We have now traced briefly and incompletely the long history of the Christian testimony from Pentecostal days down to our own time. As indicated previously, we have a prophetic review of this history in the Lord’s words to the seven churches in Revelation 23.
We see in Ephesus the Church of apostolic days, which left its first love, and we have noted how quickly decline and departure came in; in Smyrna, the martyr period of the second and third centuries; in Pergamos, the Church allied with the world and tainted with false doctrine; in Thyatira, the growth of the papal system and the bright recovery of the truth at the Reformation; in Sardis, the dead post-Reformation period; and in Philadelphia, the glorious revival, first of the gospel and then the wonderful recovery of the highest truths of Christianity connected with Christ as Head of the Church, His body. Then, after this wonderful revival, which culminated in the nineteenth century, we see foretold in Laodicea the last phase — lukewarmness and indifference to Christ — a solemn picture of present-day conditions. It must be obvious to any intelligent observer that Christ has a very small place in organized Christendom. His words to Laodicea are surely a word for us today:
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:2020Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)).
We have reached the closing phase of the Church’s history, and what is the outlook for the believer? It is the coming of the Lord. The Christian hope does not lie in the evangelization of the world; the Christian hope is the coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Matthew 25:1-131Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 25:1‑13) we read of ten virgins who went forth to meet the bridegroom but who, while the bridegroom tarried, fell asleep and were awakened at midnight by the cry, “Behold, the bridegroom; go forth to meet him” (Matt. 25:66And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (Matthew 25:6) JND).
Five of them had torches and oil in their vessels, and the others had torches but no oil. Those with the oil were ready, with blazing torches, to welcome the bridegroom, and they went in with him to the wedding feast and the door was shut. The others had no oil. They were not ready. They were taken unawares and were shut out. These two classes exist in Christendom today. There are those who are ready, with their torches trimmed and with oil to supply the light; there are others with the dry torches of mere profession.
When the Bridegroom comes, the Christian testimony will close. The last chapter is now being written. The Lord is coming for His own.
The true Church, composed of all those who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and have received the Holy Spirit, will soon be translated to heaven; the day of reward will follow. Each one will appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Everything done and suffered for Christ’s sake will receive its reward — even “a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple” (Matt. 10:4242And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. (Matthew 10:42)). The sufferings borne during the long years of the Christian testimony will find their answer in “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:1717For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (2 Corinthians 4:17)). The Church, entirely and eternally one, will come forth with Christ at His public appearing to reign with Him throughout the day of glory. The period of testimony and suffering will be over. The time of glory and rejoicing will have come.