted and nurtured. However, the purpose of a greenhouse is to eventually transplant the seedlings into larger vegetable gardens. Although God’s plan of redemption came through the Jews, God does not want to limit the gospel to one small people group. But because the Jews were unwilling to give up their sense of superiority, they rejected God's will and did not allow the gospel to be preached to the Gentiles. This was due to human jealousy and narrow-mindedness.

After Jesus Christ was resurrected, he told his disciples to make disciples of all nations and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But the minds of the Jewish Christians were restricted by the laws of the Old Testament and they were unable to embrace God's guidance for the new era. As a result, they limited the gospel to Jerusalem. Even Peter originally embraced this narrow-minded ideology.  

In addition, the religious forces of Judaism and the evil political forces represented by Herod were working together to confine the gospel of God to Jerusalem and keep it within the sheepfold of Judaism. Therefore, God urgently needed to enlighten Peter through visions so that he could break away from these narrow religious concepts and bring the gospel to the Gentiles. As Peter and Cornelius started working together, the gospel of God began to advance, and the Holy Spirit’s power reached the Gentiles. It was the beginning of a new era in Christian history.

The Collaboration of Faith Leaders and Political Leaders Continues Today

The examples recorded in the Bible not only reveal God’s guidance for that era, but also reveal a divine principle for later generations. The story of Peter and Cornelius’s collaboration is not only for the people of that time. The same story has also been replicated repeatedly throughout the ages.

For example, American Christians are working with political forces to influence the society of America. For many years, American Christians have prayed for the United States, repenting of the sin of massacring Indians, selling slaves, and killing babies. They have prayed for God’s care, healing, and forgiveness for America. As a result, faith has returned and many Christians have been revived. These same Christians actively participate in politics and support candidates who promote Christian values in order to restore America's conservative values. The people in these movements are not perfect, and many have shallow beliefs, but they represent a force of church revival. I believe this collaboration between people of faith and people of power will bring about the return of American Christian values. The recent election of Congressman Mike Johnson, a devout Christian, as Speaker of the House is a positive result of the convergence of conservative beliefs and political justice in the United States.

This is not only happening in the United States, but God has also revealed to me that it will soon happen in China. Previously, I had only planned to serve God in Christian circles and had never thought of participating in any political movement. I not only believed that Christians should not be involved in politics, but I was also afraid. I knew that Christians would have to pay a high price to participate in politics, especially in the face of evil political oppression. Although I am in the United States and do not have to pay a huge price personally, I am still worried that it will cause trouble to my family. But God revealed to me through a series of dreams that His will for me was to participate in the political democratic movement He initiated. As the gospel is preached to those who participate in the democratic movement, it will help the country of China come to know God. God revealed to me that I will play an important role and hold an important position in this movement in the future.

One night, I had a strange dream. I was riding a bicycle down the street as a group of democrats on bicycles chased me. The more they chased me, the faster I rode. This action depicts my fear very well. But these democrats finally caught up with me and said to me, “Thank you for your books and gospel messages. You helped our democratic movement to win.” This is just one of the dreams I have had. God has revealed to me through many other dreams that the preaching of the gospel by us Christians will help many Chinese political figures learn to know Christ. As these leaders begin to pursue justice and faith, they will bring great change to China. May God's will be done.

Bible Study with Jairus

Revelation 18 (Part 4)

Sorting Good from Bad:

Revelation 18 talks about God cleansing Babylon. God's cleansing of Babylon is not about simply destroying it, but about meticulous separation and sorting. It reminds me of cleaning out Grandma’s dusty treasure chest in the attic. Inside this treasure chest, there is dust, trash, and treasures. It requires careful work to sort through the items in the chest. To use another metaphor archaeologists carefully clean artifacts at a dig site, separating the precious cultural relics from the rock. In the same way, God carefully preserves the good in Babylon while throwing away the bad.

Because God treasures every soul caught in Babylon's web, he smashes the city but does not completely annihilate it. The Bible says God sends His angels to cast it down like a great millstone rather than directly burning it to ashes. Wouldn't it be easier to just throw Babylon the Great into the lake of fire and burn it? Yet God smashes the city to pieces rather than burning it. Just like we crack a walnut shell while preserving the nut inside, God smashes Babylon’s idols and impurities but saves those caught in its web.

The Complex Work of Separating Good From Bad

The Chinese metaphor, "投鼠忌器" (Tou Shu Ji Qi), refers to the dilemma of a homeowner who wants to kill mice that are hiding behind valuable porcelain. The owner wants to rid the house of mice but is afraid of smashing the valuable pottery. This is an excellent picture of God’s cleansing of Babylon the Great. Since many of God’s people have been snared in the worldly web of Babylon, God faces a dilemma as he prepares to judge it. Babylon, which resembles a spider's web created by Satan and evil spirits, has captured many of God's people in its web of lust, pride, and worldliness (see 1 John 2:16). As God’s work of judgment nears completion, He intends to cleanse Babylon of its evil. How will God accomplish this cleansing? Is it by burning? No. God overturns the city but does not mention burning it, because many of God's chosen people are trapped within its snare. If God would leave ninety-nine sheep in the wilderness to look for one lost sheep, God would not forsake any of the lost sheep captured in Babylon the Great. Thus, in judging Babylon the Great, God faces a situation akin to the metaphor "Tou Shu Ji Qi."

However, God's wisdom surpasses human wisdom and God’s ways are higher than human ways. While humans may inadvertently damage the china while trying to catch the mouse, God finds a way to punish the evil while preserving the good. Second Peter 2:9 says, “The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.” (ESV) God sends an angel to cast a mighty stone, the size of a great millstone, into the sea. The angel says, ““So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,

But this act of casting down the stone (Babylon) requires skill. For example, cracking a walnut without destroying the nut meat requires skill. It takes practice to learn how hard to hit the shell with a hammer or a nutcracker. If you are skilled, you may be able to strike the shell once and instantly separate the shell from the meat. Even though the walnut shell shatters, the kernel remains intact. The same is true of Babylon. When Babylon the Great is thrown down like a stone, the system of the world that does not belong to God will be smashed to pieces, but God’s chosen people will escape. Thus, God's judgment of Babylon separates good from evil, just like a nutcracker separates the shell from the kernel.

God calls upon His people to depart from Babylon the Great, warning them of impending judgment. Yet once they have been ensnared by the world, they are like flies caught in a spider’s web—unable to free themselves. Only external force, like a broom, can break the web and set the flies free. In the same way, Babylon's ensnaring web needs to be broken so God's chosen people trapped within it can be set free. Perhaps the only way for God’s people to be set free is for the stone (Babylon) to be thrown down and broken. This is a work of separation, and this is God’s plan.

The reason Babylon was able to snare people was that it contained some good things mixed in with the bad. In Revelation 18:22, we learn how God removes the shiny, tempting fishhooks that lured and deceived us: "The sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more" (Revelation 18:22). God removes some of the good things in the city, like a homeowner sorting through an attic filled with trash and treasures. In God’s love and mercy, he does not rashly burn the entire city. Instead, he sorts the good from the bad. God calls his chosen people out and saves them. After rescuing them, the rest of Babylon will be shattered to pieces.

The text goes on to say, "And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth" (Revelation 18:24). What else is in this spider web? Within this web, there are remnants of prophets, saints, and others who have been killed. This indicates that believers have been ensnared in this web, and some martyrs have been killed by it. Why were these prophets and saints killed? Because the harlot, Babylon, is jealous of the Bride of Christ. Throughout history, idolaters have been jealous of those who worshiped the true God without fear.

In Revelation 6, the saints under the altar cried out for justice and prayed that God would avenge their blood and judge Babylon the Great. God comforted them and asked them to wait for a while until the number of people who would be killed like them was complete (Revelation 6:9- 11). In Revelation 18, God answers the prayers of the saints under the altar. God judges Babylon the Great and avenges the blood of the prophets and saints killed by Babylon the Great.

An Old Testament Reference to the Fall of Babylon

In Jeremiah 51, God predicts the judgment of Babylon. At the time, Babylon had captured the Israelites, but God promised that at the appointed time, seventy years later, God's chosen people would leave Babylon. Verse 45 says, “Go out of the midst of her, my people! Let every one save his life from the fierce anger of the Lord!” This verse is very similar to Revelation 18. God allowed the Israelites to be taken captive by Babylon, but He also called His chosen people to come out of Babylon.

God also revealed to Jeremiah that He would one day execute final judgment on Babylon. Verse 52 says, "Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will execute judgment upon her images, and through all her land the wounded shall groan" (Jeremiah 51:52).   This is the same picture God paints in Revelation.

Jeremiah 51:61-64 says, "And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: “When you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words, and say, ‘O Lord, you have said concerning this place that you will cut it off, so that nothing shall dwell in it, neither man nor beast, and it shall be desolate forever.’When you finish reading this book, tie a stone to it and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates and say, ‘Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the disaster that I am bringing upon her, and they shall become exhausted.’” Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.'" Jeremiah instructed Seraiah to tie a stone to the book containing the prophecy against Babylon and cast it into the Euphrates River. In the same way that the book sank, Babylon the Great would one day sink. In the same way, in Revelation 18, an angel throws a stone into the sea to symbolize the sinking of Babylon the Great.

In Jeremiah 51:63, we find a beautiful picture. Just as Jeremiah asked Seraiah to bind a stone to God's words and cast it into the Euphrates, God's judgment always includes his words. In Revelation, we find that God’s words are bound up in his judgments. As he judges Babylon, he also says, "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues" (Revelation 18:4).

Let’s look at some verses that will help us understand the relationship between God’s word and God’s judgment.

God's word is Christ, and Christ is God's word.

• "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1).

Christ is the Rock.

• “For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:4 ESV)

Jesus is the judge.

• "The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son" (John 5:22).

Jesus is the word, Jesus is the judge, and Jesus is the rock. God’s word, preached by Jesus, judges people. This word judges people, separates good and evil, and smashes Babylon the Great. Angels are the agents of God's judgment on people, but Jesus is the true Judge.

Our Souls Are a Mixed Bag: "A Golden Cup Filled With Abominations”

When we trust in Christ as our Savior, our spirits are instantly born again. If we believe, we are saved, and God promises to glorify our bodies and raise us from the dead to eternal life. Salvation is accomplished in one second. However, here on earth, our soul still struggles with sin. Many Christians, although saved, lack the sanctification of our souls and the renewal of our minds. It is as if we are trapped in Babylon the Great. We need the sanctification and healing from God.

Just like Babylon is described as "a golden cup full of abominations" (Revelation 17:4), filled with impurities, our souls today are filled with impurities mixed with goodness. Our souls are extremely precious; Jesus Christ shed His precious blood to save our souls. Yet many of us also have too much filth in our souls. Our souls are a mixed bag. We are full of good things given to us by God, but we are also filled by webs of deception and sin that Satan has woven in our hearts.

Our souls are a mess. If there were a special X-ray machine that could discern all the thoughts and ideas in a person's soul, you would see that a person's soul is similar to Babylon the Great, full of goodness mixed with adulterous thoughts. But there is hope! As the Bible says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12). God's word can distinguish between good and evil. He can discern all the thoughts and intents of the heart, and he can separate the good motives from the bad.

