2023/07/24

101. "The Great Supper of God", part 3

In this article, I will examine "the flesh of all men, ... both small and great" (Revelation 19:18) at the end of the angel's words. As before, in the light of the "scene of the Crucifixion," the flesh of these belonged to the many women watching this scene from afar. They were "women there, looking on from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him; among whom were Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zeb'edee" (Matthew 27:55-56). It can be said that the seed sown in the disciples, who had followed and ministered to Jesus in this way, "fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty" (Matthew 13:8). 

The reason for the disparity in the harvest from the seeds sown in this parable is that there are individual differences in "hearing the word and understanding it," as Jesus himself explained: "As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty" (Matthew 13:23). Such individual differences even among the disciples, to whom "it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 13:11), are not due to their abilities or qualities, but because they leave all the lusts that arise within them, which are created from human knowledge and experience, as they are. These desires, both small and great, are the "flesh" that the angel commanded the "birds" to "devour." Once these are eaten by the birds, they will be able to see better what truth they pursue, and their desire for "hearing the word and understanding it" will be amplified. This desire reaches its highest degree when the Father draws them close to Jesus. 

The Father does so because there were constraints on what Jesus, who was human as well as divine, could do, as he said, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (John 6:44). Among the women in the scene of the Crucifixion were those whom the Father drew close to the cross of Jesus, together with his mother and "the disciple whom he loved" (John 19:26) (cf. John 19:25). 

On the cross, Jesus waited for them to come. Now, we can see a temporal connection between the last words of Jesus, depicted by each of the four Gospels. Amidst his suffering, Jesus' desire awaiting their arrival becomes a cry to the Father: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34). But then it is replaced, like Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, by the words "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" (Luke 23:46). Eventually, in the presence of those whom the Father had drawn near the cross, he breathed his last, saying, "It is finished" (John 19:30). These people became witnesses to the new covenant in the blood of Jesus. And some women among them became the first witnesses of the Lord's resurrection.　 

To be continued.

Maria K. M.

 2023/07/17

100. "The Great Supper of God", part 2

"The flesh of the horses and their riders" (Revelation 19:18) signifies the flesh of the centurion at the crucifixion scene and those with him on guard over Jesus. Fear and awe were the sources of their faith, as it is written that when they "saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said, 'Truly this was the Son of God!'" (Matthew 27:54). 

According to the Gospel of Matthew, a centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant, who was ill. But when Jesus offered, "I will come and heal him," the centurion declined his offer (cf. Matthew 8:5-13) and held Jesus back, saying, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof" (Matthew 8:8). He did so because he feared that his position and authority as a Roman soldier would be shaken if it became known that he had been involved with Jesus. 

In the case of Luke's Gospel, the centurion did not even meet Jesus directly (cf. Luke 7:1-10). He sent the Jewish elders on an errand to ask Jesus to come to him. But when Jesus went out with them and came near his house, the centurion entrusted his friends with a message, this time to decline Jesus' coming. Previously, we discussed the Parable of the Sower. For the centurion, the Word spoken to him was a seed that "fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them" (Matthew 13:7). 

Jesus saw through all the centurion's circumstances. But he was amazed at the centurion's words when he said, "[B]ut only say the word, and my servant will be healed" (Matthew 8:8). For he who was under human authority had even come to realise the truth, living out his daily experience as a commander (cf. Matthew 8:8-11). 

So, Jesus said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith" (Matthew 8:10). By saying so, Jesus pointed out the stubbornness of his people. If they stay in their current state in the age when even the Gentiles reached such enlightenment, it will be sure that "many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 8:11). 

Nonetheless, the faith of the centurion, who also himself was subject to human authority and was in a position that demanded him to kill people without hesitation in wartime, was the faith that did not bear fruit, even though he had seen the Word fulfilled. People like him are those, in Jesus' commentary, who "hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful" (Matthew 13:22). 

Eventually, the time came when each believer, taught by the Holy Spirit, realised and believed in the revelation of Jesus Christ. But the Church remains in the faith at the level of the centurion. They testify to that reality by continually proclaiming before the Eucharist: "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." They do so because they, like the centurion, prefer to live under human authority. So, even now, the "marriage supper of the Lamb" becomes the "great supper of God." 

To be continued

Maria K. M.

