And you shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning. For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; but when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to strike you. (Exodus 12:22-23)

And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, holding the seal of the living God; and he called out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, or the sea, or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads. (Revelation 7:2-3)

And the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and make a mark on the foreheads of the people who groan and sigh over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.” But to the others He said in my presence, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare. Utterly kill old men, young men, female virgins, little children, and women, but do not touch any person on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary.” So they started with the elders who were before the temple. (Ezekiel 9:4-6)

Just before God sent the last plague to Egyptians, He gave the Israelites the Law concerning Passover in Exodus 12 and 13. The Passover in the OT is the shadow of the real Passover on the Judgement Day of the Lord. Whoever receives the seal from God will escape the second death. These people are the chosen people of God whose sins are forgiven by the blood of Christ. They are the ones who have received the Holy Spirit by grace. The feature of those who escape the second death is that they groan and sigh over all the abominations happening within churches. The Holy Spirit within them show them the abominable acts done within churches.

Those who call themselves Christians often criticize their civil governments and try to set up a political leader who appears to hold Christian traditions and values. I consider this is the result of the corruption started in the 17th century England by the Puritans. They think they are clean, and others are not. But they often fail to look at themselves. They do not know how corrupt they are before God. As I’ve mentioned before, those who do not understand God and deny Sola Gratia are corrupt because their depraved minds love evil ways. They do worse things than unbelievers because they are good at covering up their sins with white paint. They lure and slaughter people within churches. Therefore, Christ warns us that we must not be like the Pharisees who fill up their dough with leaven. Even though they cover up their sins, God knows what is in their hearts. I am not saying that the Pharisees are the bad people, and the rest are good. The Pharisees were the religious leaders. It is the same today. Many of those who hold leadership in churches are the most dangerous. Those who teach students at seminaries are the most dangerous. It is because any earthly system is bound to fail. Saints must discern and know what they are trying to teach.

I am not saying all leaders and all ministers are bad. I know a minister who is chosen by God. He was the first one who taught me about God’s redemptive history through the Book of Judges. He has family and health issues. But he risked his life to teach orthodox theology to people who live in a country where Christianity is under threat. God showed me in my dream that he was His instrument. I saw a little bamboo piece that catches water from a mountain and directs water to a certain place. Every leader should not consider themselves more important than a little bamboo piece. Anyone who love people’s praises or praises himself/herself is false.