Saturday, February 18, 2017

The Seventh phenomenon of Christology by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce



THE PHENOMENON OF CHRISTOLOGY
The seventh phenomenon of Christology is that Christianities keep steadfast in the vision of New Jerusalem,(in Greek says, “ιερονσαλημ”,  in Chinese literally says, 新耶路撒冷”)which is a new heaven and a new earth and the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light.”(Rev.21:22-24). There will be only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. In Chinese literally says, 生命冊”. In Greek says, “της βιβλου της ζωης”. Those who have not defiled their garments, and overcome will be clothed in “white garments”.(In Chinese literally says,“白衣”. In Greek says,“ιματιοις λευκοις”). Those who are overcomers will walk with Lord in white, and their names by no means erase out of the book of life. Christianity earnestly pursues to be clothed in “White garments, and ensure their names are written in the “Book of life”, so that they can part of the “New Jerusalem”. These three significant biblical words and visions highlight the seventh phenomenon of Christology. (By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce 2016)

The seven phenomenon of Christology is that Christianity keeps steadfast in the vision of New Jerusalem, “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light.”(Rev.21:22-24). There will be only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.  Those who have not defiled their garments, and overcome will be clothed in white garments; they will walk with Lord in white, and their names by no means erase out of the book of life.  Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful. (Rev.21:27). In other words, those who are unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars. Their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. (Rev.21:8).
Apostle John’s vision in Revelation chapter 3 verses 4 to 5 indicates that he who overcomes will be clothed in white garments, and they will walk with Lord in white because they are worthy. A white garment in Greek says, “ιματιοις λευκοις”, in Chinese literarily says, “白衣”.White”, it signifies not only purity but also ratification. “Garments” in the Bible, it signifies what we are in our walk and living.  Based on the Biblical interpretation, it signifies the walk and living that are unspotted by death and approved by the Lord. It is a prize to the overcomers in the millennial kingdom.
Christianities believe that every follower of Christ Jesus needs two garments. The first is the garment of justification for their salvation; it signifies Christ, the Christ whom they received, as their objective righteousness. As Luke 15: 22 describes a prodigal son who received the best robe from his father. By the righteousness garment of Christ, each Christian has been justified by God. (1 Cor.1:30). The second is the garment of ratification for their acceptance, signifying Christ, the Christ whom they live out, as their subjective righteousness. Apostle Paul had laid a good example to live for Christ, and stated, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”(Phil.1:21). The white garment mentioned in Revelation 3:5 is refer to the second garment, which need for us to receive the reward and enter into the kingdom to walk with the Lord, and reign with Him (2 Tim.2:11-12).  This is the Lord’s promise to those who are overcomers. It will be fulfilled in the millennial kingdom after the Lord comes back.
God unveils the vision through Apostle John about the church in Sardis.  Sardis in the Greek word means the “remains”, “the remainder”, or “the restoration”, as a sign, the church in Sardis from the time of the reformation to the second coming of Christ. The Reformation was God’s reaction to the apostate Roman Catholic Church, which is signified by the degraded church in Thyatira. It was accomplished by a minority of the believers, the remainder. Therefore, it was a restoration by the remainder. Many have considered the reformed Protestant Church to be living, but the Lord says, “I know your works, that you have a name that you are living, and yet you are dead.” (Rev.3:1). Therefore, she needs the living Spirits and the shining stars. The things which remain are the things that had been lost and were restored by the Reformation, such as justification by faith, and the open Bible etc. Through these things had been restored, they were about to die. Hence, they needed to be revived. This is the actual situation of the Protestant churches. Since the reformed Protestant churches are dead, they will be unaware of the Lord’s coming as a thief in His secret appearing to His seekers. Therefore, there is the need of watchfulness. But the good news is that the vision also unveils that there are few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments, and they will walk with Lord in white because they are worthy. He who overcomes will be clothed, thus, in white garments, and the Lord shall by no mean erase his name out of the book of life. (Rev. 3:4-5)
 The book of life in Chinese literally says, “生命冊”, in Greek says, “της βιβλου της ζωης”. It is a divine record of the names of those who partake of the blessings that God has prepared for them. The names of all the saints chosen by God and predestined to partake of these blessings are written in this book (Luke10:20). These blessings are in three stages: first, in the church, second, in the millennial kingdom, and third, in eternity. The blessings in the stage of the church such as forgiveness, redemption, regeneration, eternal life, and the divine nature are the initial portions. All God’s chosen ones whose names are written in the book of life have a share in these initial portions to begin their spiritual life. If they cooperate with God’s supplying grace, they will mature in life in the church age, and this earlier maturity in life will constitute a prize with which the Lord will reward them as His coming back. That prize will be the entrance into the millennial kingdom and participation in the divine blessings in that stage, such as the joy and rest of the Lord (Matt.25:21, 23:Heb.4:9-11), the reign over the nations.
However, there are many of His chosen people, after receiving His forgiveness, redemption, eternal life, divine nature, will not cooperate with His grace and will not go on with Him. Therefore, they are unable to mature in life in the church age and will not be ready at the Lord’s coming back to enter into the millennial kingdom and share in the divine blessings of that age as a prize. Therefore, during the millennial kingdom their names will be erased from the book of life. After being disciplined by the Lord and growing in life unto maturity during the millennial kingdom, they will share in the divine blessings in the stage of eternity, such as the eternal priesthood with God’s eternal presence, the eternal kingship(Rev.223-5), the New Jerusalem, the tree of life (Rev.22:14), the water of life (Rev.22:17). At that time their names should again be written in the book of life. this means that all God’s chosen ones whose names are written in the book of life and who have been brought into the participation of the divine blessings in the stage of the church shall by no means perish forever (John10:28).(LSM1254-1255) .