In the future judgment, God will require us to give account for every word we have spoken (Matthew 12:36). Every thought and every motive will be judged by God. God will carefully separate good from bad and distinguish between corrupt and pure motives. No human is wise enough to accomplish this delicate work, but God can. Just like it is difficult for humans to kill mice while preserving porcelain dishes, it is very difficult for humans to sort out what is right and what is wrong. But God can accurately separate His chosen people from their enemies who ensnare them. God’s word says, “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). God can accurately see each created being, even Satan and evil spirits.

God will one day judge us with his word, but we need His word every day. We need God's word and God's Spirit to cleanse us. We need God's word to discern the thoughts and intentions of our hearts and souls and to carefully separate the good from our bad (Hebrews 4:12). God’s word sanctifies our souls, frees them from the corruption of the world's desires, and helps us partake in God's divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). God’s word fills us with God's Spirit so we can experience the sanctification of our souls, the renewal of our minds, and the transformation of our hearts (Romans 12:1). The word of God will separate good from evil and save us from Babylon the Great.

Conclusion: God’s Sanctifying Word Can Separate Soul and Spirit

Not only is today’s world like Babylon the Great, but so are our souls. Our minds are full of good things from God but also of confusion and deception from Satan. Our emotions love God but also adore the world. Our wills confront the enemy but also sometimes confront God. Each of us is at a different level of sanctification. As God continues to cleanse the evil of Babylon from our hearts, we will gradually abandon the corruption that comes from the world's desires and become partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). In this way, we gradually escape from Babylon’s snares so we will not receive its judgment.

Bible Study With Jairus—Revelation 21

The New Jerusalem Is the Wife of the Lamb and Her Beautiful Display

The New Jerusalem is a beautiful heavenly dwelling place for believing Israelites and New Testament saints. God is at the center, and the Father is transcendent, permeating everything. The New Jerusalem is the wife of the Lamb, adorned with extreme beauty. Her finest adornments are not gold and silver, but the inner adornments of imperishable virtues more lovely than fine jewelry (1 Peter 3:3-4). Her testimony, dedication, and love for God throughout the ages will be the building materials that God uses to create the beautiful New Jerusalem. These virtues will make the Lamb’s wife exceedingly beautiful on the day of the wedding feast with the Lamb.

In a dream, I saw a heavenly house being literally constructed with virtues. In the vision, I saw a Christian’s sister’s house in heaven, which was constructed using the lady’s virtues and spiritual gifts. The courtyard wall of her house was fused with grapevines full of grapes, which represented spiritual fruit. Another wall was full of music boxes that could play music, which represented her talents. I believe that the New Jerusalem is a dwelling place constructed by the collective virtues and talents of all the believers in heaven.

The New Jerusalem is a part of the new heaven and the new earth, but not its entirety, just like Los Angeles is only one part of the United States. There is more to heaven than the New Jerusalem, and there is more to our heavenly experiences than the scenes described in the New Jerusalem. The Bible only describes part of the heavenly history because it would take an eternity to describe everything we will do in heaven. The New Jerusalem is only one part of the new heaven and new earth, but there is also much more beauty and glory to discover in the new earth.

Will The Vastness of Heaven and The New Jerusalem Continue To Expand?

Heaven is immensely vast. Revelation 21:1-2 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. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” These verses tell us that John first saw a new heaven and a new earth and then saw the holy city, The New Jerusalem, descending from heaven. Later, God tells us the dimensions of the New Jerusalem: “The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal” (Revelation 21:16). One stadion is approximately 600 feet, so 12,000 stadia is about 1364 miles, roughly the distance from Los Angeles to Dallas. This helps us imagine the size of this city. It doesn’t come close to covering the earth’s surface, and certainly doesn’t fill the vast universe or heaven itself. So what is the New Jerusalem? It is the Holy of Holies in heaven. Revelation 21:22 records, “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” Does the city represent the entire temple or only the Holy of Holies? I believe the New Jerusalem may be a larger version of the Holy of Holies, and the entire earth is the Holy Place. Beyond that is the Outer Court. Mature believers have entered the Holy of Holies and have entered God’s presence. The New Jerusalem is the wife of the Lamb, the Holy of Holies where believers join together with God.

Why do I mention that there is also a Holy Place and an Outer Court? Because even after the New Heaven and the New Earth are born, and the New Jerusalem descends from heaven, the Bible still mentions that outside the city “are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Outside are unclean people who do what is detestable or false (see Revelation 21:27). They can never enter into the city; only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life can enter the city (Revelation 21:27).

This verse raises a question. If unbelievers have already been thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15), why does this verse say that the unclean are outside the city? Why are there still detestable things in the new heaven and new earth? How can we understand this? Is there a possibility that the lake of fire is outside the New Jerusalem? This could be possible. In the Old Testament, the book of Isaiah mentions that in the last days, God will choose the Israelites as priests to lead the nations to worship God in Jerusalem (Isaiah 66:20). Moreover, Isaiah 66:22-24 says, “For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your offspring and your name remain. From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the Lord. And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.” According to this scripture, those who come to worship God will have the opportunity to see the punishment of those who rebelled against God, including their dead bodies. Similarly, at the end of Revelation, God mentions unclean people who are outside the city. Perhaps they are in the lake of fire outside the city. In addition to the lake of fire, I believe there may be a Holy Place and an Outer Court as well.

Revelation also mentions that the leaves of the Tree of Life are for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2). This verse is also difficult to understand. If our resurrected bodies no longer get sick and our spirits are perfected in heaven, why would we still need to be healed? I believe it’s possible that the New Jerusalem is a place of intimate connection to God that not all people will immediately access. Like the Holy of Holies, not all are granted access. Perhaps some people escape hell but still need healing, discipline, growth, and sanctification in order to enter the city. If the New Jerusalem represents the Holy of Holies, it would make sense that there would also be a Holy Place and an Outer Courtyard outside of it.

Although the New Jerusalem is the center of the new heaven and the new earth, it is not the whole thing. In my dreams and visions, I saw the souls of some Chinese people living in a valley. They were in darkness but not in hell. I believe these souls might still have the chance to continue learning and getting to know the Lord. Then they may be allowed to enter the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:26 and 22:14).

But will they live in the New Jerusalem, and will the New Jerusalem continue to expand eternally? Is the size of the New Jerusalem described in Revelation fixed, or could it continually expand until it fills the infinite universe? As more people are sanctified, will they be able to enter the Holy of Holies, and will the Holy of Holies expand to accommodate them? The answers to these questions are unclear. If the New Jerusalem does not continue to expand, we should seize every opportunity to spiritually mature so we can enter the city of God.

The New Jerusalem Is the Manifestation of Our Resurrected Bodies

Revelation tells us that the New Jerusalem is the Lamb's wife, and that the church is the bride of Christ and the body of Christ. Are we the body of Christ in a spiritual sense only, or does this depiction also have a physical side? There is certainly a spiritual aspect, in which both men and women can be a part of Christ’s bride. The New Jerusalem is described as the Lamb’s wife, but it is also described as a physical city built with precious stones (Revelation 21) We as believers are also said to be living stones, being built up as a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5). We as believers are the building blocks of the city.

What does this mean? What are living stones? To understand this concept, we must break free from our materialistic concepts. Heaven exists in a different dimension, and some say that even the grass in heaven can speak. We need to leave behind our preconceptions as we grasp this metaphorical language.

This brings me back to my dream about the Christian sister’s heavenly house. In the dream, the walls of her house were alive and were built of her spiritual gifts and talents. Grapevines were growing within the walls, as a part of the wall, bearing abundant fruits. This points to the fact that this sister has the gift of evangelism and has brought forth abundant fruit as she has led people to salvation. Not only were the walls alive, but the door was also alive, made of something resembling bricks that were full of life. The door had a music box that could play music. This sister loves music, and after hearing my testimony, she said that she never thought God loved her so much that he would place a music box on the door of her heavenly house!

As Christians, we trust that not only our spirits will be renewed in eternity, but also our bodies. What will our bodies be like after the resurrection? We can only speculate based on the appearance of the Lord’s resurrection body. When Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, they thought He was a spirit or some type of ghost without a body. However, Jesus told them that a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as He did. He specifically stated that he had a body, bones, and flesh that could be touched. He even ate a piece of fish in front of them to demonstrate the physical nature of his body (Luke 24:36-43). He had a physical body in the resurrection, and so will we. Yet our bodies will be nothing like our current bodies (1 Corinthians 15:35-45).

An example from nature will help us understand this. A caterpillar transforms into a chrysalis and finally into a butterfly. If we hadn’t seen such a transformation with our own eyes, it would be hard to believe that such a thing could happen. In the same way, the transformation and resurrection of human beings will be marvelous. One day we will be like caterpillars, the next we will go through the cocoon stage, and after the resurrection, we will obtain another form, just like butterflies. It will be truly incredible. I believe the New Jerusalem is a manifestation of our resurrected bodies. We will still be individual beings, but we will also be part of something bigger. It’s clear from Scripture that we will still be individuals; Jesus said that after the resurrection, we will be like angels, neither marrying nor being given in marriage (Matthew 22:30). This statement assures us that we'll remain individuals; we won't lose ourselves. But we will also be living stones that are being built together. How? Will we be literally linked together arm to arm, standing on someone else's shoulders? No, God builds us together through the life of God within us, linking us together. He is over all, through all, and in all (Ephesians 4:6).

A few examples from nature may help us understand these spiritual realities. A coral polyp is an individual, yet it builds and spreads and creates a network of dead coral polyps that turn into reefs. Slime mold creates an even better illustration of this concept since slime mold is alive. This type of mold not only grows as individual mold organisms, but also communicates and cooperates with other single-celled organisms to create efficient systems for the distribution of nutrients. A group of Japanese and British researchers strategically placed food in a pattern that mimicked Japanese subway stations. In response, the slime mold units worked together to create a pattern of tunnels that was remarkably similar to the pattern of the efficient Japanese subway systems. Several slime mold organisms connected and grew together as one network. In this example, each slime single-celled mold organism was an individual with life, yet they grew together to form a larger organism, exhibiting various shapes, structures, and forms. This is truly a wonderful thing, and it is an illustration of how we will remain individuals and yet will grow together into a dwelling place of God in the spirit.

In the New Jerusalem, we will live inside the city, yet we will also be a part of the city. We will live in God’s building/tabernacle, yet we will also be the living stones that it is built of. This is a profound mystery that cannot be fully described in words. Yet the story of the house built of grapevines and music boxes gives an image of this reality. The grapevines and the walls were one, forming a living unity. These walls were part of the house, but they were also a part of this Christian sister, since they represented the spiritual fruit of her preaching and were inextricably tied to her identity. This grapevine was also rooted in God and was also a part of God's building. This concept is truly marvelous. I believe that the New Jerusalem is a wonderful manifestation of our resurrected bodies.

The New Jerusalem Is the Glorious Wife of the Lamb

This city is full of the glory of God (21:11) because God’s people are filled with God’s glory and the New Jerusalem is the Lamb's wife, the church. Believers are created to be filled with God’s glory, vessels of His glory, manifesting His glory within them. Therefore, when the church is built into the New Jerusalem, it will naturally be filled with the glory of God.

