Stop Jumping!

Once upon a time, I lived in a fifth-floor apartment. In the entryway, there was an elevator around which a staircase was built. The elevator would only take people up, and you had to walk down the stairs yourself. As a child, I couldn't simply walk. I would run up the stairs, skipping every other step. Sometimes I would run over three steps, and sometimes I would test my strength by jumping over entire flights of stairs.

Currently, the habit of skipping steps remains with me, but there's no longer a constant need to do so, except when going up or in a hurry.

If someone were to look at me from the side, they might assume that I respect the work of janitors and preserve the stair covering by using only 50 percent of it.

But sometimes I tell myself: "Stop jumping! You're not a child anymore!"

God gave us His law and His commandments, and He very much wants us to become acquainted with them, to hear about them. The Lord desires that I personally read what He has commanded, memorize it, understand the spirit of the Law, and then allow God to implant it in my heart and write it in my thoughts.

The entire law is holy and was given to the world as a unified moral code of proper relationships between people and God, as well as between one person and another. This measure of righteousness has not changed over the years, and God's requirements remain unshakable since the day they were proclaimed. But there are those who jump over these holy statutes, considering something outdated or unnecessary in our time. Some even try to set records by attempting to jump over the entire law without getting hurt. As a result, a habit is formed that shapes character.

If you were to ask people which commandments they know, they would typically name only two: "Do not kill and do not steal". But there are 10 of them. And how many other rules, guidelines, and decrees does the Bible contain? A great many. And God wants us not to jump in studying the Bible, but to consistently delve into ourselves and the teaching.

Someone said that for people, the law is not written if it is written, not read if it is read, not understood if understood, and if understood, not understood correctly. When I speak about God's commandments, many of you will agree that they must be observed and that one cannot jump, violating the harmony of life, as this is sin, and a sinning soul will die.

But when the conversation turns to prophecies for the last time, for some reason, those willing to study, understand, and consistently follow them become very few. However, games of jumping begin and become a habit. And I notice myself among these would-be athletes. But this is not how one should live. By jumping over something in the Bible, I become a superficial listener and reader and might miss something important.

Any prophecy contains depth of revelations, and God wants me not to jump over incomprehensible verses, but to pray for their understanding and interpretation. I agree that not all prophecies will be revealed to us, and many of them have already been fulfilled in the past, simply testifying that God will fulfill everything He has planned. Such a position of faith helps me understand that much will also be accomplished in our days.

Do you think the message to Laodicea is an important prophecy for the end times? Those who have studied previous lessons will say yes. In these verses lies the most important truth for the last days, teaching what needs to be understood and undertaken to stand firm.

Stop jumping through verses, skipping what is not immediately revealed. It is worth pondering every word of this message, deciphering all these symbols, understanding the meaning, and living as the True and Faithful Witness advises. Stop jumping through words, considering something unnecessary and optional! Everything in this message is important!

Let's consider an example. When the Sanctuary did not exist, was it important to make sacrifices in it? No, because it wasn't there. When the time came, and God gave this law, and when this place was consecrated, all previous decrees about sacrifice lost their force. Sacrifices were to be made in a specific place. Subsequently, the temple was built, and the service moved to this place, and everything previous lost significance.

When Jesus came and offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin, the temple service lost its meaning, as all rituals and Laws about sacrifices pointed to Christ and were fulfilled in Him. With His blood, Jesus entered the true Heavenly Sanctuary and became the true High Priest of Heavenly service. Until a certain time, He interceded in the first section of the Sanctuary, where everyone was accepted, but when the time of Sanctuary cleansing came, our Heavenly Advocate left the Holy Place and moved to the Most Holy Place, where He continues His intercessory service. And all service performed before this transition lost its force, although it remains written in the Bible.

Currently, a Heavenly court is in session, examining the cases of all people involved in Christianity to determine those who have become worthy of Eternal life and allowed themselves to be prepared for moving to Heaven. The cases of all dead righteous people will be reviewed, and a verdict will be rendered. After this, the court will move to the living, and their lives will be examined, thoughts and feelings weighed, and those found faithful will be sealed.

Jesus will not eternally remain in the Most Holy Place. Soon He will complete this phase of service and leave this place to reward each according to their deeds, ending the history of Earth and sin with His Second Coming.

When the judgment of living righteous people begins, then all previous rules will transition to the final phase of service, and prophecies about the last time and preparation for these events will become very relevant. Many children of God will be surprised that everything is not going as they imagined and expected, and many of them will be stumbled and will not accept the new conditions of Christ's service. They will reject the convictions of the Holy Spirit that contradict their understanding of this time.

Oil for the lamp will become the most valuable product, and its filling — the most important teaching. The enemy of the soul will offer a counterfeit, but the Spirit of God will reveal all the wicked plans and give His light. Knowledge and understanding of Biblical prophecies and symbols about the last time will help us orient ourselves and stand firm in this sifting. God will not leave anyone uninformed who consistently goes through all stages of growth and knowledge of truth. But a lack of knowledge will become fatal for many believers.

In Revelation 3:18, the Lord advises us to buy the most important things that will reveal a new path and plan for the last time. Do not jump over this verse and incomprehensible symbols. If you miss something from these goods, you will lose everything, and with it the power to stand in the coming trials. Stop jumping, friends! Stop and know what God offers us, and then allow yourself to be known by opening the door to the One who stands and knocks.

All Biblical sciences are good, but knowledge of prophecies about the last time is important and relevant now like nothing else. When the High Priest announces the sealing of those He has cleansed and chosen, then everything else will lose its power, and no one will be able to change anything. Where do you want to be at that time, friend? Will you continue to jump? Everything is being offered to you.

Questions for Reflection on this Chapter

1. Please read 1 Timothy 4:16; Mark 7:6-13; 2 Timothy 3:7; James 1:22-25; 1 Samuel 8:7; 15:23; Matthew 26:41; Hosea 4:6; 8:3; Proverbs 2:1-12; 15:8; 28:9; Psalm 24:9; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; Amos 3:7; Ephesians 3:16-21; Jude 1:24-25 in light of this chapter.

2. What did you understand from this chapter?

3. Read 2 Peter 1:5-7. What can you skip to reach the top step?

4. Did you notice what is at the very top of "Peter's ladder"?

5. Do you think the parable of the ten virgins is a ladder leading to warning and knowledge of truth for the present time? If so, what can you confidently skip?

6. Are all the symbols from the message to Laodicea clear to you? Can you define each of them from memory?

7. Do you know the message to Laodicea by heart? Or at least verse 18? Have you noticed the importance of this message?

8. Is it important to know what the oil for the lamp is, and where it can be bought today?

9. Do you think it's necessary to make an effort not to miss anything that is very important to know and understand at the end of time?

10. What lack of knowledge does the prophet Hosea 4:6 speak about? How can I understand if I have this knowledge?

11. Will the Lord draw careless and superficial people who want to be saved but do not wish to accept God's plan of Salvation into Eternity?

12. Is it important to understand what Jesus is currently doing in Heaven, and what will happen when He finishes His service in the Heavenly Sanctuary?

13. Do you understand the importance of gradual growth and transition from one stage of faith to another?

14. Will there be an announcement somewhere for all who wish to join the number of 144,000?

15. Do you think this school is preparing us for something important and interesting?