Ans. (a) Heb. 9:2626For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26) presents to us the finished work of Christ. It is done at the end of the world, or age of man's trial. God's "due time" when man was proved to be ungodly and without strength to improve himself (Rom. 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)). All the sacrifices under the law were but shadows of this great Sacrifice, and these could not purge from sin. The one Sacrifice alone can give the certainty that the believer's sins are gone forever, so that the worshiper once purged has no more conscience of sins. He knows, therefore, that by one sacrifice he is perfected forever in the sight of God. (Heb. 10:1414For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14).)
In Verse 19 he has now access into the holiest; that is, the immediate presence of God. He goes in in his priestly character, having his heart sprinkled from an evil conscience, and his body washed with pure water. (This alludes to Lev. 8:6, 306And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. (Leviticus 8:6)
30And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him. (Leviticus 8:30)-our priestly place.) But in approaching to God we also need the daily cleansing that gives us a moral fitness spoken of "a true heart, in full assurance of faith," for though we are true children of God, and holy priests, we need always self-judgment of our ways.
(b) The verses, John 20:17-2317Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. 18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. 19Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. (John 20:17‑23), belong to Christianity. The new relationship as children of God our Father, and as Christ's brethren is seen; also Christ as the center and object of gathering. Then His disciples are sent ones (apostle means sent ones); and these are seen here as having His new risen life and the Holy Ghost (this anticipates the coming of the Holy Ghost); so Verse 23 is the result of their ministry. The Lord committeed to His apostles the truth of the gospel and through them we now have it in the Scriptures, so that they had a special place of authority to administer this truth that we have not, vet it belongs to the word which any Christian may speak. Personally they had the authority, and in this sense were ambassadors for Christ, so that this 23rd verse does not belong to any-man or set of men now, and if any claim this place, it is usurpation: This refers specially to their testimony in the gospel. (See also 2 Cor. 2:14-1614Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place. 15For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16To the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? (2 Corinthians 2:14‑16).)
Ques. What is taught by the Seven Churches? What is the "Synagogue of Satan?" (Rev. 2:9; 3:99I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. (Revelation 2:9)
9Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. (Revelation 3:9).) M. D.
Ans. Seven is the number of spiritual completeness. Chapters Rev. 2 and 3 give us a complete picture of the spiritual state or condition of the Church as the Lord's witness here on earth from the time John wrote, till its end when Christ comes to claim His own out of it. The chief mark of each we might say: Ephesus, declension; Smyrna, persecution or suffering for Christ; Pergamos, worldliness; Thyatira, seeking worldly power; Sardis, formal religion; Philadelphia, revival of the truth of Christ's person and coming; Laodicea, indifference to the claims of Christ. The last four run on concurrently till the end. May the Lord keep our hearts true to Himself.
“The Synagogue of Satan" is spoken of in the two phases of the assembly where no fault is found with them. It is there traditional religion opposes the truth, they "say they are Jews"-the people of God-but "they do lie." They try to improve the flesh and to keep the law, and this recognizes good in man, whereas the truth is "in my flesh dwelleth no good thing." Compare for the word "Jew," which means "praise" (Rom. 2:21, 2221Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? (Romans 2:21‑22); Gen. 29:3535And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing. (Genesis 29:35)), those that say they are Jews, praise themselves; they are good in their own eyes.