We are not only living stones, but also precious stones (21:11). This means we have undergone a transformation, just like rock undergoes high pressure and change to become precious stones. The gates are made of pearls (21:21), which reminds us that pearls are formed when oysters experience irritation from a grain of sand and secrete a special coating to create the gem. This also speaks of transformation.

The city’s twelve gates have the names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed on them (21:12). The city’s twelve foundations contain the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (21:14). This shows how Israel and the New Testament church are joined together through Christ, the cornerstone. In Him, both grow together into a temple in the Lord (Ephesians 2:20-21). This is the beautiful display of the unity of Christ’s new bride, but who will view this display? If we showcase something but have no audience, then the display loses its meaning. Who is the audience for this display? It's all of God's creation, including everything in heaven, on earth, and beneath the earth. This is why I believe that there is certainly a Holy Place and an Outer Court apart from the Holy of Holies (the New Jerusalem). The church has an audience that stands in awe of what Christ has done in unifying Jews and Greeks in his body. Outside the Outer Court is the lake of fire.

This city does not need the sun or the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God gives it light (21:23). The present world needs the light of the sun and moon, but the future world will only need the light of the New Jerusalem, because God's light brings all the life, warmth, and nourishment we will ever need. In a way, we will become part of this “sun.” No wonder Proverbs 4:18 says, "But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day."

Revelation 21:25-27 says, "and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life." This verse indicates that there are nations that live outside the city. Perhaps these are the nations referred to in Revelation 22:2 who live in the Outer Court or Holy Place but continue to mature until they are admitted into the Holy of Holies. They do not necessarily live inside the city, but they bring their glory into it. Those dwelling in the city are those whose lives are mature enough to enter the Holy of Holies. Those in the lake of fire outside the city cannot enter it. This is confirmed again in Revelation 22: "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." (22:14-15) Those who wash their robes are redeemed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus, but they are not mature enough to wear the bride’s “fine linen.” Clearly, they do not live in the city; if they did, there would be no need to talk about gaining the right to enter the city. There are difficult levels of spiritual life and maturity, and we must seize every opportunity to love and sacrifice for the Lord on earth today, so we can enter the Holy City one day. Let’s make the most of every opportunity during our precious time on earth so we can enjoy the full blessings of the life to come.

Bible Study with Jairus: Revelation 14 (Part 3)

Why Did the 144,000 Offer Heartfelt Praise?

Revelation 14 opens with these words:

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

Why are these heavenly visions placed at the beginning of the chapter? These heavenly visions are not only meant to encourage people in heaven, but also to encourage people who are still suffering on earth. As we saw in the last chapter, many people were facing severe persecution for not worshiping the beast. They were risking their lives to bear witness to the testimony of Jesus. According to Revelation 19:10, “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Because of their suffering, God gave John a vision of this heavenly scene and the great reward awaiting those who suffer. This message was intended to comfort those undergoing trials. This perspective helps us understand why God gave John this vision. Heavenly visions can be a great source of strength for those who are suffering.

Let’s learn a bit more about the 144,000 and their song of praise to God.

Who Are the 144,000?

This group likely contains people who were martyred for refusing to worship the beast, as mentioned in Revelation 13. There may have been others in the group as well, and not all who refused to worship the beast were martyred immediately. However, there were likely some martyrs in the group. In addition, the passage specifically states that the 144,000 have not been defiled with women. What does this statement mean? Should we take it literally? Does this group include only men who have never been close to women, excluding men who were married (like Peter), as well as single women? In this case, perhaps Paul would be included in this group.

If we interpret this statement spiritually instead of literally, we can imagine that it refers to people who are spiritually pure. This interpretation may be more appealing to those who are married. However, the passage may have been intended to be taken literally. It is possible that the 144,000 were literally men who had never been close to women.

Some people believe the 144,000 are the members of the twelve tribes of Israel who were sealed by the angel in Revelation 7:4. But this does not account for the fact that these 144,000 have not been defiled by women.

So who are they? We don’t know for sure. But it seems clear that at least some of them are martyrs. These devoted believers would rather be killed than worship the beast, and they have made great sacrifices for the testimony of Jesus. The rewards and glory they receive in heaven should greatly encourage those currently suffering.

The New Song Sung by the 144,000

Why do these 144,000 people sing a new song? Because each person's salvation story is an individual masterpiece of God. God is the same, but each person's experience of God's salvation is unique. When we overcome the trials in our individual lives, we each compose a new song of praise to God. Only after trials and hardships can we exude such sincere praise. Though we may not see God’s grand plan right now while we are on earth, once we reach heaven we won’t be able to hold back our praise. Once we see how God worked everything together for good, we will offer a unique song of heartfelt praise for God's salvation.

Everyone's suffering is unique. As a result, their experience of salvation is unique, and the praise they offer is also unique. For example, a drug addict who has experienced the pain of drug addiction and the power of Jesus' redemption will have a unique song of praise that non-drug-users cannot share. Similarly, someone who has been sexually assaulted experiences Jesus' salvation and comfort in a unique way. As a result, this person’s new song will be different from the song of someone who has not had the same experience. Each person has a unique way of experiencing God’s salvation, so each person will have a unique psalm of praise for God’s goodness.

I shared this concept with some Christians who are involved in a political movement to eliminate the Chinese Communist Party. I explained, “Because we have responded to God's call to participate in the cause of eradicating the Communist Party, we experience suffering and persecution that are incomprehensible to both American and Chinese Christians who do not participate in this movement. However, in the future, when we welcome a new democratic and free China, the praise we offer to God will be something others cannot comprehend.” We will sing a new song of praise to God that is unique to us.

In the same way, the experience of American Christians is something that Chinese believers cannot fully participate in. Even though the United States is a Christian country, religious freedom has been under attack in recent years. There is a danger of losing the country's values, which are based on Christianity. Many American Christians have prayed for America and tried to revive its Christian values, and this experience is something Chinese Christians cannot fully understand. Meanwhile, Chinese Christians who are still on the mainland are holding onto their faith despite years of persecution. As a Chinese Christian living overseas, I cannot fully relate to their experience. Each believer will sing a new song of praise to God that will not fully resonate with people who have had different experiences.

In the same way, these 144,000 individuals had a unique song of praise to God. By giving up relations with women, they made sacrifices that married people with wives and children cannot fully comprehend. I heard the testimony of a modern-day Christian brother who dedicates himself to God and lives in celibacy. He said that he did not care about sexual relationships between men and women but longed very much to have children. When he sees others with children, he feels very lonely. He had made a very great sacrifice with his decision to live in celibacy.

When these 144,000 childless individuals see that God has not forgotten them and has richly rewarded them, they will sing a song of praise that is unique to their experience. The Bible specifically promises that celibate people who keep God's law will receive more beautiful blessings than those who have children (Isaiah 56:5). Those without children will receive special blessings from God.

God does not forget any small sacrifice we make for Him. He will reward us beyond our imagination. Jesus promises that if we forsake our biological family connections to follow Him, we will not only receive a hundredfold in this world but also eternal life in the world to come (Matthew 19:29).

The vision in Revelation 14 is just a glimpse into the ways God works. It shows that God does not ignore the sacrifices we make for him. He even remembers the small sacrifices we make. Jesus says that anyone who gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is His disciple will not lose their reward (Matthew 10:42). God will remember our service and dedication, and he will greatly reward us. This vision is just a small example of the rewards God will bestow, but the principle it reveals will encourage countless people who are bearing witness to God amidst suffering.

Seamless Transition between Heavenly Perspective and Earthly Perspective

An expert videographer smoothly transitions between close-up shots and distant perspectives. Sometimes, the lens focuses on the foreground, making the background blurry. Other times, the focus shifts to the background, and the foreground becomes blurred. However, a good camera lens can transition seamlessly, and a skilled director will use this transition to express the intended meaning.

The Holy Spirit often employs the same technique when inspiring the writing of the Bible. For example, David often begins his psalms by focusing on the details of his life in the foreground. He complains and pours out his distress about his enemies and their persecution. As the psalm progresses, he shifts his focus to a bigger perspective. He focuses on the greatness of God in creating the heavens and the earth, caring for humanity, and appointing them to manage the universe (Psalm 8).

The same transition happens between Revelation 13 and 14. Revelation 13 shows people on earth being persecuted for refusing to worship the beast, while Revelation 14 shows people in heaven receiving great rewards from God. The passage smoothly transitions from talking about earthly matters to talking about heavenly matters, and from material concerns to spiritual concerns. The Holy Spirit transitions smoothly and naturally between foreground and background and between earth and heaven.

We need to do the same in our spiritual lives. If we only focus on earthly matters and ignore what is happening in the spiritual realm, we may feel discouraged by the difficulties in our everyday lives. When we think about heavenly visions, we will be encouraged. At the same time, since we are living on Earth, we must also pay attention to what is happening on Earth so we can be prepared for hardships and have the right mindset to face challenging circumstances.

We must smoothly transition between seeing things from a spiritual perspective and seeing things from a practical perspective. We are still living in the world, and we still face difficulties. We need to focus on heavenly visions and earthly realities so we can be prepared to handle all the challenges we will face.

Martin Luther: The Suffering of Life is Like the Reversed Lead Type in Printing

It is said that Martin Luther, a pioneer of the Reformation, once said that suffering is like the movable type in the old printing presses. When a printer looked at the movable type, it was difficult to read because the letters were reversed and did not form sentences. However, when the newspaper was printed, these isolated and reversed letters suddenly became a beautiful piece of writing.[1]

In the same way, when we look at our suffering with our limited earthly perspectives, we cannot see God’s good intentions. But when we reach heaven and receive His rewards, we will see that all our present sufferings were permitted by God to fulfill His good will in us. At that time, when we see God's good intentions, we won’t be able to hold back our heartfelt praise. I believe that the 144,000 have gone through many hardships on earth. While on earth, they likely did not understand the meaning of these hardships, but when they stand before God's throne singing a new song, they finally understand God's good intentions. Therefore, they offer a new song that only they can sing. Every person who suffers for the sake of God's will will one day sing a new song to God.

A Warning Before the Great Harvest

At the end of the chapter, an angel warns that those who worship the beast will suffer in sulfur and fire forever (Revelation 14:9-11). The vision at the beginning of this chapter and the warning at the end of the chapter relate to the warnings and calls of the two angels that follow. God always gives warnings in advance. The Old Testament prophet Amos says, “For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). Throughout the Bible, God always reveals His character and principles through His prophets and apostles. He warns people about the consequences of their behavior. He tells them what he is about to do so that people can choose to either follow or ignore Him. God gives people free will, so the ultimate result depends on people’s free will. He allows them to make a choice, even about significant matters such as salvation, eternal life, and eternal death.

A Call to the Saints

Revelation 14:12 says, “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” During trials, God gives us visions to strengthen our faith so that we can be gathered like grain into his barn. Revelation 13:10 also says, “If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain.” The passage addresses the appearance of the beast and how it will overcome the saints. Everyone whose name is not recorded in the Book of Life will worship the beast (Revelation 13:7-8). God wants to encourage those who are going through trials and tribulations, once again proving that the theme of Revelation is the testimony of Jesus. When we suffer for the testimony of Jesus, God not only encourages us through His prophetic words but also promises us great rewards in the future. This is the principle taught in the story of the 144,000 standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion, and it is something that every person experiencing persecution and difficult circumstances needs to understand.

