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The
picture of the plan of salvation
What is the Sanctuary?
The
cleansing of the sanctuary
When will the true Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) take place?
The
true Day of Atonement and the community of God
The
message for this time
The picture of the plan of
salvation
What do you need to do to be saved? This is probably the ancient
question that humanity has pondered upon. Every believer will sooner or later ask
this question and this is actually also the basic question of the whole plan of
salvation. How can a sinful and guilty human being be liberated and saved. How
can you reconcile righteousness with grace?
Whole libraries have been filled with books on this subject. This
clearly shows that this is a very difficult question. That is why we want to
look what the bible has to say about this. This important subject will need to
receive an answer from the Bible.
Let us look to the plan and model that God has given us. The sanctuary
is the place where the Jew could bring his sins for cleansing. But what was
this cleansing actually. How could a sinner get saved from this sin? Where is
the sanctuary now? What message does this have for a faithful
Christian of the 21st century?
We want to look at all these questions in this study. Naturally we will
not be able to include everything, but we hope that this will provide you with
a start in the study of Gods Word. If you want to comment on this study please
feel free to do so through the “contact” links on this website.
What is the sanctuary?
What is the sanctuary? What good is a completely destroyed sanctuary? Or
is the earth in itself the sanctuary that will be restored at the return of
Christ? From Bible research we can come to the conclusion that there is not a
single shred of evidence to support the theory that the earth is the sanctuary.
In the Bible we find a lot of explanation about the sanctuary, its nature, its
location and its services. These statements are very clear. The apostle Paul
says the following:
KJV
Hebrews 9:1 Then verily the
first covenant had also ordinances
of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made;
the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the
shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the
tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Which had the golden censer, and
the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the
golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the
covenant; And over it the cherubim’s of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of
which we cannot now speak particularly.
The sanctuary Paul writes about, is the Tabernacle
who was constructed by Mozes, on the order of God, as the dwelling place of The
Most High here on earth.
KJV Exodus 25:8 And let them make me
a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
This was the mission that Moses received when he was on the mountain
with God. The Israelites wandered through the desert and the sanctuary was built
in such a way that it could be carried from one place to the other. Still it
was a beautiful construction. The sides were made of pieces of wood that were
heavily plated with gold and placed in feet of silver. The roof consisted of
fine linen met artfully woven cherubs. The sanctuary had a court and two
departments, the Holy place and the most holy. Separated by a
beautiful and expensive curtain, the Vail. The entrance to the Holy
place was also closed of with such a Vail.
In the
In the Most Holy stood the ark, a box of precious wood, plated with
gold. Within it were two stone tablets on witch God had written the Ten
Commandments. On the ark was the mercy seat, a wonderful piece of art, covered
by two cherubs, one on each side and made of gold. It was in this part of the
sanctuary that the presence of God revealed itself in the cloud of glory
between the cherubs.
After the settlement of the Israelites
in Canaan, the tabernacle was replaced by the
The sanctuary existed in this form till 70 AD, except
for the period it was in ruins in the time of Daniel. In 70AD the temple was
destroyed by the Romans. This is the only sanctuary that has ever existed on
earth and that is mentioned in the Bible. Paul called this sanctuary “the
sanctuary of the first covenant”. But isn’t there a sanctuary in the new
covenant? On closer inspection we find out that there is another sanctuary, “the
sanctuary of the new covenant”. This truth can be found in the words of Paul
mentioned above the following: “Then verily the first covenant had also
ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.” The use of the word
also points to the fact that Paul already talked about this sanctuary before.
If we go back to the previous chapter we read:
Hebrews
8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the
sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of
the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true
tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
These verses clearly show that there is a sanctuary of the new covenant.
The sanctuary of the first covenant was build by man. It was build by Moses.
The sanctuary of the new covenant has been erected by God and not by man. In
the first sanctuary the human priest fulfilled the services, in the heavenly
sanctuary, Christ, our high priest, fulfilles the service at the right hand of
God. The one sanctuary was on earth, the other is in heaven.
The sanctuary was also build after a model. God ordered Moses to:
“According
to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern
of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.” (Exodus
25:9, 40).
