THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

Chapter 53

PURIFY YOUR TEMPLE IN PREPARATION FOR OUR LORD’S IMMINENT RETURN.

HOW? FIRST HAVE “A WILLING MIND,” GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REST

07-12-09

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(Phil 1:6)  Being confident of this very thing, that he [the Holy Spirit] which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of [the return of] Jesus Christ:

(Luke 12:36)  And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh [the second time, His Second Coming], they may open unto him immediately [vs. “ hide the beer Helen”].

1.       [His first purification of the temple of God] (John 2:13-16)  And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge [Gk: a whip] of small cords, he drove them all [the defiling men] out of the temple [a type of exorcism of evil spirits], and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money [elements used in profiteering on God], and overthrew the tables [the structures of business support]; And said unto them [specifically] that sold doves [Why these persons specifically? What symbolism is used here?], Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

a.       Commentary: Jesus went up to Jerusalem and for the first time purged the temple of god: “ye are the temple of God” (1 Cor 3:16; 2 Cor 6:16). This first purging represents our “born again” experience wherein we receive “the earnest” (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5; Eph 1:14) of the Holy Spirit. In saying “the earnest,” please note that the Apostle Paul employed the definite article “the” indicating a precise set amount of the Holy Spirit, rather than employing the indefinite article “a” which would indicate an indefinite changeable amount of the Holy Spirit. Conclusion: everybody receives “the earnest,” the same amount of the Holy Spirit when they become “born again.” How much more, if any, of the Holy Spirit that you may receive afterwards depends upon whether you have “a willing mind,” i.e., willing to obey God.

                                                                           i.      (1 Chr 28:9)  And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

                                                                         ii.      (2 Cor 8:12)  For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted [by God] according to that a man hath [understanding], and not according to that he hath not [understanding].

2.       [His second purification of the temple of God, i.e., His Second Coming] (Mat 21:12-14)  And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them [all], It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. [Mark 11:15; Luke 19:45] [Please note that this second and final entrance is much more explicit and declarative].

3.       tabernacle = Heb: a residence (includ. a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, fig. the grave; also the Temple); spec. the Tabernacle (prop. its wooden walls):--dwelleth, dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle, tent.

(Luke 12:37,38)  Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching [Gk: to keep awake, i.e. watch:--be vigilant]: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat [a meal], and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

1.       (1 Pet 5:8)  Be sober [Gk: to abstain from wine: watch], be vigilant [Gk: to keep awake: watch]; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

2.       Commentary: “walketh about” = The thought conveyed here is that if we are truly vigilant, we will be enabled to discern the devil walking about, i.e., the devil(s) influencing or in possession of someone. How much of you is the devil in possession of?

(Luke 12:39,40)  And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched [past-tense], and not have suffered his house to be broken through [Gk: to penetrate burglariously]. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

1.       (John 10:10)  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly [i.e., joyful abundance].

2.       Commentary: What does the thief want to steal? He wants to steal your salvation from you, and give you eternal death for eternal life.

a.       (Mat 25:41)  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand [the goats], Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

b.       (Rev 20:15)  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

CONFESSING CHRISTIANS ARE GOING TO HEAVEN:
GOOD GROUND AND AMONG THORNS CHRISTIANS 

(Luke 12:41-44)  Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat [Gk: grain-measure, (food)] in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

1.       steward = Gk: a house-distributor (i.e. manager), or overseer, i.e. an employee in that capacity; by extens. a fiscal agent (treasurer); fig. a preacher (of the Gospel):--chamberlain, governor, steward.

PROFESSING CHRISTIANS ARE GOING TO HELL:
STONY GROUND AND WAY SIDE CHRISTIANS

(Luke 12:45-48)  But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

1.       Commentary: Will a confessing Christian going to Heaven be beaten with few stripes or many stripes or no stripes? Why?

2.       (Isa 53:5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [“the punishment that brought us peace” NIV] was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Amen

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