As I have mentioned many times, suffering by itself is not enough to bring maturity. Suffering is an external circumstance, and it can’t bring maturity on its own. Only when we see God's will in suffering can we be preserved through suffering. As we live in the will of God, experience the visions he gives, and dedicate ourselves to prayer, we will see for ourselves that God works all things together for good.

[1] I read this quote in Chinese but could not find it in English. I apologize for not having a source.

Bible Study With Jairus—Matthew 3

John the Baptist’s lifestyle Illustrates God’s New Wineskins

When John the Baptist arrives on the scene in Matthew 3, he is wearing camel skin clothing and eating locusts and wild honey. What does his odd lifestyle signify? It depicts the beginning of a new spiritual movement started by John. This movement is not rooted in the temple and priestly system, even though John is a descendant of the priestly line. It is a brand new spiritual revival that John is launching in the wilderness.

The starting point of this movement is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). In addition, the movement emphasizes the baptism of repentance. The salvation brought by Jesus Christ must begin with repentance. Since this movement is new, like new wine, it requires new wineskins (outer religious structures). John severs himself completely from the priestly traditions and the temple. Instead of wearing priestly garments, he wears camel skin. As he preaches in the wilderness, he doesn't base his new spiritual movement on his priestly ancestry, on the temple, or on Israel’s Old Testament worship system. He rejects the material provisions of the priesthood and eats locusts and wild honey, symbolizing his complete faith in God’s provision. When one cannot sever material ties with religious systems, it is difficult to avoid being spiritually bound by the old religious system. Hence, whenever a new movement of God arises, we often see people who love the Lord faithfully (including pastors) leaving the financial support of their original religious systems to pursue the Holy Spirit's work in a new era. For instance, during the 1970s in the United States, when many pastors involved in the charismatic movement received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, many of them lost their positions as pastors of traditional churches. As Jesus said, “No one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins” (Luke 5:37-38).

When John the Baptist arrives on the scene, Judaism has become deeply bound by the evil spirits of religion and legalism, and can no longer contain God's work in the new era. This is why God has sent John the Baptist into the wilderness to announce the coming of the ministry of the Lord Jesus. The work of this new era must start from scratch and be rebuilt from a new foundation, which is Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus is the new wine and the new wineskin. The new wine signifies new content, while the new wineskin represents a new structure, form, and vessel. Thus, John's arrival and actions in the wilderness highlight God's work in the new era. John wearing camel skin clothing and eating locusts and wild honey illustrate that God's work in the new age starts from a completely new foundation.

John's Arrival Is The "Voice of One Crying in The Wilderness"

Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament. After the last Old Testament book was written, there were about four hundred years of divine silence. During this time, we have no record of any prophetic words from God. This is highly unusual. The book of Hebrews says, "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, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world" (1:1-2). This verse reminds us that God spoke frequently to the Israelites through many prophets and in many ways. Prophets were an important part of Israel’s history. Even during the reign of the worst kings like Ahab, there were great prophets like Elijah. So it was extremely unusual for the Israelites to go 400 years without a prophetic word from God.

God is a speaking God, so why this silence? Perhaps it helps to remember that to God, a thousand earthly years are like one day (2 Peter 3:8). As the book of Malachi closed the Old Testament canon, God had plans to send Jesus just 400 years later. These 400 years seemed like just a moment to God—less than a day. In the book of Revelation, when the Lamb opens the seventh seal, there is silence in heaven for about half an hour (Revelation 8:1). In the same way, the 400 years of silence must have seemed like a moment of silence to God. Why this silence? The entire universe was holding its breath, anticipating the imminent birth of Jesus Christ. Just like the silence in Revelation before the seventh seal was to usher in the seventh trumpet and bring God’s judgment and the repentance of many people, the four hundred years of silence would usher in the coming of the Lord Jesus.

After 400 years of silence, John's arrival is like the appearance of the morning star in the darkness, announcing the coming of dawn (Christ). For this reason, Malachi specifically mentioned at the end of the book, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction." (Malachi 4:5-6). These are the last two verses of the Old Testament. This passage may refer to the end times and the return of the prophet Elijah. However, Jesus explicitly told His disciples that John was Elijah who was to come, but people did not recognize him (Mark 11:14, Matthew 9:13). When the angel announced to Zechariah that his son John would be born, he also said, "and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared" (Luke 1:17).

In addition to the prophecies in the Book of Malachi, Isaiah also prophesies that John would be the voice of one crying out in the wilderness. Isaiah 40 states, "A voice cries, ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain’" (Isaiah 40:3-4). In Matthew chapter 3, the Holy Spirit confirmed through Matthew’s pen, "For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’" (Matthew 3:3).

The wilderness is a place of trial and transformation. The Israelites faced trials in the wilderness as they traveled through it to the Promised Land. Moses once spent forty years in the wilderness, and Jesus also spent forty days in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. After experiencing the trials of the wilderness, these individuals received the power of the Holy Spirit. After Jesus underwent trials in the wilderness, He received the power of the Holy Spirit and returned to Galilee. The Bible does not tell us exactly when John arrived in the wilderness, but we believe John endured a prolonged period of trials in the wilderness. After the trials in the wilderness were over, he received the power of Elijah so he could proclaim the coming of Jesus Christ and turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers.

The Bible seems to imply that John the Baptist had not met Jesus before his baptism (except when he met him in the womb in Luke 1:41). In John 1:31, John says, "I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." Again, in verse 33, John says, "I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’" This interesting verse seems to imply that John couldn't recognize the Lord in the flesh but had to see and know the Lord in the Spirit. In addition, Luke 1:80 says of John, "And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel." It seems that God hid John for a while, then revealed him to the world at the appropriate time. This reveals a principle of God’s work in the new era. When God chooses to perfect and prepare people for his service, he often hides them in the wilderness until their time comes.

In 2016, God revealed to me that there would be a great revival in China in the future and that he was calling me to be a part of this revival. In 2018, a Korean prophet prophesied to me about my role and responsibility in this coming revival. However, he also reminded me, “You are still placed by God in the wilderness. You need to learn more about surrendering to God. You must wait for God’s appointed time.” In 2013, the Lord gave me a vision of revival spreading like a tornado across the whole earth, slowly growing in size. I believe that my personal experience is characteristic of the way God often works. He hides people in the wilderness to prepare them for his service. When his time comes, He will use them to announce the beginning of a new spiritual movement.

John's Rebuke of the Pharisees and Sadducees – “Bear Fruit Befitting Repentance”

At the beginning of a new spiritual era, people often exhibit several different attitudes. The first is resistance and contempt. Most likely, many traditional Jews expressed contempt toward John. They may have believed that John's camel skin clothing was unclean. In the same way, people despised Jesus for coming from Galilee. “No prophet comes from Galilee,” they said.

Secondly, at the start of a new spiritual movement, we often see people attempting to infiltrate and disrupt this new movement. This is what the Pharisees and Sadducees attempted here. God initiated a new spiritual work through John: a baptism of repentance. However, the Pharisees and Sadducees did not repent. They attempted to infiltrate the new spiritual work by undergoing baptism, but they did not have good motives. John severely criticized the religious leaders: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (Matthew 3:7-10).

The Pharisees and Sadducees felt superior to others, believing that the Israelites were God’s chosen people who were guaranteed salvation. This sense of superiority might have become a veil in the hearts of the Pharisees and Sadducees. John rebuked them for their smug attitude. He told them that it was not enough to rely on being descendants of Abraham, because God could even raise up children for Abraham from stones!

Though Paul speaks of the salvation of all Israel in the end times (Romans 11:26), I don’t believe it means that every Israelite in history will be saved. This question is controversial, but I believe that some Israelites will be eternally lost. In the Book of Daniel, when speaking about Israel’s future, the angel said, "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." (Daniel 12:2). Being a Jew does not necessarily mean you are automatically saved.

Paul also states elsewhere, "But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’" (Romans 9:6-7). In Galatians 3:7, Paul says, "Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham."

These Pharisees and Sadducees were bound by the spirit of religion and legalism. Their concern wasn’t the redemption of Jesus Christ or the path of repentance and baptism offered by John; they were concerned about their own interests and doctrines. Hence, when they attempted to be baptized, John sternly reminded them that they must bear fruit in line with repentance.

The Pharisees and Sadducees represented the old wineskins centered around the temple and the priesthood. It is true that in the past, God chose the physical temple as His dwelling place. However, God's work in the new era is not about constructing an external temple, but a spiritual one (1 Peter 2:5). Jesus said he was greater than the temple (Matthew 12:6) and greater than Solomon (Matthew 12:42). Moreover, Jesus said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19). After saying this, John explains, "But he was speaking about the temple of his body" (John 2:20-21). Jesus was inaugurating a new spiritual era; He was constructing a spiritual temple. This temple far surpasses the former temple of the Old Testament era; it also surpasses the temple built by Solomon. Hence, God's work in the new era, the new spiritual work, must be entirely established on a new foundation—Jesus Christ. And John the Baptist was proclaiming the arrival of Jesus Christ.

This present era marks a dividing point where God starts a new spiritual era and new spiritual work. Faced with the arrival of a new era, will we recognize the work of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, or will we be hindered by old religious concepts? Throughout history, many believers have been unable to recognize God's work in a new era; instead, they have resisted God's new guidance. This is something we should be vigilant about.

Jesus Baptizes People in the Holy Spirit and Fire

John's message is crystal clear. First, Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). This is the message of repentance that he preached. Second, Jesus is the One who baptizes people with the Holy Spirit and fire. Over the ages, some churches have accepted the fact that we can be baptized in water , but ignored the fact that Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and fire. In the book of Acts, they only knew about the baptism of John. The people he preached to were unaware of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Later, Paul came and laid his hands on them, and they received the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Sadly, even today many Christians have not fully accepted or experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion:

Every new spiritual era requires a renewal and transformation of our minds, as well as the outpouring and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. John experienced trials in the wilderness. He received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and his mind was renewed. Only then could he usher in a new era of spiritual work.

As we face a new spiritual era, we must be open to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the renewal of our minds. Even if we have already received the indwelling Holy Spirit, we still need a greater outpouring of the Spirit. Everyone needs a fresh outpouring of God’s power. God’s work is always fresh and new. We must undergo a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit so we can receive power for the spiritual work of the new era. We must continually renew our minds and be transformed into new wineskins that can contain the new wine that God is producing in the new spiritual era.

Bible Study with Jairus

The Fall of Babylon and the Symbol of An Olive Press

Revelation 16 depicts the fall of Babylon the Great. The Holy Spirit showed me that Babylon the Great is a symbol of evil, like a nest full of evil spirits and impure birds. They not only resist God but also ensnare and deceive believers.

Therefore, God's judgment on Babylon the Great involves placing it in the winepress of His wrath. God calls His people to leave Babylon the Great before the city structure collapses.

Babylon the Great is an Olive Press

In this world, there are three spiritual realms. We humans live in the first spiritual realm; Satan and his evil spirits live in the second spiritual realm; and God dwells in the third spiritual realm. I sometimes call these three spiritual realms the three heavens.