And Paul says:
Hebrews
9:9 Which was a figure for the time then
present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make
him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
,
Hebrews
Hebrews
8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of
heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the
tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the
pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
Hebrews
9:24 For
Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the
figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of
God for us:
The sanctuary in heaven, where Christ does his service for us, is the
model of the sanctuary that Moses constructed. God led the building masters of
the earthly sanctuary by his spirit. The artistry that was portrayed in the
construction shows the guidance of divine wisdom. The walls were made of
massive gold and reflected the light of the seven armed candlestick in al
directions. The table of showbread and the altar of incense shined as polished
gold. And the wonderful tapestry of the roof with the artfully woven images of
the cherubs in blue purple, red purple and scarlet made the scene even more beautiful.
Behind the second veil was the holy cloud of glory, before which nobody could
come and live, except the High Priest.
The unparalleled beauty of the sanctuary in the desert was designed to
give humans an idea about the glory of the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ,
who preceded us, does service for God’s throne of mercy. It is the home of the
King of Kings, where “thousand thousands ministered unto
him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him:”.
(Daniel 7:10).
This sanctuary is fulfilled with the glory of the eternal throne. The seraphim’s,
his beautiful guards, cover their faces in worship. The most beautiful building
ever made by man is only a shadow of its greatness and glory. And still there
was a lot that could be learned from the earthly sanctuary, and its services,
about the heavenly sanctuary and the important work that is done over there for
the salvation of mankind.
The holy place and the
most holy, the two departments of the earthly sanctuary are an image of the
holy place and the most holy in heaven. When the apostle John was allowed to
look in a vision into the
The Bible gives the irrefutable evidence that there is a sanctuary in
heaven. Moses made the sanctuary on earth after the model that was shown to
him. Paul explains that this model is the true sanctuary in heaven and John
states that he has seen it in heaven.
In the heavenly sanctuary, God’s throne is founded on justice and
judgement. In the most holy we find His law, the standard upon which the whole
of humanity will be judged. On top of the ark with the law lays the mercy seat.
Here Christ pleads with His blood for the sinner. This shows that justice and
mercy go together in the plan of salvation. This unity could only be
accomplished by the infinite Wisdom and infinite Power and it made the whole of
heaven stand in wonder and reverence. The cherubs of the earthly sanctuary,
looking down in wonder onto the mercy seat, portray the intense interest of the
heavenly host for the plan of salvation. The angels want to understand the
secret of mercy. They want to understand how God can be just while at the same
time He can forgive the sinner who comes to Him and repair the contact with
fallen humanity. They want to have an insight into how Christ became man and
how innumerous people are saved and are clothed with the clean and white cloth
of his righteousness, so they can come into contact with angels who have never
sinned and will be forever in God’s presence.
The work of Christ as a mediator for humanity is
explained in the beautiful prophesy of Zechariah about Him “whose name
is sprout”. The prophet says:
Zechariah
6:12-13; And speak unto him, saying,
Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall
build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and
he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall
be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them
both.
“He shall build the temple of the LORD” Christ is through his sacrifice
and his work as a mediator both the foundation and the founder of God’s
community. The apostle Paul calls Him the “Corner
stone”.
Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the
building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom
ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
“He will be clothed with
honour and majesty.” The honour for the
salvation of fallen humanity belongs to Christ. The song of the saved will be
in all eternity “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own
blood, (…) to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:5-6)
The cleansing of the
sanctuary
In Daniel
Hebrews 9:22,23 And almost all things are by the law purged with
blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the
heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with
better sacrifices than these.
Both in the shadow service as in the true service the cleansing had to
be with blood; in the service here on earth with the blood of animals; in the
sanctuary in heaven with the blood of Christ. Paul gives us the reason why it
had to be done with blood: “without
shedding of blood there is no remission”. The sins need to be removed from the
sanctuary. But how can there be sins in the sanctuary on earth or in heaven? We
can understand this better if we study the shadow service, because the priests
of the Old Testament “serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things”
(Heb. 8:5).
There were two different services in the sanctuary on earth. The priests
served in the daily service in the holy place, whereas the High Priest
reconciled the people with God in a special service once a year in the most
holy to clean the sanctuary. Repentive sinners brought their sacrifices day
after day to the entrance of the tabernacle, laid there hands on the head of
the sacrificial animal, confessed their sins and in this way symbolically
transferred their sins onto the innocent animal. After that, the animal was
butchered. The apostle Paul says: “without shedding of blood there is no
remission”. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood:” (Leviticus
This work was done, day
in and day out throughout the whole year. In this way the sins of
Once a year on the Day of Atonement, the high priest went into the most
holy to cleanse the sanctuary. The service that was performed on that day closed
the yearly cycle of service. On the Day of Atonement, two goats were brought to
the entrance of the tabernacle and the lots will be cast upon them; a lot for
the Lord and a lot for the scapegoat” (vers8). The goat on which the lot for
the Lord was cast needed to be sacrificed for the people. The high priest had
to bring his blood into the most holy and sprinkle it on and in front of the
mercy seat. The blood needed also to be sprinkled on the altar of incense that
stood before the vail.
