Ephesus “first love” for the Lord Jesus Christ has been left. Despite all the blessings that were enjoyed by the early church, the time came when the Lord, looking for “fruit to perfection,” found that the very stimulation of life force was missing; first love was gone. As the divine husbandman, He must then go about to secure fruit for His pleasure according to His own purposes of grace.
Smyrna, through great persecution and tribulation, presents a time when He “plows” the ground. After this comes Pergamos when He casts the seed on the earth (Mark 4:2626And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; (Mark 4:26)). The “good seed” of the gospel Christianity was spread far and wide in the days of Constantine and others.
The result of sowing the seed is the “blade” (Mark 4:2828For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. (Mark 4:28)) seen next in the Lord’s mention of a company in Thyatira called “the rest in Thyatira.” A farmer enjoys watching the fresh, verdant little blades popping out of the ground, giving a wonderful expression of life. How precious to the heart of the Lord must have been the devotedness of companies of believers such as the Huguenots, Waldensians and others as they suffered the wintry blasts of persecution from the church in Rome. These dear brethren did not know much truth, but in love they clung with all their hearts to that which they did know.
Then came Sardis the spring that joyful time of the reformation when God sovereignly raised up vessels who, through the reading of the Scriptures, saw once again the wonderful truths of grace without works truths that had been lost during the dark ages of the church’s history. Apparently some of the reformers even saw the truth of the “one body” but didn’t know how it could be expressed practically. In fact, it seems that between all of them (the reformers), not a single truth of Scripture was missed with the exception of the rapture!
This is the “ear” of Mark 4:2828For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. (Mark 4:28) that time when each kernel of wheat, though undeveloped, has formed. The Lord speaks of a company in Sardis who “have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy.”
“The full corn in the ear” is seen in Philadelphia—the assembly which needed no word of correction from the Lord Jesus. The kernels were fully developed, for truth was not only seen from Scripture, but godly souls sought grace to carry it out in the fear of God. “Thou... hast kept My word.”
Although, at this stage, the grain is fully developed and will not grow any more, it cannot yet be harvested, for it is still green. Thus Mark 4:2929But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. (Mark 4:29) says, “But when the fruit is ripe [margin], immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” Here we see the last days of the assembly on earth the days of Laodicea.
In Philadelphia the latter rain has already fallen, and now in Laodicea a period marked by dryness and intense heat begins. Thus this ripening process prepares the grain for harvest. The Lord spoke to a company in Laodicea: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.” Hence the assembly today experiences the intense heat of sore trials difficulties in which we all have had our part. Yet what comfort and encouragement to realize that the Lord in perfect love and wisdom uses such things to ripen the “fruit” (in the measure that we “are exercised thereby”) for which He as the husbandman with “long patience” is awaiting.
He has assured believers that “He which hath begun a good work in you, will finish it [margin] until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:66Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6)). The present day is not so much characterized by famine or drought as it is by that time when we see that God’s “purposes will ripen fast” (Little Flock Hymn Book #44 appendix). And then how blessed! “Immediately” (He’ll not wait a moment longer!) “he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come” (Mark 4:2929But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. (Mark 4:29)). Then the shout of victory and we shall see Him face to face (1 Thess. 4:13-1813But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13‑18))!
R. Klassen, Jr.