Babylon the Great is the dwelling place of Satan and evil spirits in the middle spiritual realm between heaven and earth. Christ (who lives in the heavenly realm) and humans (who live in the earthly realm) yearn to be connected through marriage. Thus they collectively press against the middle realm as they try to unite. This pressing or mutual attraction will ultimately crush and overthrow Babylon the Great.

In the same way, the indwelling Christ and the Holy Spirit long to fill the Church and all things; the body of Christ longs for the Holy Spirit’s filling; and all of creation yearns to be liberated from its bondage to corruption. These forces attract each other, just as a bride and groom are drawn to each other, ultimately leading to the marriage feast depicted in Revelation 19. Eventually, heaven will invade earth, and heaven and earth will merge, crushing Babylon the Great which lies between them.

The structure of these three realms mirrors the three areas of the tabernacle, which contained the Holy of Holies, the Holy Place, and the Outer Court. It also mirrors our human existence, in which we have the spirit, soul, and body. In our personal lives, the spirit and the body cooperate to sanctify the soul. Our spirit has been born again and has become God’s dwelling place, like the Holy of Holies. The Holy Spirit desires to fill the Holy of Holies (our spirit) with his presence and gradually expand outward. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and they long to be freed from the bondage of corruption and receive the glorious freedom of sons of God. Like earth and heaven attract each other, so do the body (God’s temple) and the spirit (God’s home). But in between is the soul, which is sometimes adulterous. However, the body and spirit attract each other, ultimately leading to the renewal of our minds and the sanctification of our souls (Romans 12:1). This force purifies our adulterous souls.

Babylon the Great is a mixture of several spiritual substances, like a golden cup full of both good oil and dregs. The cup is full of abominations (Revelation 17:4). When God poured out Babylon the Great, it was like placing olives in an olive press. The olive oil is pressed out while the dregs are thrown into the fire and burned.

Just as oil comes out when olives are pressed, and the sediment is thrown into the fire and burned, God will destroy the evil in Babylon the Great. When God’s glory descends from the third heaven (Revelation 18:1), and believers continue to pray for God’s judgment and salvation (prayer under the altar, Revelation 6:10), God accomplishes his final judgment against Babylon the Great. The blood of countless saints was shed in Babylon the Great, and many believers were ensnared. As God judges Babylon the Great, he calls to the ensnared believers and dismantles the lair of evil spirits and burns it. From this, we can see that Babylon the Great is symbolized by an olive press.

Babylon The Great Exists in the Middle Spiritual Realm

As mentioned previously, there are three spiritual realms. All things in heaven and earth belong to God, and all of the world should be filled with God’s glory. However, Satan defiled heaven, the dwelling place of God (also known as the third heaven). After being cast down to earth, the devil took up residence in the middle realm (also known as the second heaven). By occupying this middle realm, he blocks God’s will from being done on earth.

On the cross, Jesus Christ not only completed the work of redemption so that humans can be reconciled to God, but He also cleansed the heavens once and for all (Hebrews 9:23). God not only cleansed the heavenly realm (represented by the Holy of Holies), but is also cleansing the earthly realm so His will can be done on earth as it is in heaven (represented by the Outer Court). The middle realm (second heaven) is occupied by Satan and the evil spirits, who have ensnared and deceived many believers. Therefore, God must also purify the second heaven. This is God’s mode of operation.

God not only purifies the three heavens, but also our personal spiritual lives. In the process of salvation and sanctification, God first renewed our spirit (represented by the Holy of Holies). His presence then expands outwards and fills our body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Spiritual growth is a result of human initiative and God’s initiative. It is not solely God’s work or man’s work. Rather, God’s work from the throne and man’s prayers from the altar collectively propel God’s work forward. As we long for more of the Holy Spirit’s filling, God responds by working in our lives. Our prayers and spiritual desires can be compared to digging a tunnel in a mountain. We dig on one side of the mountain, and God on the other side, and eventually we break through. In this way, God cooperates with man.

However, Satan’s mode of operation is to resist God in the soul, body, and spirit. First, He resists God through the sins of our flesh. Since the Lord Jesus crucified our flesh when he completed the work of redemption on the cross, Satan’s next spiritual battlefield is our soul. Our souls dwell between the body and the spirit, and they must choose to either listen to the spirit or to the wrong choices of the flesh (body). If our souls (and minds) make the right choices by choosing the spirit, it leads to life and peace; if our souls make the wrong choices by choosing the flesh, it leads to death. This is the truth revealed by Paul in Romans 8.

Satan has already been thrown out of the heavenly realm (third heaven), which is why he now lives in the middle realm (second heaven). At the same time, the battle between God and Satan continues in the earthly realm. These battles on earth are directly impacted by the battles taking place in the middle realm, the realm of the angels and demons. On the one hand, Satan constantly opposes God’s will in the middle realm, just like the demonic prince of Persia resisted the angel God sent to convey messages to Daniel (Daniel 10:13). On the other hand, Satan constantly deceives and ensnares believers on earth by influencing them from the middle spiritual realm.

This is why many believers have been deceived and have fallen into the net of Babylon the Great, which is in the middle realm. This net contains a mixture of deceived believers, sinners, and evil spirits. So how should God judge this mixed bag? Just like in the image of the olive press, God will separate the sediment from the wine, the wheat from the chaff, and the evildoers from the believers. mentioned earlier. When God puts Babylon the Great into the winepress or oil press, He will extract the oil from the olives and the wine from the grapes. When the wheat is harvested by God into His barn, the chaff (including evildoers and evil spirits) will be severely judged by God. These people will be thrown into the fire by God and burned.

"Heaven Invades Earth" and "The New Jerusalem Descends from Heaven"

I recently learned that our solar system is traveling northward at a speed of 20 miles per second. Moreover, the Bible reveals that the third heaven, where God dwells, is in the extreme north (Psalm 48:2). Therefore some speculate that earth is constantly moving closer and closer to God’s dwelling place, making it plausible for the New Jerusalem to descend from heaven on a physical plane. I am uncertain if this aligns with science, but it certainly does spiritually.

The Bible reveals to us that the New Jerusalem will descend from heaven, and it is explicitly stated that the New Jerusalem is a bride prepared for her husband (21:2). This leads to two complementary spiritual truths. First, God’s glory will descend from the third heaven, as verse 1 of this chapter says, “After this, I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory.” Revelation 21:2 says that God will come down to his people: “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” (NIV) On the other hand, we as believers will also ascend to God as we grow and mature in Him. Ephesians 4:15 tells us that we, his bride, must continue to mature so that we can grow up into Christ, who is the Head (Ephesians 4:15).

We cannot merely anticipate the descent of God’s holy city from heaven; we must also ascend to him as we mature. Our spiritual lives should be like balloons, which float upwards until we sit with Christ on his heavenly throne (Revelation 3:21). When we are burdened by too many earthly and physical entanglements, it is like tying stones to the balloon, hindering it from floating upwards.

In my visions and spiritual experiences, I have been carried by God to heaven. I have also flown independently to heaven. This shows that a person’s spirit can ascend to God. With God’s help, our spirits can sour to heaven. In some of these experiences, my spirit has been attacked by adversaries and evil spirits as it went through the middle realm, or second heaven.

These stories and experiences show that the Body of Christ, His bride, is constantly ascending to the third heaven. The bride includes the martyred believers throughout the ages who have been massacred by Babylon the Great for their testimony for God. In Revelation 6:10, they incessantly pray from heaven that God would judge their murderers and bring them. Perhaps they say, “God, may the believers on earth continue to mature. We have finished our race, but they have not yet completed theirs. As a result, we cannot yet receive our reward (Hebrews 11). So please help them mature as soon as possible so that you may judge Babylon the Great who shed our blood.” Perhaps God also responds in a similar way, telling them to endure for a while longer until the number of martyrs is complete. Once this number is complete, God's judgment will be poured out on Babylon the Great.

In the passage we are studying today, that number is finally complete. God’s judgment comes upon Babylon the Great. However, even in the midst of such judgment, God hasn’t forgotten to save His chosen people who were ensnared by Babylon the Great. John records, “Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues’” (Revelation 18:4). From this passage, we can see that God’s judgment on Babylon the Great includes the deliverance of those believers who have been ensnared and deceived.

In the next chapter, Revelation tells us that the Bride of the Lamb has made herself ready and is fully prepared for her wedding feast (Revelation 19:7). In the very next chapter, the Lamb and the Bride are ready to be married. The Bridegroom in heaven, Jesus Christ, and the Bride on earth have been drawn toward each other. They have constantly pursued one another, ready for a grand embrace. This embrace will crush and overcome Babylon the Great, the harlot, who has vehemently sought to prevent this embrace.

We see a similar picture of desire in the story of Isaac marrying Rebekah. Isaac needed comfort after his mother’s death, so his father Abraham (representing the Heavenly Father) sent his servant (representing the Holy Spirit) to his homeland to bring Rebekah. When Rebekah arrived on a camel, Isaac was waiting outside the tent, eagerly anticipating her arrival. Upon seeing Rebekah, he received her as his bride, brought her into the tent, and was comforted. This is a beautiful picture. Isaac represents Christ, who is eagerly anticipating the arrival of his bride. Rebekah represents the bride, who was willing to undergo a strenuous journey (symbolized by riding the camel) to get to her Bridegroom.

In the book of Revelation, the bride is finally ready to meet her Bridegroom, and the New Jerusalem descends from heaven. Before the wedding feast, God judges Babylon the Great, the harlot, because this harlot has stolen people’s worship and ensnared God’s chosen people. Babylon the Great is the counterfeit bride and she must be judged.

The Fall of Babylon the Great and the Haunt of Unclean and Detestable Birds

Revelation 18:2 records, “And he [the mighty angel] cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird.’” NASB Did Babylon the Great fall first and then later become a dwelling place for unclean and detestable birds, or was Babylon the Great the haunt of unclean and detestable birds before it fell? What does it mean to be a haunt of unclean and detestable birds? The answer lies in 18:3: “For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.” The word “for” shows that this verse is building on the content of the previous verse. Revelation 18:4-5 says, “Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.’” God is addressing His chosen people who are trapped in Babylon the Great, calling them to come out of Babylon the Great to avoid being judged by God in the same way.

Just like Babylon contains a mixture of saints and sinners, our soul often contains mixed allegiances. In our soul, we can either choose the spirit and obtain life and peace, or we can set our minds on the flesh and obtain death. God’s judgment on Babylon the Great purifies believers’ souls and renews their minds. Our soul should be like God’s temple, a place of prayer. However, just like the money changers who turned God’s house of prayer into a place of buying and selling, we often compromise the purity of God’s dwelling place. Jesus was angry and drove out the people who were exchanging money and selling cattle and sheep. God intended the temple to be a place where people could come offer sacrifices to Him. But people had turned His worship into a system of empty religious rituals, and for their convenience, they were buying and selling doves, cattle and sheep in the temple. When we lose the true meaning of worship, which is worshiping the Father in spirit and in truth, the house of God becomes a place of merchandise. Just like Jesus cleansed the temple, God is now judging Babylon the Great. Evil spirits in Babylon the Great wanted to rob people of their ability to authentically worship God. As a result, Babylon contained a mixture of true worship and false human worship.