Leviticus 16:21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon
the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the
children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting
them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: And the goat
shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he
shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
The scapegoat did not come back into the camp of the Israelites and the
man who brought it away had to wash himself and his clothes with water before
he came back to the camp.
This ordinance was meant to give the Israelites an idea about God’s
holiness and his revulsion towards sin. They had to learn that you cannot get
in contact with sin without soiling yourself. Everybody had to humble himself
during the work of atonement. The Israelites were not allowed to work and had
to spend the day in humbleness before God, fasting, praying and doing a thorough
reflection and research through their conscience.
This symbolic service teaches us important truths about atonement. There
was a replacement for the sinner, but sin was not destroyed by the blood of the
sacrifice. It was a means to bring sin into the sanctuary. By sacrificing the
blood the sinner recognised the authority of the law, confessed his guilt of
transgression and expressed his desire to receive forgiveness based on his
faith in the Saviour who still had to come. But he still was not completely
free from the condemnation of the law. On the Day of Atonement the high priest
went, after he had taken the sacrifice of the people, into the most holy to
sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on the mercy seat, which is just above the
law, to complete the demands of the law. After that he took, in the role of
mediator, the sins on himself and carried them out of the sanctuary. He placed
his hands on the head of the scapegoat, confessed al these sins upon the animal
and transferred through this act all the sins unto the scapegoat. The goat then took the sins with it into the dessert and only then were
they permanently removed.
Because
we do not want to get to far away from the subject, namely the sanctuary, we
will not continue with this, but we still want to mention that we here
experience the holiness and immutability of God’s law. Mercy does not infringe
upon justice.
Romans
7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid.
Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the
law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Matthew 5:17-19 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the
prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you,
Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from
the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these
least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the
kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven.
1 John 5:2-3 By this we know
that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his
commandments are not grievous.
When will the true Day
of Atonement (Yom Kippur) take place?
Now that we have determined from the Bible that the services in the
earthly sanctuary are an image, a shadow of what happens in the true
tabernacle, one can wonder when this true Day of Atonement will happen in the
heavenly sanctuary? Will the heavenly sanctuary be cleansed every year and will
we see this repeating year after year? We can find the answer to this question
in the prophecies of Daniel.
Daniël
8:14 And he said unto me, Unto
two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
After hearing this prophesy Daniel studied the book of the prophet
Jeremiah. Jeremiah only talked about 70 years of
exile for God’s people.
Jeremiah 29:10 For
thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will
visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to
this place.
The people sinned and that is why they were taken in exile. However,
they did not repent and Daniel was afraid that this period of seventy years
would be extended. That is why he prayed to God and asked for forgiveness for
his people. That is why he asked God if his people would be allowed to return
to rebuild the city of
Daniël
9:19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O
Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and
thy people are called by thy name..
While Daniel prayed the angel Gabriel came to explain him why so much
time had to pass before the sanctuary would be cleansed.
Daniel had a high position in the empire when the Medes and Persians
conquered
Numbers
14:34 After the
number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for
a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my
breach of promise.
Ezekiel
4:6 And when thou hast
accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the
iniquity of the house of
The angel was sent to Daniel with the clear mission to explain to him
the issue that he did not understand from the vision of chapter eight.
Daniël
9:24-27 Seventy weeks
are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the
transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for
iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision
and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that
from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto
the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the
street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troubled times. And after threescore and two weeks
shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince
that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof
shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of
the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the
overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the
consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city”. The
word that is translated by determined literally means “cut of”. Seventy weeks
or 490 years are cut of according to the angel. But cut of from what? Because
they only talk about one period in the previous chapter, then the seventy weeks
must be cut of from that. The seventy weeks are thus a part of the 2300
evenings and mornings and the two periods have the same starting point. The
angel said that the seventy weeks started at the moment the order went out to
repair and rebuild
Ezra
7:12, 13 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a
scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time. I
make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and
Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to
Jerusalem, go with thee.
