TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS 3: 12- 17 12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remained the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (KJV)

Today I would like to deliver a message entitled “VAIL OVER FACE.”

We would like to learn what it means, “The vail shall be taken away.”

The word “vail” is used in this saying of putting a veil. The word has relation to revelation and the book of Revelation, for Revelation means to take away veil.

Let’s look at the text.

12 “Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech.”

Paul said he spoke messages very plainly. As he said in the latter verse he “did not put a vail over his face as Moses,” he said in short he did talk frankly or did not speak messages without any light of revelation. Conversely, he very plainly spoke interpretations and messages.

Do grasp that his attitude is very different from that of coward messengers of the present.

They just repeat the messages of timid people without losing interest, fearing of making a step out of orthodox teachings and doctrines (including that teaching of devil- the Partial Rapture Theory of Christ), and simply pursuing in the things that no men blame for so that no body knows what they are talking about for God or for men (They are looking for honor of men). Are they seeking only reputation of men?

And they are trembling with fear of stepping out of their commentaries (there are many lies in them). As a result, surely they may not be blamed of men, but simply are producing messages of nonsense before God and men.

13 “And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished.”

The word “vail” is used in this saying of putting a veil. The word has relation to revelation and the book of Revelation, for Revelation means to take away veil. Therefore, we know it is said on the verse as for revelation and the book of Revelation as its hidden meaning. It is written, “And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face.” So, it is said not to put a veil, that is, not to give messages that do not open revelation or hidden mystery. Turning it over, it is guessed that if Paul gives messages many interpretations of revelation are accompanied in them. It is long time since such are lost in the messages in the present churches.

14 “But their minds were blinded.”

The saying “their minds were blinded” is the same as following “hardened their hearts.”

JOHN 12 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. (KJV)

The hearts of the people of Israel were hardened so that they could not rightly understand the Person of the Word.

“for until this day remained the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament.”

The Old Testament is mentioned here. So, it said, in the reading of the Old Testament, the veil is put on the God’s people so that they cannot understand it properly. Furthermore, it said, until this day, that is, until now, to this day, we are reading the Old Testament in the condition that we are put on veil.

Therefore, this verse actually says to us about how to read the Old Testament.

It is not that Christians now do not read the Old Testament, but it points out that when they read it the veil is put and revelation is not opened.

When Moses was put on veil, the light did not go out and was held. Likewise, it says that as we of the present day also read the Old Testament putting veil on us, the light of revelation never comes to us. And, as is written, “until this day,” it has been so to day.

For example, we read descriptions about Ahab, Jezebel, and Elijah in the Old Testament.

If we only read them about evil king and woman of the past Israel, then our veils are in fact not taken away. It is possibly that we read the Old Testament with the veil on our face to stop the light to come to us.

Well, there is a book that is closely connected to taking away veil.

It is no other than Revelation. The original meaning of this book is to take away veil. And, the word to take away veil shows clearly the very character of Revelation.

What are the meaning and purpose of this book of Revelation that is on the last of the Bible and very often causes arguments? The Lord clearly declares the purpose and meaning with the word “take away veil.”

Therefore, what the Lord says about this book is this.

The Bible, especially the Old Testament, is veiled, and deep meanings in them are hidden. But, it is not the will of the Lord that this book is remained veiled.

Then, God has prepared the book of a hint to help taking away the veil at the last of the Bible in order to take away veil on the Old Testament and others. This is the last book of the sixty six, Revelation. The name of the book “take away veil” tells it more clearly than anything else.

But, there is a problem today. The book that God has prepared with all His efforts is not useful to open the eyes of God’s children. The problem is that this book is no help to them, or is used for the essential purpose. For example, old style telephones were very simple, and just dialing would do. But, recent ones are complex with fax or other functions like answering. So, old people cannot fully utilize them, because they cannot catch up with such kind of functions.

The same thing can be said to Revelation. Though this book is written to take away veil on the Bible, it is not used for the essential purpose.

Well, we would like to learn what the meaning of taking away veil is concretely.

For example, it is written about Jezebel in the descriptions of the church in Thyatira that is one of the seven churches on Revelation as below.

REVELATION 2: 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servant to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. (KJV)

It gives a hint to take away veil on the Old Testament that there is a description about Jezebel on Revelation that is the prophecy for the church age.

They are convinced as, “The Old Testament is of the past things, and it has nothing to do with the present or future of the church age.” But, the descriptions on Revelation would take away the veil of this preconception, wrong teaching of the Church.

It may be a hint to open our eyes like that possibly the descriptions on the Old Testament are the prophecies for the church age of the New Testament, that there is a description about Jezebel on Revelation that is the prophecy for the church age of the New Testament. And, Jezebel is the wife of Ahab king of northern Israel, as we know that if we read the Old Testament.

It works to take away veil from our eyes like that, “The church in Thyatira might be the sign for the Roman Catholic, that there is the description related to the king and his wife of Northern Israel contained in the letter to Thyatira. This book gives help to us to take away the veil like this.

16 “Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.”

How can we take away the veil against the Old Testament?

And, how can we receive the light of revelation of God?

The answer is, when we turn to the Lord, the veil will be taken away. The light of revelation will not come from commentaries or teachings of men but of the Lord.

17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

To turn to the Lord concretely means that we seek the Person of the Holy Spirit and turn to Him.

That is to say, we seek and ask the Person of the Holy Spirit for the words of the Old and New Testament. And we hear of Him. Then, the hidden words will be opened through wisdom of God that is superior to that of men.

Let’s do the will of the Lord in the end time.

End.