2023/08/14

104. "The Beast" and the "False Prophet", part 3

In the Parable of the Weeds, weeds were gathered and bound "in bundles to be burned" (cf. Matthew 13:30). Jesus explained the parable, saying, "[T]hey will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and throw them into the furnace of fire" (Matthew 13:41-42). Similarly, the final description of "the great supper of God" in Revelation tells that "the beast and the false prophet" were captured and "thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur" (Revelation 19:20). These facts show that both Jesus' testimony and what was realized in the manner of "the Spirit of prophecy" (Revelation 19:10) (cf. blog № 98) have the same consequence. That is because all these things above originate from man's accidental information likened to "the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan" (Revelation 20:2) (cf. blog № 4). 

On the other hand, "the wheat" is asked to be gathered "into my barn" (Matthew 13:30), and Jesus explained, "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matthew 13:43). These testimonies by Jesus were fulfilled in the manner of "the Spirit of prophecy" and described, "And the rest were slain by the sword of him who sits upon the horse, the sword that issues from his mouth; and all the birds were gorged with their flesh" (Revelation 19:21). "The rest" refers to the faithful who are to substantiate this new prophecy. They need to be killed by "the sword of him who sits upon the horse, the sword that issues from his mouth," namely, the Word. People always take in information and put it into their memory as knowledge or words. Therefore, the faithful need to be slashed by the sword of the Word and killed, so to speak, so that they can distinguish these things held in their memory from themselves, the hearer of the Word. 

From the episode of Jesus admonishing Peter the Apostle in the presence of other disciples saying, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men" (Matthew 16:23), we can understand how important this fact is. In it lies the essential meaning of Jesus' words that followed: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 16:24-25). 

It is indispensable for us to accept the sword of the Word to remain "on the side of God, but not of men." Therein lies the Father's will for "eternal life" (cf. John 6:40). Because of this life, Jesus continued: "For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?" (Matthew 16:26).

Maria K. M.