2023/06/26

97. The Fourth "blessedness" and the Keys of Peter

The Kingdom of God has come through the Passion of Jesus. We, the Church, with the Holy Spirit, are the ones who are to fulfil the Passover in the Kingdom of God so that Jesus may eat the Passover meal again (cf. blog № 96). The "marriage of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:7) was the day the New Testament, the bride of the Lamb, would be established. It was the very "righteous deeds of the saints" (Revelation 19:8) that the author had been waiting for. So, after writing down the fourth "blessedness" and the "true words of God," the author tried to prostrate himself at the angel's feet and worship him. The angel stopped him from doing so and told him that the prophecies would continue, saying, "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Revelation 19:10). 

At the beginning of those prophecies, a "white horse" appeared from heaven, making it clear that the "true words of God" that brings the solution to the "blessedness" of "those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:9) is Peter's words, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16) (cf. blog № 95). These words, of which Jesus said, "For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 16:17), therefore have a particular efficacy. 

By this efficacy, Jesus continued his words: "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). By placing Peter's words, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," at the foundation of his church, Jesus guaranteed that the powers of death would be sealed. He also announced that the efficacy of these words would be valid simultaneously on earth and heaven both when binding and loosing, saying, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19). 

The particular expression "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" refers to the fact that the testimony of Jesus in the New Testament, becoming the prophecies of the New Covenant, will be realised in individual Christians who collaborate with the Holy Spirit, just as the Old Covenant prophecies were fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Hence, the efficacy of Peter's words, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God", which are linked to the "blessedness" of "those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb," belongs to all Christians. 

From this point on, Revelation describes the process by which "the testimony of Jesus" in the Gospels is fulfilled in the manner of "the spirit of prophecy." The trainee of Revelation, who reads aloud it, hears the voice and remembers it, comes to relive the simulation of God's reality, so to speak, that the author John experienced and to share it with him (cf. Revelation 19:14-20:5). As their senses are accustomed to the fashion of "the spirit of prophecy," they eventually become able to see everyday events overlapping with the divine reality.

Maria K. M.