I believe that before the fall of Babylon the Great, evil spirits had already taken residence in the city, but these haunts were further exposed after the fall of the city.

Our Prayer

During our Bible study, a new believer heard me sharing about Babylon and uttered this prayer: “May the glory of our Heavenly Father continue to fill us, drawing us closer to His Son, Jesus Christ. May we continue to grow spiritually until we become a mature and glorious bride. May we soar higher and embrace Jesus Christ as our heavenly Bridegroom. May the glory of God continually descend from heaven, filling the entire earth. Let us ascend from earth toward Him. Let God’s passion for us (in the heavenly realm) and our passion for him (in the earthly realm) press against Babylon the Great (in the middle realm). Just as olives are pressed for oil, let the chosen people of God caught in Babylon the Great’s snare transform into oil through hardships and pressing, and be gathered into God’s barn. May this pressing and judgment also squeeze out the dregs completely, judge them, and cast them into the lake of fire. Lord Jesus, we long for your return!”

Bible Study with Jairus

Revelation 14 (part 2)

Two High-speed Trains and the Harvest of Two Kinds of Angels

Two opposing storylines run through the entire Biblical narrative. I like to visualize them as two high-speed trains that reach their ultimate destinations in the Book of Revelation. One train originated with God and is filled with all the righteous people from all ages (from Adam, Seth, and Noah to Moses, David, and the New Testament saints). The other train originated with Satan and carries the sinners from all ages (Cain, Lamech, and all who refuse to repent). The former represents the tree of life, and the latter represents the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

These two trains will intersect at the Battle of Armageddon, when the people on the two trains will engage in a final battle. After the battle, those belonging to God will achieve victory; their train will continue its journey and arrive at its destination, eternal life. However, the other train, filled with sinners, will arrive at the lake of fire, where its passengers will face eternal judgment.

These two trains have been continuously loading new passengers since the beginning of humanity. The former continuously loads repentant people to become the army of the new bride, while the latter continuously loads unrepentant people to become the army of the "kings from the east" (Revelation 16:12, see also Revelation 19:19). The ultimate fate of these unrepentant people is grim. The beast and the false prophet will be thrown “alive into the lake of fire" (19:20). The remaining warriors will be “slain by the sword that came out from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse" (19:21). Remember, the apocalyptic final battle involves not only the people on Earth but also sinners and saints from all ages.

In the Old Testament, Jacob saw two camps of soldiers in a vision (Genesis 32:2). The angels and the heavenly hosts are involved in this battle against the powers of evil. The antagonists, the beast, and the false prophet, are either evil spirits or people possessed by evil spirits, indicating that evil spirits are also involved in this final battle. Both armies are continuously recruiting soldiers and preparing for the final confrontation. God's army continually transforms sinners into God's children through the Gospel, forming the army of the new bride. The enemy's army continually ensnares sinners, making them captives of the enemy, and finally engages in a war against God and God's servants.

Jesus compares the kingdom of God to sowing seeds. As God sows the seeds of the Gospel, the enemy also sows weeds. Jesus tells us that we should not pull up the weeds, lest the wheat be pulled up too. When they both mature, the angels will come to harvest, burning the weeds and gathering the wheat into the barn (Matthew 13:24-30). In this parable, Jesus clearly states, "The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels" (13:39). So the scene in Revelation 14 is the reality that Jesus’ parable was pointing to (Matthew 13). In Revelation 14, angels are harvesting the good wheat into the barn (the 144,000 standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion, see Revelation 14:1-5) and gathering the weeds into the winepress of God's fierce wrath (14:19). The harvest of these two angels prepares the world for the final battle between the two armies, as well as for the fall of Babylon (14:8).

Who are the 144,000 on Mount Zion?

Since Revelation 13:15 says that "those who would not worship the image of the beast” were “slain,” some speculate that the 144,000 are the ones who were killed for not worshiping the beast. However, this understanding is incorrect. Firstly, those killed for not worshiping the beast would likely have exceeded this number. Secondly, the events described in Revelation 13, such as the beast having the authority to kill those who do not worship him, have not yet happened at this point. When we enter Chapter 14, we find an angel proclaiming the eternal gospel to all nations on earth (14:6), announcing the fall of Babylon (14:7), warning of the eternal damnation of those who worship the beast, and applauding the perseverance of the saints (14:8). From this proclamation, it appears that there is a process taking place, and this process takes time. Verse 13 says, "And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.’” At this point, many people are unwilling to worship the beast and therefore are killed. Since not worshiping the beast leads to death, there are only two options for those who live on earth. The first option is not worshiping the beast and being gathered by God into his barn (14-16); the second option is worshiping the beast, leading to being gathered by the angels and thrown into the winepress of God’s wrath (17-20).

Then who are the 144,000 people whom John sees on Mount Zion at the beginning of chapter 14? We can relate this passage to Revelation 7:4, which says, "And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel."

Let’s dive deeper and uncover the process that is slowly unfolding in these chapters. In Chapter 7, the angels sealed these 144,000 people, but their actual salvation came after Chapter 14. The seven trumpets played a crucial role in this process. While these seven trumpets brought calamity, they also served to summon God’s elect. Jesus refers to the end times in Matthew 24: "And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the other" (Matthew 24:31). Calamity and God’s call were one and the same.

Calamity and God’s call are often two aspects of the same event. For example, during World War II, Jews faced the Holocaust under Hitler; yet after the war, the modern state of Israel was established. Due to the suffering they had endured, many Jews who may not have been willing to leave their homeland became more willing to return to Israel. This illustrates the paradox of suffering and calling.

Certainly, there are various interpretations regarding who the 144,000 people are. Still, based on Revelation 7, when the angels sealed them and the trumpet call gathered them, I believe the reference to the 144,000 alludes to the process of calling the people of Israel back home. Perhaps they will gather on Mount Zion on earth, or maybe some will be martyred and gathered on Mount Zion in heaven.

Near my home in Maryland, not far from a hotel, an annual gathering of Jewish Christians takes place. In 2023, I attended their meeting and heard about the severity of the persecution that Jewish Christians face when preaching the gospel to Jews. An American Jewish Christian sister told us about how she was kind to a Jewish neighbor, but when the neighbor discovered that they were Jesus’ followers, she reported them to the authorities, leading to significant persecution. Recent news reports confirm that some Jewish extremists have been persecuting Jewish Christians during prayer meetings. As the end times arrive, the spiritual opposition to the gospel among the religious Jews in Israel will only increase. As a result, preaching the gospel in Israel or turning to Christ may lead to martyrdom. The 144,000 martyrs may refer to the small number of firstfruits that result from a revival in Israel during the end times.

After the angels seal these servants in Chapter 7, the passage continues, "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes, and peoples and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands" (7:9). This clearly refers to the salvation of the Gentiles. If we consider Paul’s teaching that all Israel will be saved once the full number of the Gentiles has been saved (Romans 11:25), it's not hard to see what is happening here. This may be the turning point when the full number of Gentiles has come in and God is now saving all of Israel in a great revival. However, this event will undoubtedly provoke fierce opposition from Satan. As a result, the subsequent battles will be centered around Israel.

What is the Eternal Gospel?

Building on the concepts we have explored above, it will be easier to understand the eternal gospel mentioned in Revelation 14:6. First, let’s look at the history of the past few thousand years. Even though Romans teaches that God temporarily turned away from Israel to work among the Gentiles, many Gentiles have still had a burden for the Jews and have shared the gospel with them. There have also been movements of Messianic Jewish Christians in the United States, and some Jews have come to faith. Still, the overall number of Jewish believers remains small. At the Jewish conference I attended, I heard that the number of believing Jews is less than 1% in the US and much less in Israel. I've interacted with many ministries focused on sharing the gospel with Jewish people, and I've observed that the impact is limited.

Perhaps this is why in the end times, God will specifically raise up angels to proclaim the eternal gospel. Although this gospel shows God’s compassion for the Jews, it is not exclusive to them. In this chapter, it states, "Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth—to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, 'Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and the earth, the sea and the springs of water'" (14:6-7). While this eternal gospel is proclaimed to all nations, it seems connected to the promise of the salvation of all Israel during the end times. Perhaps because God’s appointed time has come, and the hardening of Israel's heart has run its course, God will raise up angels to proclaim the gospel, enabling God’s chosen people to believe in their Messiah.

Considering the current challenges in sharing the gospel with the Jewish people, it seems necessary for angels to directly proclaim the gospel to them. It's possible that the entire house of Israel can be saved through this angelic proclamation alone.

Announcing the Fall of Babylon

The fall of Babylon is discussed in more detail in subsequent chapters, but in this chapter the second angel announces the fall of Babylon and calls on the Jews and Christians in Babylon to leave the city. Babylon represents various snares created by evil spirits and evildoers, including religious, political, economic, and other snares. Many unrighteous Jews control the world's wealth, and it’s logical to conclude that these people are part of the snare. Many Christians also participate in these snares, so God calls His people (perhaps including Jews and Gentile Christians) to abandon this snare, lest they face the same punishment (18:4). God's judgment on Babylon is a gradual process, beginning with this announcement. Subsequently, Babylon will be judged step by step.

The Separation of Babylon and the Warning of Worshiping the Beast

Since God's people are still present in Babylon, God's judgment on Babylon involves a power struggle between God and Satan. They are fighting over the people of God who are still within the city. When God announces the fall of Babylon, some of His people will undoubtedly leave. But Satan and the beast will do their best to oppose this by intensifying their threats. No one will be able to do business without worshiping the beast. As God's warning intensifies, the beast’s persecution also increases. God’s people are the epicenter of the conflict. God's people have two choices: either leave Babylon, choosing martyrdom over worshiping the beast, or stay and face persecution. The beast wants God’s people, who are attempting to leave Babylon, to worship him instead. Facing such persecution, God gives a serious warning that worshipping the beast will lead to eternal suffering in the lake of fire.

A Watershed Moment

At this point, God's train is moving forward, boarding all the remaining people who are chosen by God. To save these chosen ones, God has sent out three angels. They declare the eternal gospel, announce the fall of Babylon the Great, and warn of the outcome for those who worship the beast. God continues to call these people to break free from Babylon the Great and board God's train that is headed for eternal life. However, those who refuse to repent and those who worship the beast will face severe punishment from God.

The appearance of the beast is a watershed moment. When the two angels arrive, the earth is harvested. Those who choose not to worship the beast are harvested by the angel and gathered into God’s barn like grain. In contrast, those who worship the beast are harvested by the angel and disposed of like weeds.

Are the Reapers Angels?

Revelation 14:14 says, "Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand." Who is this harvester who looks like the Son of Man? Is he the Lord? Some may take this view, since the term “son of man” is used here. However, in Matthew 13:39, Jesus says, "And the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels." If this reaper in Revelation is the Lord, it makes it difficult to explain Revelation 14:15, where another angel gives a command to the one sitting on the cloud: "Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour of reaping has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” If the man on the cloud were the Lord, it would seem strange for another angel to give him a command. Therefore, we can guess that this harvester is not the Lord, but another angel. It seems that a pair of angels was harvesting. One angel was specifically responsible for harvesting, while the other was responsible for receiving and relaying God’s command to begin the harvest.