The complete text was
announced by Artaxerxes (Artachsasta), King of Persia in 457 BC. But in Ezra
6:14 we read that the building was completed “according to the commandment of
the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and
Artaxerxes king of
“From the moment the
word went out to repair and rebuild
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week”. That is the
70th week, the last seven years of the period that was “set aside”
for the Jews. In this period between 27 en 34 AD, Jesus first
teached himself the gospel message and then the Jews through his disciples.
When the apostles left to spread the good news of the Kingdom, Jesus said to
them: Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans
enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the
house of
“And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the
oblation to cease,” In 31 AD, three years after his baptism, Christ was
crucified. With the big sacrifice of
The 70 prophetic weeks
or 490 literal years who were set aside for the Jewish people ended in 34 AD.
In that year the people sealed their rejection of the gospel by the act of the
Sanhedrin, through which Stephen was stoned and the followers of Christ were
persecuted. From then on the saving message was not only preached to the chosen
people but also to the whole world. Because of the prosecution the disciples
had to leave
These
prophesies have been fulfilled in even their smallest details. There is no doubt
that the 70 weeks start in 457 BC and end in 34 AD. It is then also not hard to
find out when the 2300 evenings and mornings end. The 70 weeks were cut of from
the bigger piece of the 2300 days. So there were 1810 days left. If you add
1810 years after 34 AD you come to 1844. According to the angel” then shall the
sanctuary be cleansed”, = at the end of this period.
But is it possible that the cleansing in the heavenly sanctuary started
and that this does not have any consequences for the plan of salvation here on
earth? Why does the Bible spend so much attention to the sanctuary if it is not
important for us?
The true Day of
Atonement and the community of God
Just reading Leviticus 16 makes it clear that the Day of Atonement was
not just a day of judgement; it was the day of cleansing for the people of God.
You could think that only the tabernacle was cleansed on that day but Leviticus
16 does not support that. They did a reconciliation
for the whole sanctuary and the people. But why do the people need to be
cleansed? Isn’t the process of justification and sanctification enough to be
completely pure before you reach the judgement?
The key to understanding this problem is the truth that reborn saints, as Luther called it, are justified and
unclean at the same time. (Simul Justi et Pecatores).
The faithful Christians completely justified before God, but the just confess
the sinfulness of their nature. Every believer will experience and be
confronted with the fact that sin stays in the reborn
man, under the form of corruption of nature.
In connection to the Day of Atonement, it is clear that the saints start
the judgement both justified and unclean. That they have to become a justified
people becomes clear through the following statements:
- In the shadow
service the people had confessed their individual sins and renounced them
(see sacrificial services)
- Peter says
that they, whose sins would be exterminated in the times of refreshing,
needed to be prepared for the blessings by remorse and repentance. (Acts.
3:19).
- In the parable
of the wedding in Mathew 22, they who were found in the judgement without
wedding garment were thrown out. This wedding garment is the justice of
Christ, his unblemished character.
P.S. Not Your own clothes but the robe of Christ, not
your own works, but Christ’s sacrifice.
On the other hand, it is clear that the Saints start the judgement as
sinners, as you can see from the following texts:
- In the shadow
service it was required from the people to be present at the sanctuary
with deep remorse, fasting and humbleness. They could only stand clean and
holy before God through blood and incense.
- In the parable
of Zechariah 3, the people of God are
represented by Joshua who wears “dirty clothing”. These are the poor
characters that each one got as a result of sin.
The message of the Day of Atonement calls God’s people to the sanctuary
full of remorse and humbleness in their soul. The teaching that when somebody
has confessed his sins, he is forgiven and cleansed is not something we find in
the Bible.
It is clear that there needs to be another cleansing over the people at
the start of the judgement. We also have to conclude that at the return of
Christ, in other words after he put down his mediatorship, this cleansing needs
to have been concluded. This in itself is a subject of a very extensive study,
but don’t we find somewhere in the Bible an urgent call, a call for this time?
The message for this
time
What is the message for this time? Will we talk about Christ who is risen from the dead, or should we talk about the thora? There
is always one message to bring. Paul talked about one
subject and that was Jesus who is Christ. If Paul would have talked
about Moses, he might have been able to clarify a lot of things but that was
not the message for that time.