 2023/07/10

99. "The Great Supper of God"

It is written, "Then I saw an angel standing in the sun" (Revelation 19:17). Considering that the expression "standing in the sun" coincides with the description in the Gospel, "it was the third hour, when they crucified him" (Mark 15:25), it is clear that from then on, the scene in Revelation shifts to the point at which Jesus was crucified. 

Revelation continues, "[W]ith a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in midheaven, 'Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great'" (Revelation 19:17-18). These words of the angel are the fulfilment of the testimony of Jesus on the Cross, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34), in the manner of the Spirit of prophecy (cf. blog № 98). 

This prayer of Jesus shows that many people act according to various desires created by human knowledge and experience, such as the lust for power, authority and control, but they fail to realise the fact. The "flesh" that the angel commanded the "birds" to "eat" is these desires, and if these desires are eaten up by the birds, they will come to know what they do. So, let us carry forward our discussion. 

The words of the angel commanding the "birds" to "eat" find a similar expression in the Gospels. It is a phrase in the Parable of the Sower (cf. Matthew 13:3-23), "the birds came and devoured them" (Matthew 13:4). Jesus himself added a commentary to this parable. So, we shall rely on it and try to interpret the words of the angel commanding the "birds," considering that, as mentioned above, they were uttered at the time of Jesus' crucifixion. 

"[T]he flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men" are the flesh of the chief priests, scribes, elders and others who had derided and mocked Jesus on the Cross (cf. Matthew 27:39-44). They might have had the opportunity to hear the Word, but they never realised it because their own lust for authority and control would take the Word from their memory (cf. Matthew 13:19). For them, the Word is a seed that fell along the path and the birds came and devoured it (cf. Matthew 13:4). 

"[T]he flesh of all men, both free and slave" is the flesh of those who heard and were interested in Jesus's words which he had cried with a loud voice before death, "Eli, Eli, la'ma sabach-tha'ni?" (cf. Matthew 27:46-49). For them, the Word is the seeds that "fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away" (Matthew 13:5-6). They are the ones who, even though they hear the Word and immediately accept it with joy, "has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away" (Matthew 13:21).

(To be continued)

Maria K. M.

 2023/07/03

98. "The Testimony of Jesus Is the Spirit of Prophecy."

As we have seen, the trainee of Revelation, who recites the Book of Revelation and hears its voice, will, accompanied by the fourth "blessedness" of Revelation, the blessedness of "those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:9), share with the author John the process in which the "testimony of Jesus" recorded in the Gospel is realised in Revelation in the manner of the "Spirit of prophecy." We shall see specific examples of it below. By sharing this process, we can give an answer to the fourth "blessedness," which is the only one of the seven "blessedness" that appear in the Book of Revelation for which no reason is given (cf. blog № 32). That is the first step towards fulfilling Passover in the Kingdom of God. 

As discussed in the blog № 95, the one riding the white horse was the Christ, the Son of God (cf. Revelation 19:11-13). The description that follows, "And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed him on white horses" (Revelation 19:14), was the fulfilment of the following testimony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane in the Gospel of Matthew in the manner of the Spirit of prophecy: "Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:53). 

The description, "From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations" (Revelation 19:15), was the fulfilment in the manner of the Spirit of prophecy of the following testimony of the Gospel of John in the Garden across the Kidron Valley: "When he said to them, 'I am he,' they drew back and fell to the ground" (John 18:6). 

The description, "[A]nd he will rule them with a rod of iron" (Revelation ibid.), was the fulfilment of the following testimony in the manner of the Spirit of prophecy: "[A]nd plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!'" (Matthew 27:29). 

The description, "[H]e will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty" (Revelation ibid.), shows that the testimony of the blood of Jesus' Passion described in all four Gospels will be fulfilled in the manner of the Spirit of prophecy. 

Each of these scenes of Jesus' Passion was always accompanied by questions such as "Which one is Jesus?" and "Who is Jesus?", "The Son of God?" "The Messiah?" or "The King of the Jews?" Jesus testified to these questions always by speaking of the "reality of God." The description, "On his garments and on his thighs was written the name 'King of kings and Lord of lords'" (Revelation 19:16), was the fulfilment of these testimonies of Jesus concerning his name in the manner of the Spirit of prophecy. 