We can observe the same pattern in the harvesting of the wicked. The first angel wields a sickle, and the second angel comes out from the altar, having authority over the fire. He instructs the first angel when to reap. Only then does the first angel cast down the sickle. From this perspective, it appears to be a corresponding pair of angels. From this similar pair of harvesters, we can conclude that the son of man was likely not the Lord, but an angel.

Conclusion

There are only two opposing forces in this world: God and Satan. People must choose either God or Satan; there is no middle ground. Two spiritual "trains" run in the world, one headed to eternal life and one headed toward eternal destruction. Human free will and choice determine which train we board. Daily life is filled with decisions that shape the direction of our lives. Trials test how we make choices. In Revelation 14, people were forced to choose when the beast appeared and persecution broke out for those who did not worship the beast. At this point, Babylon still contained some of God’s chosen people trapped within. However, the appearance of the beast completely separated God's people from those marked by the beast. God's people were harvested into the barn, symbolizing heaven, while those with the mark of the beast were gathered into the lake of fire to face eternal torment. May we all make the right choice and board the train to heaven.

Bible Study with Jairus-Revelation 13

The Beast and God’s Final Harvest

In Revelation 13, we learn about an evil trinity composed of the dragon, the first beast, and the second beast. This chapter lies between the account of the birth of the man-child (chapter 12) and the account of the 144,000 who stood with the Lamb on Mount Zion (chapter 14). These accounts represent the two great harvests of God. As we mentioned earlier, the Book of Revelation is structured around alternating judgments and harvests. Judgments lead to spiritual harvests.

In Revelation 13, anyone "whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain" begins to worship the beast (13:8). When God “gives them up” to worship the beast, this is actually another form of judgment on the world. The Book of Romans depicts this type of judgment:

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (1:21) God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts. (1:24; 26) God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. (1:28)

When God allows people to sin, it means that he has rejected them. This is the most serious form of judgment. The beast and those who worship him will be judged by God in the future. Perhaps they are so full of sin that God will no longer give them a chance to repent anymore. If so, this indicates a transition from the age of grace to an age of judgment.

Revelation 14 tells us that after this transition, God will begin to incrementally cleanse the former creation. First, the "eternal gospel" will be proclaimed (14:6) and Babylon the Great will fall (14:8). Babylon the Great is a counterfeit Body of Christ. She is a great whore instead of a bride, and she is drunk with the blood of the saints (17:6). The Lamb will then fight against the beast and conquer him (17:14), and the beast and the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire and sulfur (19:20). In the end, Satan will be bound for a thousand years (20:3) and finally cast into the lake of fire and sulfur (20:10). At this point, God will begin the Great White Throne judgment, and those who are not in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire (20:15). Then the New Heaven and New Earth, the New Jerusalem, will be created (21-22).

Throughout every stage of judgment, God is constantly bringing in a harvest of souls. Even during the final judgment before the Great White Throne judgment, some people will be ushered into eternal life. God's continuing harvest brings many true believers into eternal life. In the end, all who seek and long for God will enter heaven and become a part of the Bride of Christ. Martyred believers who refused to worship the beast will take part in God’s final harvest. This is why at the beginning of Revelation 14, we see those 144,000 believers standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion.

Satan Hides Behind the Beast

The false Trinity is composed of Satan, the first beast (the Antichrist), and the second beast (the false prophet, 19:20). Revelation 12 ends with the dragon standing on the sands of the sea (12:17). Why is the dragon standing there?

This dragon is Satan. Because Satan has been cast to the earth, he must find an agent to help him deceive humankind. Just as Satan used the snake to deceive Eve in the Garden of Eden, he must find a new agent of deceit so he can continue to pursue his purposes. If for a moment he does not use deceit, he will fail to win the admiration and worship of mankind. If people realize that he is a big red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, few will want to worship him. Since Christ has already conquered Satan on the cross, his only tool is deception. He attempts to confuse and deceive those who do not know about Christ's victory.

The Bible mentions that Satan often disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He tries not to show his true colors. Because of his propensity for deception, I conclude that the first beast he summons up from the bottomless pit may not appear as vicious as God knows him to be. He may be trying to deceive people. On the other hand, God's revelations of judgment allow people to see Satan’s true colors and the true nature beast.

The Picture of the Beast Depicts the Worship of Diverse False Gods

Revelation 12:3 declares that the dragon has “seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.” Revelation 13:1 tells us that the beast rising out of the sea has “ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.” God reveals that the beast and the dragon have the same nature. Through spiritual eyes, we can see that Satan is behind many events and people in this world. But if our spiritual eyes are not open, we run the risk of being deceived by outward appearances.

The beast’s multiple heads and horns remind us that the beast manifests itself in multiple ways. It has something for everyone. If you do not want God, you can likely find a beast or a dragon that fits you perfectly. The beast does not have just one manifestation; he has many different evil manifestations to deceive a variety of people. This is why some countries have fallen into the control of the Evil Spirit of Communism; other countries fallen into the control of Islamic Extremism; and yet other countries have fallen into the control of homosexuals and extreme leftists. The beast hides behind all kinds of beautiful things. For instance, the homosexual movement is disguised as seeking respect for minorities, and the religious pluralism movement is disguised as accommodating all religions. They all have beautiful slogans, but what they are doing is against God.

The beast has a leopard’s body but a lion’s mouth. This may indicate that it is a counterfeit of Christ, the lion of the tribe of Judah. His feet are like the feet of a bear, meaning he is merciless in hurting people. We see echoes of the beast in many systems of thoughts and anti-God movements in this world. Behind the beast is the dragon, that is, Satan.

Why was the dragon standing by the sea? Why did he call the beast up from the bottomless pit? Perhaps the dragon was trying to disguise itself after its partial exposure. The angel had defeated the dragon, so perhaps its true nature had been partly exposed. Now, it wants to hide itself by using the beast to deceive people.

Why is there a second beast after the first beast? For the same reason: the first beast has been partially exposed. Its head has been wounded with a knife, and one of its heads has died (13:3). Although the beast has been healed (13:3), its nature has been exposed to a certain extent. Therefore, a second beast is needed to continue to confuse people with its shapeshifting. The second beast will continue to entice people to worship the first beast and the dragon.

Whether the dragon, the first beast, or the second beast, their goal is to confuse and deceive people. The job of God, the angels, and the church is to continue to expose what they are doing. When the works of Satan and the evil spirits have been fully exposed, they will finally be defeated. As we mentioned earlier, Christ's work on the cross stripped Satan of all his power when was accomplished. His only tool is to deceive. Once that tool is removed, he will be utterly destroyed.

God's Purpose Is Still Harvest

As we have seen, Revelation is structured around recurring judgments and recurring harvests. After God’s judgment, there is always a harvest. God will gather the grain and put it into the barn (representing the harvest of true believers, and he will also harvest the weeds (false believers) and throw them into the great winepress of the wrath of God (14:19). If you've ever seen a harvester at work, then you can imagine the work of the beast in Revelation 13. The beast has one most important purpose: to separate the grain from the weeds. The beast is allowed to fight against the saints and to conquer them (13:7), resulting in many martyrs. All who are not written in the book of life will worship the beast and receive his mark.

The harvest in Revelation 14 has a different purpose. This chapter opens with a vision of one hundred and forty-four thousand people standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion. Perhaps this number represents those who did not worship the beast and were martyred in Revelation 13. God is now gathering the grain into his barn, which is heaven.

In the Revelation 14, the angel proclaims the eternal gospel to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people (14:6). What is the "eternal gospel"? The interpretation of this passage is controversial. I was taught that that the proclamation of the eternal gospel represents the end of the Age of Grace. Perhaps at this time, people will no longer have the opportunity to be saved by hearing the gospel from fellow humans. Instead, the gospel will be preached directly by angels. Whether or not this interpretation is correct, this verse definitely represents the end of an era. Perhaps the window of God's grace will partially close as humanity enters a new phase.

As Revelation 14 continues, God continues to harvest the earth. An angel swings a sickle across the earth to reap the earth (14:15-16). The angel puts the grain (symbolizing believers) into the barn (14:16). Another angel swings a sickle across the earth to gather the grape harvest. The grapes (symbolizing unbelievers) will be thrown into the great winepress of the wrath of God (14:18). This continues the judgment + harvest structure. But soon God's harvest will come to an end, and God's final judgment and final war will begin.

The rest of the book of Revelation tells us about:

• The seven plagues that complete God’s wrath (15:1).

These events take place in a completely different era, the era of final judgment and wrath. During this time, God cleanses the old creation, defeats Satan’s rebellion, and brings in the New Heaven the New Earth, and the New Jerusalem to complete God’s ultimate plan for the universe. Therefore, the beast in Revelation 13 prompts people to make their “final selection.” Their decisions regarding this beast will determine their final fate. This is God's last harvest, and it is mankind’s last chance to repent.

The Meaning of The Number 666

If you drive along Highway 295 and Highway 95 from Washington DC, you will see a sign for Highway 895 before you get to Baltimore. The sign reads, “Passage leading to Strait, no turning back.” Once you enter this tunnel, there is no exit until you go through the tunnel and get to Baltimore. When driving for work, I often need to exit before Baltimore City to run errands. So I know I shouldn’t take the tunnel road. But a few times, I have missed the sign and entered this tunnel. It was a point of no return. Not only did I have to pay, but I also had to go back to my business by another route after arriving in Baltimore. Later, the number 895 became a sign to me. As soon as I see 895, I remember that if I ignore this sign, I will have to spend a lot of time and money and end up delaying my work.

The same is true for the number of the beast in Revelation 13, which is 666. Six is the day when man was created, and seven is the day that God rested. So 666 is the limit that all created things can struggle. The role of the beast, as I have shared before, is to completely separate the wheat from the weeds for better harvesting. When the number 666 appears it is the final chance for people to “exit” for eternal life. After the beast’s name and number appear in Revelation 13, the concept of repentance or salvation are never again mentioned, with only one exception: “And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.” (15:2) Perhaps at this point, God has closed the window of salvation. The structure of "judgment + repentance" in the Book of Revelation has come to an end, and the structure is now "judgment + war". No matter how many times God judged humans with disaster, those who worshiped the beast did not repent. Instead, they fought against the Lamb and his bride until the great battle of Armageddon, where they were finally defeated and thrown into the lake of fire.

Regarding the number of the beast, the Holy Spirit says: “This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.” The Holy Spirit says that we must pay special attention with wisdom and understanding. In other words, we must remember that once we see the number 666, we must be vigilant and make the right choice. It is our final opportunity to decide to follow God. If we make the wrong choice, we will enter a tunnel leading directly to hell, with no exit and no way back. Going back to my analogy, If I take exit 895 and enter the tunnel, I will drive directly to the center of Baltimore, a city filled with crimes and drug trafficking. In the same way, those who do not take God’s offer of salvation will end up in hell.

