Life-study 31 - The Rapture of the Believers (2)

(Rev 14:1-16)

Rev. 14:1 And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him a hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.
Rev. 14:2 And I heard a voice out of heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; and the voice which I heard was like [the sound] of harp-singers playing on their harps.
Rev. 14:3 And they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the hundred and forty-four thousand, who have been purchased from the earth.
Rev. 14:4 These are they who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are they who follow the Lamb wherever He may go. These were purchased from among men [as] firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
Rev. 14:5 And in their mouth no lie was found; they are without blemish.
Rev. 14:6 And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel to announce to those dwelling on the earth, even to every nation and tribe and tongue and people,
Rev. 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give Him glory because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who has made heaven and earth and the sea and the springs of waters.
Rev. 14:8 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great, who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the fury of her fornication!
Rev. 14:9 And another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,
Rev. 14:10 He also shall drink of the wine of the fury of God, which is mixed undiluted in the cup of His wrath; and he shall be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy angels and before the Lamb.
Rev. 14:11 And the smoke of their tormenting goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.
Rev. 14:12 Here is the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Rev. 14:13 And I heard a voice out of heaven, saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.
Rev. 14:14 And I saw, and behold, [there was] a white cloud, and on the cloud One like the Son of Man sitting, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.
Rev. 14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, Send forth Your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come because the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Rev. 14:16 And He who sat on the cloud thrust His sickle upon the earth, and the earth was reaped.

Incentives to escape the great tribulation 

Lk 21:36 But be watchful at every time, beseeching that you would prevail to escape all these things which are about to happen and stand before the Son of Man. (Firstfruits/manchild)

What is the need to be watchful?

(1 The 4:14-18)
1Th 4:14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so also those who have fallen asleep through Jesus, God will bring with Him.
1Th 4:15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are living, who are left remaining unto the coming of the Lord, shall by no means precede those who have fallen asleep;
1Th 4:16Because the Lord Himself, with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1Th 4:17Then we who are living, who are left remaining, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will be always with the Lord.
1Th 4:18Therefore comfort one another with these words.

After the great tribulation, the majority of the saints will be raptured. The reaping of the harvest (rapture) is in a sequence. The rapture has at least two major parts - but why this is needed? 

The WRONG concept - all the believers will be raptured at the same time. 

The RIGHT concept - 

• Before the great tribulation- The rapture of the overcomes (first fruits, man child), the place at the throne of God, standing before the Son of Man. 
• After the great tribulation (7th trumpet sounds) - believers will know due to the lawlessness that will take place as mentioned in 2 The 2:1-4, the vast majority of the believers will be raptured, the place to the air and to the cloud. 

2 The 2: 1-4
2Th 2:1 Now we ask you, brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
2Th 2:2 That you be not quickly shaken in mind nor alarmed, neither by a spirit nor by word nor by a letter as if by us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
2Th 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition,
2Th 2:4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or an object of worship, so that he sits in the temple of God, setting himself forth, saying that he is God.

Life-study 29- Review of Revelation, Chapters 1-12

The great tribulation - 3.5 years (between 69th-70th weeks)

• The beginning of the 70th week - The Israel make convenent with the leader of the Great European countries concerning the rebuilding of the temple. 
• In the middle of the 70th week - the Antichrist breaks the convenant, and the great tribulation begins. 
• The divided sections of the book of Revelation

1) General

2) More details 

3) Christ as the person instead of doctrines 

life-study 26 - Christ Coming to Take Possession of the Earth

Scripture reading: Rev. 10:1-11 (Between the 6-7 trumpets, three visions here). [2nd insertion]. 

Rev. 10:1 And I saw another strong Angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon His head, and His face was like the sun, and His feet like pillars of fire;
Rev. 10:2 And He had in His hand a little opened scroll. And He placed His right foot on the sea and the left on the land;
Rev. 10:3 And He cried out with a loud voice just as a lion roars. And when He cried out, the seven thunders uttered their own voices.
Rev. 10:4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write, and I heard a voice out of heaven saying, Seal the things which the seven thunders spoke, and do not write them.
Rev. 10:5 And the Angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up His right hand to heaven
Rev. 10:6 And swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there shall be delay no longer,

If we were to understand the above passage, you'll have to understand all the facts in the book of revelation. 

The following is the seventh trumpet. This trumpet will close the age and end all the mysteries of God, Christ, and the church. 

Rev. 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel when he is about to trumpet, then the mystery of God is finished, as He has announced the good news to His own slaves the prophets.
Rev. 10:8 And the voice which I heard out of heaven, [I heard] again speaking with me and saying, Go, take the opened scroll in the hand of the Angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.
Rev. 10:9 And I went to the Angel and told Him to give me the little scroll. And He said to me, Take [it] and devour it, and it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.
Rev. 10:10 And I took the little scroll out of the hand of the Angel and devoured it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth; and when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter.
Rev. 10:11 And they said to me, You must prophesy again over many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.

life-study msg 25 - Further Judgment Upon Men—The Sixth Trumpet

Rev. 9:13-20 The 6th trumpet 

Rev. 9:13 And the sixth angel trumpeted, and I heard a voice out of the four horns of the golden altar which is before God
Rev. 9:14 Saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.
Rev. 9:15 And the four angels were released, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year that they might kill the third part of men.
Rev. 9:16 And the number of the armies of horsemen was two hundred million; I heard their number.
Rev. 9:17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision and those sitting on them, having breastplates of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone.
Rev. 9:18 By these three plagues the third part of the men were killed, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone proceeding out of their mouths.
Rev. 9:19 For the power of the horses is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they harm [men].
Rev. 9:20 And the rest of the men, who were not killed by these plagues, still did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship the demons and the idols of gold and silver and brass and stone and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;

FOCUS: The future component - principles and aspects of Christ as well as the prophecy of the end of the age. 

