Jerusalem

The harlot’s workers are merchants, and the harlot is called Babylon, the city of commerce. The bride, on the other hand, is called Jerusalem, the city of sacrifice. The tribes of Israel went there to sacrifice, not to do business. Jesus drove the merchants out of the temple. Therefore the bride’s workers—the church—are not merchants; they are priests, or servants. The greatest among you is the slave of all. Paul asked the Ephesians to remember this in the future so they would not be deceived by wolves in sheep’s clothing. Just read his farewell message to them:

“For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:29-35.

If they had remembered this, the savage wolves would soon have been exposed. I seriously doubt that any of them had so much care for the sheep that they exhorted them day and night with tears. Perhaps you have never in your life met such a shepherd. If you think back, those whom you did meet were probably satisfied when you gave them plenty of good food, money, and honor. Their interest was in shearing the sheep. Wake up and remember Paul, and you will recognize the wolves of our day.

Listen to what Paul reminds the Thessalonians of: “For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” 1 Thess. 2:5-12.

Paul was definitely not a merchant. He was not an inhabitant of Babylon. He belonged to the city of sacrifice, Jerusalem. All the work in the church (the bride) is based on sacrifice. The priests (the servants) do not become great and rich men on earth. Neither do they get a name for themselves in this world. And because they are not trying to make an impression on anyone, they have no form or comeliness for the people to desire them. Is. 53:2.

There are many preachers who are merchants. Bible schools produce a lot of them, but where can you find a servant? “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.” Phil. 2:19-22.

“Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.” Col. 4:10-11.

As we can see, there were not many. On the contrary, there were some who meddled in things that were none of their business, and they no longer labored.

“For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.” 2 Thess. 3:11-12. They considered godliness a means of gain. 1 Tim. 6:5-6. They wanted to make a living, but Paul would have none of that. Here we all need to be on the alert. If someone who preaches the gospel comes to live in your house, and you notice that he does not want to work, send him home. You can see that all he wants to do is drink coffee and have his afternoon nap. Or he sits and writes and puts logs on the fire, but he doesn’t even bother to carry in the firewood, not to mention splitting it (this would be suitable exercise for him). Just send him home. He is not fit to be a worker in God’s kingdom. If someone fails in his earthly occupation and so turns to being a preacher of the Word, he makes a shameful mistake. Such a person does not give up anything for the gospel’s sake. All he does is seek gain. God has never called anyone to proclaim the gospel who was not already working to proclaim the gospel. Elisha was plowing. Twelve yoke of oxen went before him when God called him to be a prophet. 1 Kings 19:19. Moses, Saul, and David were shepherds. Gideon was in the process of threshing. Levi was sitting in the custom’s booth, and Peter was busy with his fishing nets, etc. They were all occupied, but they gave up everything. It was not gain for them according to the flesh. They neither earned more money, nor did they have an easier life. They wore themselves out; they sacrificed everything. What things were gain to them they counted loss, even rubbish, for Christ’s sake. Phil. 3:7-8.

Not that they did not have the right to live by the gospel. If someone really does the work of an evangelist, he has the right to live by the gospel; but even this right they gave up.

“Nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” 2 Thess. 3:8-10.

Paul showed them by his works what Christianity was, and by his works he out-maneuvered all the deceitful workers—those who thought of gain. Paul could not out-maneuver them by speaking, because they were just as eloquent as Paul; but they were not willing to deny themselves, and on this point Paul was able to expose them. Many such deceitful workers came to Corinth. They wanted to appear just as good as Paul, and the Corinthians could not discern between them. They considered Paul’s speech contemptible and his bodily presence weak. He was not among them as a “bragging pastor,” but as a servant. He did not come to them with his knowledge according to the flesh, because he did not want their faith to be grounded on human wisdom—that they should believe because a theologian had said it. He had no desire to satisfy their imagined “greatness” and their itching ears. His desire was that their faith was grounded in the power of God. 1 Cor. 2:1-5. He wanted them to consider the works. “What we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.” 2 Cor. 10:10-12.

In other words, a servant of Jesus must manifest the power of God through his works. This is obvious from the command Jesus gave. “Teaching them to observe [keep] all things that I have commanded you.” (Emphasis added.) Matt. 28:20. The harlot’s workers are exposed whenever there is talk of “keeping” and “doing.” The worst thing they can hear about is “works”—Christianity. This is an area where the servants of Christ have a task to perform: to expose these merchants of Babylon.

“But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.” 2 Cor. 11:12-13.

May there be many of us in these end times who follow in Paul’s and Timothy’s steps. Even though we have a right to many things as servants of Christ, let us sacrifice our rights in order to be the servants and slaves of all, lest our ministry be discredited. 2 Cor. 6:3-4.