Each Hebrew character can also signify a number, and the number of the word Lucifer + hell (Satan + hell) in Hebrew is also 666. Throughout the ages, many people have associated 666 with people who seemed to be Antichrists, such as Caesar, Nero, Napoleon, and Hitler. These people have all passed away, and the number of the beast has not been fulfilled. But we do not rule out the possibility that the Antichrist will be associated with the number 666. However, we should note that the number 666 may be a warning signal to an individual or to all humans in general. God has provided us with many warning signals in this world. When there is a problem with our bodies, pain is our warning signal. When we drive across the line on the interstate, the rumble strips are our warning signal. Similarly, when human beings are facing a critical moment of choosing between life and death, God will give people a clear warning signal: 666. But we must make sure that we are not distracted, or we will miss the signal.

We who seek God will see this warning signal and make the right choice. But unrepentant people who are filled with evil spirits may miss this signal. Just as I ended up in Baltimore because I was distracted and didn't pay attention to the road signs, we must be careful not to be distracted and unrepentant. We don't need to guess what the number 666 means. But we need to be vigilant about distraction so we do not miss God's warnings.

Conclusion

Many people enjoy speculating about who the false prophet and the Antichrist are. Some people say that the current Pope, Francis, is the false prophet, and the French leader Macron is the Antichrist. I don't think Christians need to speculate about this. Instead, our great mission is to spread the gospel, bring people to repentance, and show people the way of salvation as soon as possible. We want people to have a chance to be saved before the last harvest of God so they can go to heaven. If you have accepted Christ, it does not matter who the false prophet and antichrist are. As long as you are confident that you would rather be martyred than worship the beast, that is enough. Perhaps some weak Christians will worship the beast, but mostly unbelievers will fall of his traps. Because of this, we must stop worrying about who the Antichrist is and start spreading the gospel and helping sinners find salvation. In these urgent times, this is the most important response.

Bible Study with Jairus-2 Peter 1-10

Peter Caught a Fish with a Shekel in Its Mouth

Holding on to the Lord’s Promise in the Darkness

In recent studies, we’ve discussed Peter’s reflections on experiencing the Lord Jesus’ Transfiguration on the Mount, how Christians should grow their spiritual life, and the road map for entering the eternal kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In his letters to the churches, Peter often reflects on the blessings he received from the Lord. One of these occurred when the Lord Jesus instructed Peter to go fishing. The first fish Peter caught had a coin in its mouth, which he then used to pay the temple tax for both himself and the Lord Jesus. What did Peter learn from this experience?

Peter learned the importance of asking Jesus for help before saying or doing something rash. Fishing is never easy, and it is even more difficult to catch a fish with a coin in its mouth. However, Peter persevered because of the Lord’s promise to provide for the temple tax.

2 Peter 1:19 reads, “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” Peter was speaking, not only of how the prophetic writers of the Bible were prompted by God (2 Peter 1:20-21), but also from his own personal experience. I was deeply touched to realize that perhaps, when Peter was fishing, he was able to persevere because he had the words of Jesus Christ as a promise. This teaches us to hold on to the Lord’s promised and prophetic words, walk through dark moments, and welcome the morning star that appears in our hearts. We all make mistakes—speak foolishly or get stuck in dark situations—but we must hold on to God’s promises to help us get through dark and difficult times.

I have gone through some dark trials in my life. My wife and I experienced infertility for 10 years. In 2016, I heard the Holy Spirit say, "You will have a child this year." I held on to this promise, even when it wasn’t fulfilled right away. Eventually, God gave us the baby of promise. Though we may not all receive such personal promises, the Bible gives many promises to those who are descendants of Abraham's faith (Romans 4:24). When we experience life’s difficulties, we must trust these promises that are “prophetic word more fully confirmed” and that shine like “a lamp in a dark place. As we do, we will be able to walk through the darkness and “welcome the morning star” (2 Peter 1:19).

Did the Lord Jesus Need to Pay Temple Tax?

When the tax collectors asked Peter, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” He said, “Yes.” But did the Lord Jesus need to pay the temple tax? Perhaps Peter answered as he did because he didn’t want to give the collectors an excuse to accuse his teacher of wrongdoing. Or he may have responded out of fear of the Jews. But here is how the Lord Jesus responded: “And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, ‘What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?’ And when he said, ‘From others,’ Jesus said to him, ‘Then the sons are free’” (Matthew 17:25-26).

Judging from this passage, I personally think that the Lord Jesus meant that as a king and the Son of God, he did not need to pay the temple tax. Jesus goes on to say, “‘However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself’” (Matthew 17:27).

The Bible does not record what Peter was thinking as he carried out the Lord Jesus’ instructions, but I imagine Peter had mixed emotions. We don’t know how long it took Peter to catch the fish, but I believe he had some time to reflect while he was fishing. He may have regretted responding to the tax collectors before asking the Lord and thus receiving a rebuke from the Lord. Or maybe Peter was thinking about the Lord’s words, gaining a better understanding of the Lord’s divinity and how he was truly the Son of God. The insights Peter gained while fishing were later written down in his letters to the churches.

There were many dark moments in Peter's life, including when he denied him three times. The darkest of these was between the Lord’s death and resurrection. At that time, Peter may have remembered the words of the Lord Jesus, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:1-3). These words of promise from the Lord Jesus are the “prophetic word more fully confirmed.” Jesus originally spoke these words right after predicting that Peter would deny him three times.

At the time, the disciples did not understand what the Lord Jesus meant. “Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him’” (John 14:5-7). It’s interesting to note the timing of when the Lord Jesus spoke these words. In fact, these words were His response to Peter’s question, “‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.’ Peter said to him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you’” (John 13:36-37, emphasis added). The Lord Jesus responded by telling Peter that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed.

After Jesus’ death, when Peter reflected in the darkness, he may have remembered the Lord’s words of promise, “but you will follow afterward.” When the Lord said these words, He was telling his disciples that He was going to the Father. However, sin was still preventing humanity from approaching our Heavenly Father God. The only way to the Father was not opened until after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. That which we are unable to do in our fleshly weakness, we can one day do because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Peter hoped to lay down his life for the Lord, but he couldn’t. However, after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Peter did sacrifice his life and die as a martyr for the Lord. The Lord Jesus spoke to Peter of this, “‘Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.’ (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, ‘Follow me’” (John 21:18-19).

Paul says the same thing in Romans 7–8. What he cannot do in the flesh, he can do through the law of the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ. Likewise, Peter also grew spiritually and was able to fulfill the prophetic words of Jesus Christ in his life, "But you will follow afterward." These words may have encouraged Peter in the darkest moments of his life. The resurrected Christ not only appeared to Peter and the other disciples, but also appeared to Him alone. The Bible does not record the details of this incident, but we can imagine that it must have been very intimate.

My Testimony of Holding on to the Lord’s Word of Promise in the Darkness

My wife and I struggled with infertility and prayed to have a child for 10 years. Those years held a lot of pain and trials. We experienced six unsuccessful attempts at IVF, quarreling, sleepless nights, and the oppressive attacks of evil spirits. We both walked “through the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4a). But I have always believed in God’s promises and in the Scripture: “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame” (Romans 10:11). Even before I received the Lord’s personal promise to me, I believed that the Bible’s promises were true for every descendant of Abraham. God promised Abraham that he would multiply His descendants. God blessed him with descendants and gave back Isaac, as if back from the dead. I prayed, “God, if you could do this for Abraham, I believe that you can do this for me.”

At the time, I worked in Washington DC. Every day during my lunch break, I went to the park and prayed, “God of Abraham, God who raised the dead, God who spoke the world into being from nothing—Where are you? Please appear to me." I continued praying, repenting of my sins, and recommitting myself to God. I repeated these words of promise in the Bible over and over again.

Many Bible verses speak of God’s promises for children; they were God’s personal promises to me. A pastor was teaching from Scripture, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the childrenof one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate” (Psalm 127:3-5). As he was preaching, the pastor said something very moving and encouraging to me: “Your quiver is full of arrows. God will bless you with children.”

I left the Local Church Movement where I was saved and began attending a small charismatic church to seek healing and the Word of God. My wife and I traveled all over the United States seeking help and prayers, attending many crusades of healing evangelists. Although God did not choose to heal us through them, He used this time to grow me in knowing Him and His promises better.

In January 2016, I was at a conference when I heard God speak, telling me that we would have a child that year. The following month, I returned to China to visit my family and told them about God’s prophecy. But they didn't believe me. They thought there was something wrong with my brain. After returning to the United States, I experienced a great deal of spiritual warfare. By May, I was exhausted. One day I asked the Holy Spirit, “When is this going to happen?” That night, I had a dream. I saw the Holy Spirit, dressed as a woman, pointing at the back of a man (Jesus Christ’s image). The Holy Spirit said, “Didn’t He tell you that you will have a child next month?” I told my wife and friends about the dream and they found it unbelievable. But by the end of May, my wife was pregnant. It was a miracle. A healthy daughter was born in 2017.

Paul encourages us, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory” (2 Corinthians 1:20). God did not heal my wife and me through prayer, but He ultimately healed us through the words of His personal promises. Even before I received God’s clear words and personal promise to me, I believed the promises in the Bible. As I repeated and believed these promises, I came to know God’s character more profoundly. I know, from my own experience, that anyone who trusts God will never be ashamed. When I trusted the confirmed, prophetic words of the Bible, I finally received the Lord’s promise as my own prophetic word. The black and white words of the Bible (Logos) became God’s personal words to me (Rhema)

You Cannot Follow Me Now, But You Will Follow Afterward

The Lord Jesus is the Captain and Pioneer of our salvation. Hebrews 2:10 claims, “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering” (emphasis added). This is why Jesus told his disciples, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward” (John 13:36). Jesus was going to the Father, but Peter and the others couldn’t go yet. After the Lord Jesus accomplished redemption, the road was paved for them to go to the Father. Jesus paved the way for our salvation and for the obedience He learned through suffering.

When the Lord Jesus told Peter, "You cannot follow me now," and when Peter was waiting to catch the fish: these are like us, waiting, in our current time. We have not yet found the coin; we have not yet joined Jesus in his Father’s house. But as we go through this life (even in times of darkness), we must hold to the word of God's promises, like a lamp on a dark night. What we cannot do, in the weakness of our flesh, Jesus Christ will empower us to do by his salvation and grace.

When I recognized my inability to overcome my flesh, I prayed and asked God to give me strength. That night, I had a dream that I was flying in the air, an Earth-like ball under my feet, covered with dust. As I stamped my feet to shake off the dust I shouted: "With the strength of the Lord, I will definitely overcome the gravity of the Earth!" This vision of the Holy Spirit, revealed in my dream, told me that God will strengthen me so I can break away from the flesh and soar in the Spirit. God has led me through a series of disciplines, helping me to mature and overcome some weaknesses of the flesh. Sanctified by His life, I have become a vessel, able to be used by God.

Conclusion

Suffering itself does not make a person mature. But praying throughout times of suffering can grow a person’s spiritual life. If we do not hold on to God’s promises during difficult times, there will be no lamp in the darkness nor light that leads others to the morning star. Many people experience darkness in life, but if they do not know the confirmed, prophetic words of God, they are unable to pass through the darkness into the light. We need to help others know the Bible’s words of promise that by knowing them, they can escape the corruption that comes from the lusts of the world and become partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Peter experienced this perfection in the Lord and in 2 Peter, he shared his own spiritual experience with us.