1. John shows us the scenes in heaven. 

2. The fifth trumpet will be the beginning of the tribulation. 

3. Not just have a holy fearing when we read this portion, but should also be in awe when we read it- the Lord might be silent now but will COME FORTH. 

4. 1941 December Pearl Harbour - Witness Lee's personal testimony in the war: the suffering in the wars were counted by the sufferers by hours, days, months, and years. 

Life-study msg 23- The Scene In Heaven After the Opening of the Seventh Seal and Judgment Upon the Earth

Scripture reading: (Rev. 8:1-12)

Rev. 8:1 And when He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
The silence here indicates that the Lord has been tolerating the sinful and rebellious situation on the earth; He tolerates for the gospel to be preached and the bride to be prepared, but at this point, there's no more tolerance.

Rev. 8:2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

The seventh seal equals to seven trumpets.

Rev. 8:3 And another Angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer, and much incense was given to Him to offer with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. (The another Angel is Christ, He stands on the position sent by God to execute God's administration- As appeared in OT that Christ often came as the Angel of the Lord)


Rev. 8:4 And the smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of the saints out of the hand of the Angel before God.
(The Lord wants to come in and deal with the worldly situation, but there's a need for the saints to pray). A very important principle, even though God wants to do many things, He waits for the saints to pray so that He can move.


Rev. 8:5 And the Angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar and cast [it] to the earth; and there were thunders and voices and lightnings and an earthquake.
Rev. 8:6 And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to trumpet.
Rev. 8:7 And the first trumpeted, and there was hail and fire mingled with blood, and it was cast to the earth; and the third part of the earth was burned up, and the third part of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
Rev. 8:8 And the second angel trumpeted, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood,
Rev. 8:9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea [and] had life died, and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
Rev. 8:10 And the third angel trumpeted, and a great star fell out of heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers and upon the springs of waters.
Rev. 8:11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood; and the third part of the waters became wormwood, and many of the men died from the waters because they were made bitter.
Rev. 8:12 And the fourth angel trumpeted, and the third part of the sun and the third part of the moon and the third part of the stars were smitten, so that the third part of them would be darkened and the day would not appear for the third part of it, and the night likewise.

The secret of God's economy is in the seven seals.

Leviticus - the Holy living of God's people

 This section concerning the holy living of God's people starts from chapter 11. 

The ways for God's people to live a holy living 

1. To contact people - 

2. Concerning our birth - 

3. Our condition- leprosy 

4. Discharge - not only unclean, filthy, and contagious - (Leviticus c15) 

Anything that comes from our natural men is unclean and contagious. Even in our serving the Lord, our natural ability and so on are unclean. Besides, anything we do for the Lord, it shall originate from the Lord as the source. That's why we always pray before we fellowship. The means is the Lord, and the outcome shall be glorifying God. 

The way to deal with the discharge is via the washing the cloth- such washing is the washing of the spirit of life. 

Ep 5:26 That He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word,

That's why it is important that we read the Word of God every day - even we might not understand the word entirely, we still get washed in the word. 

Comparing to leprosy - it is easy to avoid; However, to natural discharge, it is hard to stay away. Since it is hard to stay away, it is so easy to contaminate people by our natural discharge. 

5 things that can save us from the uncleanness:

1. Death of Christ 

2. Resurrection of Christ 

3. Spirit of Christ 

4. Life of Christ 

5. The word of Christ 

Life study msg 22- The Seven Eyes of the Lamb For the Building of God

Scripture reading: Revelation chapter 5. 

The burden of this massage: Grow in life and function as Christians for the building up of the Body of Christ. 

Rv 5:3 And no one in heaven nor on the earth nor under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it.
Rv 5:4 And I wept much because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look into it.
Rv 5:5 And one of the elders said to me, Do not weep; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so that He may open the scroll and its seven seals.

1. Worthy is the Lamb for He has redeemed us. He has completed the full salvation for us. 

2. He is worthy because He has defeated the enemy. This qualifies Him to open God's economy. 

3. Who is worthy to open the secret of God's economy? -God is the only One who's found to be worthy. 

- The Lion of the tribe of Judah - His victory over the enemy. God's a fighter who knows how to defeat the enemy. 

- The Root of David - Christ is the source of David. 

Rv 5:6 And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders a Lamb standing as having just been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

The development of this verse: 

- Seven Lambs (Exo.) -> seven eyes (Zech.) --> seven Spirits of God (Rev.) 

Eyes: Infusing into (purifying and burning away < judgment> and infusing into us the nature of God)

The overcoming today is to overcome the dark night and the degraded situation. This requires His infusion into us. This infusion will be the New Jerusalem that we see- all built by Jasper stone. 

Some fellowship from the saints:

We do experience the essential spirit but for the Lord's move and the fulfillment of His economy, the economical spirit is needed. Since the building of the Body of Christ is the Lord's heart's desire, at the later stage before the day of the Lord, we have to experience the Lord's intensified economical spirit in His move as well. 

Lord, may our daily living also be part of your move so we can experience you as our essential spirit but also the economical spirit. Bless your church, Lord!