Everyone in the world will say that those who are invited to a marriage supper are blessed. But the blessedness of "those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb" is unique because this marriage supper is of "the Lamb." The "marriage supper of the Lamb" is to become the "great supper of God" (Revelation 19:17).

Maria K. M.

 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.

 2023/06/19

96. Accompaniment of the Fourth "Blessedness"

The Gospel of Luke wrote that at the last supper, Jesus said, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer" (Luke 22:15). It then tells us that Jesus made two announcements about the Kingdom of God. These are: "I tell you I shall not eat it [the passover] until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God" (Luke 22:16) and "I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes" (Luke 22:18). 

Meanwhile, turning to the scene of the crucifixion in the Gospel of John, by the side of Jesus on the cross were his mother, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene and the "beloved disciple." Jesus then tied his mother and the "beloved disciple" in a parent-child bond (cf. John 19:25-27). Following this scene, John's Gospel says: "After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), 'I thirst.'" (John 19:28). Immediately preceding these two scenes is the passage, "This was to fulfil the scripture, 'They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots'" (John 19:24), where Psalm 22:19 is quoted. So here, too, one might look for a passage in the same Psalm which indicates the Scripture is fulfilled concerning the words "I thirst." Then he would find Psalm 22:16. But it is not the case. Jesus said, "I thirst," so that, at that moment when he knew that all things had been finished, he would receive the vinegar, namely "the fruit of the vine," and thereby announce that the kingdom of God had come (cf. John 19:29-30). 

Jesus fulfilled the "new covenant in my blood" (Luke 22:20) through his blood shed in his Passion. He said: "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, 'Lo, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you" (Luke 17:20-21). As these words show, the kingdom of God has already come to those who participate in the new covenant in the blood of Jesus. This fact shows that now we, the Church, are to fulfil the Passover in the kingdom of God so that Jesus may eat it again. So, the fourth "blessedness" of the Book of Revelation accompanies the trainees of Revelation, who share the prophecy about "those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:9).

Maria K. M.

 2023/06/12

95. The White Horse

In the worldview of Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God is always present as a reality. Therefore, seven "blessedness" accompany the trainee of Revelation so that he can share its prophecies with John, its author. The first "blessedness" (cf. Revelation 1:3) accompanied the trainee of Revelation so that he could recognize the prophetic words about the themes such as seven church issues, the formation of the New Testament, the priesthood, the birth of the Eucharist, and the dragon and serpent, the devil and Satan and their angels, the beasts, the false prophet and the demonic spirits. The second "blessedness" (cf. Revelation 14:13) accompanied the trainee so that he could share the prophecy about the first church community, which had the name of the Lamb and the name of the Father of the Lamb on its forehead. The third "blessedness" (cf. Revelation 16:15) accompanies the trainee so that he can share the prophecy that the Church would then divert from the path of the first church community, commune with the beast and become the great harlot. 

With the above in mind, let us examine the fourth "blessedness" of chapter 19 (Revelation 19:9), which we have discussed several times in this blog, from the perspective of the Book of Revelation. It reads: "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:9). Here, it also says: "These are true words of God", and the description that follows testifies, as the previous "blessedness" did, that these words will complement the fourth "blessedness" and accompany the trainee. 

"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself. He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God" (Revelation 19:11-13). 

The description above elicits the following statement from our memory, which refers to the Gospel of Matthew (cf. blog № 13). "And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and its rider had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer" (Revelation 6:2). The expression, "clad in a robe dipped in blood," is consistent with the words, "put a scarlet robe upon him" (Matthew 27:28), which only the Gospel of Matthew mentioned in the scene of Jesus' Passion, and is also suggestive of the Gospel of Matthew. 

So, looking for passages in Matthew's Gospel that relate to "blessedness," are called "Faithful" and "True", and refer to the one who is "the Lamb", we come to the passage where Peter says of Jesus, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). "You" signifies "the Lamb," "the Christ" refers to "Faithful" and "the Son of the living God" to "True." Furthermore, Jesus responded to these words of Peter by calling them "blessed": "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 16:17). That testifies these words of Peter are "true words of God." 

Based on these grounds above, the fourth "blessedness" can be paraphrased as follows. "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Maria K. M.

[Notice] The statement, "the 'city' represents the formation by the Holy Spirit, the 'gates' the Mass" in № 93 was an error for "the 'city' represents the Mass, the 'gates' the formation by the Holy Spirit," which we have already corrected.