New Jerusalem in Chinese literally says, “新耶路撒冷”, in Greek says, “ιερονσαλημ Hierosolyma”, literally translate as the name of the city (Mk.3:8) in reference to its inhabitants (Matt.2:3). But in figuratively, as the spiritual home of God and his people.(Ga.4:26)(Heb.12:22) (Rev.3:12).  It is a new heaven and a new earth and the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light.”(Rev.21:22-24). The Holy City as the tabernacle of God is for God to dwelling and God and the Lamb as the temple are for the redeemed saints to dwell in. In the new heaven and new earth, the New Jerusalem will be a mutual dwelling place for God and man for eternity. This heavenly city will be the abode of all the saints (Heb.12:22-24). The bride of Christ (Rev.21:9-10). And the place Christ is preparing for His people (John14:2).
During the Millennium the New Jerusalem (described in detail in Rev. 21:9-22:5) apparently will be suspended over the earth, and it will be the dwelling place of all believers during eternity. As Apostle John saw a new heaven and a new earth, and heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people. And God himself will be with them, and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away.”(Rev.21:3-4).  
 However, in the New Testament Revelation 21 reveals few factors that not everyone is worthy to be clothed with white and enter the New Jerusalem. Such as unbelievers, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars. Anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful and the names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life. The Solomon, son of David, king of Israel in proverbs 6: 17-19, he pointed out seven things that are detestable to God, such as “1) haughty eyes, 2) a lying tongue, 3) hands that shed innocent blood, 4) a heart that devises wicked schemes, 5) feet that are quick to rush into evil, 6) a false witness who pours out lies and 7) a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” And there are six things the Lord hates in the Proverbs 6:12-15 : 1) “ A scoundrel and villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, 2) who winks with his eye, 3) signals with his feet and 4) motions with his fingers, 5) who plots evil with deceit in his heart- he always  6) stirs up dissension. Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed without remedy. This section reveals the characters of the wicked man, “a lying tongue” and “all the liars”, it will bring unexpected disaster.
In the book of Jude, he exhorts the saints not to speak abusively against whatever they do not understand, not to boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage, not to be grumblers and faultfinders like unreasoning animals, rejects authority and slander celestial beings. For these men are blemishes, and are harsh words ungodly sinners, acts ungodly, “shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted –twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea. Foaming up their shame, wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.” (Jude.8-16). In contrary, He urges the saints to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints, build themselves up in their most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep themselves in God’s love as they wait for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ to bring them to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt, snatch others from the fire and save them, to others show mercy, mixed with fear, hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. (Jude1:20-22).  
In the book of James, James also urges brothers be watchful of their tongues. He states, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet doesn’t keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” Every godly brother shall practice “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger doesn’t bring about the righteous life that God desires.” They shall get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in them which can save them.
Moreover, God also revealed His ten commandants to Moses, which indicated, “you shall not give false testimony against your neighbor, you shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord our God , an a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those whosoever me and keep my commandments.” (Gen.20:3-17). The Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home-these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. (Jude 1:5-6)
 From Old Testament to New Testament, God unveils His divide vision, holy decrees, demands, laws, and precepts to His people.  And not everyone call Lord, Lord will enter the heaven, but those who fulfill the will of God. Christianity’s lives shall reflect the highest moral and ethic demands, and the characteristics to imitate of Christ. None of impure, deceitful and shameful will enter the kingdom of God. Although Christians are justified by faith, and will be clothed with first white garment, however, to be clothed with second white garment, it requires their work and lives demonstrate as overcomers as Apostle Paul who lived for Christ, ran the race, endured all kinds of hardship and persecutions. Ultimately, be regenerated, transformed, and glorified as the bride of Christ, worthy walk with the Lord and receive the rewards in the Millennium kingdom as God’s habitation in the New Jerusalem, the tabernacle will be the eternal dwelling place of God’s redeemed people. In the new heaven and new earth there will be full satisfaction and rest, there will be no more cause for tears. The Lord will wipe every tear from their eyes, there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
   These divine visions of New Jerusalem, and hope of eternal life compels Christians to live a life worthy to be clothed with white garment (白衣, ιματιοις λευκοις himation leukos) and walk with Lord as overcomers. And ensure their names are written in the Book of life (生命冊, της βιβλου της ζωης tes biblos tes zoe ). These divine virtues are the highest calling and requisition, it disciplines Christianity to live a life perfectly as scriptures says, “be perfect, for heavenly father is perfect.” This moral and ethical requisition makes Christians’ life unique. And these life transformation processions from sanctification to glorification stage make Christians to be clothed with white as mature bride for bridegroom Christ. This divine and holy vision highlights the phenomenon of Christology. It awakens and humble young generation who are followers of Christ, will you able to be clothed with white and worthy to walk with Lord?  

Bibliography,
 Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press,2000.
Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.
Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 
 Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010. 


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