Acts
18:5 And when
Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit,
and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
But what is the message for now, this time. Let us also go and find the
answer in the Bible. Because we know we are at the end of time, the book of
revelation is the book to find the answer to this question.
In the end of history a triple message needs to be spread. These are
represented by three angels flying in the midst of heaven. That this message is
the last message to this world becomes clear from the fact that it is announced
in the hour of judgement and from the fact that it precedes immediately Jesus’
coming and the harvest of the earth. (Revelation 14:14-20)
Revelation 14:6, 7
And I saw another angel fly in the
midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell
on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of
his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the
sea, and the fountains of waters. |
Amongst religious and philosophical misleadings the first message brings
the “eternal gospel”. Isn’t it the world’s most tragic need that at the end
they have to go back to the message of old? The world has tried it all, left
wing and right wing dictatorships, feudalism,
empires, … But mankind keeps on putting himself first, even more then before.
There is no place for Christ who knocks on our hart and is willing to give
mercy for our sins with His blood. Who is still a sinner? For many death has
become common, death is no longer the wage of sin. Who will kneel humbly and
remorsefully and plead on the sacrifice of Christ?
“The hour of his judgement has come”. The Jews expected the Saviour, but
they got the Man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3-11). We expect the loving, merciful
Christ. But do we not forget that he will separate the sheep from the goats
(Mathew 25:32, 33). Which Christian knows Jesus as Revelation portrays Him?
Revelation
14:14, 18-20 And I looked, and behold a white cloud,
and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a
golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from
the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had
the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters
of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust
in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it
into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden
without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse
bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
“And worship Him who made heaven and earth and the sea and the waters
under the earth”. There is no doubt. There is only one God and He is
unchangeable. The words that contain a clear warning also contain a part of the
fourth commandment. Didn’t God institute and sanctify the Sabbath as a memorial
to His authority as creator of the universe? (Exodus 20:8-10) Didn’t He give
this sign to his people as a seal for holy characters? (Exodus 31:13; Ezekiel 20:12, 20; Romans 4:1) A royal seal gives the name
of the lawmaker, his position of power and the area he rules. In the Sabbath
commandment we read:
-
His name: the
Lord,
-
His title: The
Creator,
-
His kingdom:
heaven and earth.
The world prefers to follow an aimless hypothesis (the hypothesis of
evolution) than to have to recognise that life without a creator is impossible.
Man preferres to hold on to the thought that he evolved from apes before he has
to admit that there is a creator that we can call “father”. A
Father who has engraved us in the palm of his hand, but who will also feed us
(with living bread) and teach us. But the world thinks they do not need
Him.
Revelation 14:8
And there followed another angel,
saying, |
The judgement message consists of three messages that precede each other
and form one unity.
This prophesy is very clear, although still
highly improbable today. There will be a unity of churches. But this unity will
force its sign unto others. Will God’s people listen to this prophesy? Will it
leave the fallen churches once this unity forces its sign unto them? History
teaches us that it is very hard to leave your own trusted and known
environment. Who didn’t see that the third Reich was anti Semitic in 1939? But
who didn’t minimalise these happenings? Who will not see this unity of
churches? But who will not minimalise the forcing of their sign (and in this
way limiting the religious freedom)? The Christian churches are fallen by
flirting with an unholy world power.
Revelation 17:1-6 And
there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with
me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the
great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth
have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made
drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit
into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full
of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was
arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones
and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness
of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON
THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman
drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of
Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
The whore, the unfaithful, rebellious church, leans on worldly power
(the beast) and stands against the saints, the witnesses of Jesus. But who are
these saints?
Revelation
How deep did the church fall. The apostle John watched in great
amazement. How could it be, the
Who pays attention to this clear prophecy? He that hath ears to hear, let him hear!
Revelation 14:9-11
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In contrast with the ones who worship God as creator and as such are
under his seal, we are confronted here with the ones who honour the great worldly
unity and bear its mark. Are we going to follow God in His creation, based on
love? Or do we listen to “humanity as centre of all”. Will we keep the Sabbath
because God asks us so or will we celebrate the Sunday because everybody else
does so? Sin came in this world by putting oneself forward and moving God’s
love to the sidelines. It will end in this way also. Jesus has fulfilled
everything on
Revelation 22:20, 21
He which testifieth these things
saith, surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
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