42. “C. Τ.” We are quite at a loss to conceive how the wickedness of the world at the close of the millennium, as described in Rev. 20:7-9, should be used by any to throw a doubt on other scriptures which so distinctly announce either the coming of the Lord to take His saints, as John 14:1-3 Thess. 4:15-17, &c.; or the saints afterward coming with Him in judgment to set up His kingdom on earth, as 2 Thess. 1:7-10; Col. 3:4; Jude 14, 15; Dan. 2:44; 7:13, 14; Zech. 14:5; and many other scriptures. All shall doubtless be fulfilled but in God’s own order. Rev. 20:7-9 is a sad close of the history of man. But what has been his history from the beginning? In paradise, did he not distrust God, and believe the lie of Satan? And when the Son of God was here, did not even His own nation reject Him? And now when the Holy Ghost is on earth, is He not also rejected? Has not Satan found a dwelling-place in the very professing church of God? And in Rev. 20 we learn that even at the close of the thousand years reign of Christ, the moment the last test is applied to man, when Satan is again let loose, immediately the nations apostatize from God. Oh, the infinite grace of God to save any of us. To Him be all praise!
It is exceedingly gracious of our God and Father, after the confusion of so many centuries, to restore the long lost truth of the church: “There is one body.” (Eph. 3:4.) Now, wherever a few saints have been through mercy led to see this, and to own all believers as members of that one body; and also, not merely because they are saved, but, as owning that unity, are gathered to the Lord Jesus around His table; if they see, and own this unity, they must see, and own the Lord’s table as the place where every subject child of God should be found. It is the Lord’s will. We can only know what is wrong by learning what is right.
43. “J. L. P.,” Malta. In presenting the Gospel, we shall assuredly go wrong if we depart from the exact truth of scripture. God is wiser than we are. Theology is not the word of God. We are to declare what is written—to “preach the word.” It is a snare to try to turn scripture to fit in with a creed; instead of drawing our thoughts from what God has revealed. We should stand for the divine authority of scripture. We know from the Acts that the early christians went forth “preaching the word.” So long as our thoughts are cast in the mold of divine truth, by the teaching of the Holy Ghost, we shall be kept from expressions, which, though something like scripture, are not according to it. In these days, we need to watch lest we take up the Lord’s word with mere natural effort, instead of in heartfelt dependence on the Holy Ghost; and to dread lest we traffic in favorite doctrines, instead of setting forth the infallible testimonies of holy scripture. It is a blessed fact that” God commendeth his love toward us [saints], in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” but it is very different from going up to an ungodly man, and saying, “God loves you.” It is, however, blessedly true that “Christ died for all.”
44. “V. J.,” London. The passover must not be confounded with the Lord’s supper. In some respects, there is a striking similarity, hence we read, “Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” In other particulars, they are different. After they had been set up, both were observed as commemorative; though the passover was the remembrance of the children of Israel having been sheltered in Egypt from the destroying angel by the blood of the lamb; while in the Lord’s supper we remember Him, and show His death, who shed His blood for many for the remission of sins. Typically the passover was connected with holiness, for they were to put all leaven (type of evil) out of their houses, and afterward, day by day, feed on pure or unleavened bread. The Lord’s supper, too, must be observed with holiness, “Old leaven” must have no place there. It must be kept “with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Cor. 5:6-8.) Both, too, are feasts. The passover is called in scripture one of “the feasts of Jehovah,” to be observed by the children of Israel; which we know was done not only in Egypt, but also in the wilderness, and in the land. The Lord’s supper is especially the time of thanksgiving and praise; as not only do we feed on Christ as the One who was sacrificed for us, but we give thanks and bless— “the cup of blessing which we bless.” We praise for eternal redemption, for title to eternal glory. Hence, referring to the Lord’s supper, we are instructed as to how we should “keep the feast.”
Our Lord, whom it became to fulfill all righteousness, kept the passover, and, immediately after that, established His own supper. (See Luke 12:11-20.) Here He Himself gave thanks, and referred to the eternal efficacy of His own blood as giving “remission of sins.” It is the place of highest privilege on earth, and should be associated with practical holiness. A wicked person must not be there. Therefore, when the saints at Corinth had a person taking the supper of the Lord with them, who was guilty of sin, the apostle refers to the typical instruction of the passover and says, “Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” “Put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” (1 Cor. 5:8, 13.)
45. “J. W.” What God says must be true. He says, “All that believe are justified from all things.” (Acts 13:39.) I do believe God’s testimony concerning His Son, therefore I must be justified from all things. The Lord Jesus says, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24.) I do hear His word. I do believe God the Father that sent Him. Therefore I must have everlasting life. He says so.
If you paid a poor neighbor’s debts, and showed him the receipt; and if you declared unto him, those debts could never be reckoned to him again, you would think it strange, if he said, “Ah, that is all very nice, but nobody can ever know in this world whether you speak truth.” You would say, “What, after I have done this, do you mean to say J. W. is a liar?” For this is just as men treat God. After He has given His Son to die for our sins, after He proclaims to us forgiveness of all sins through Him, after He has raised up Christ from the dead, who made propitiation for our sins—the everlasting receipt, to all who believe—after God assures all believers that they have redemption through the blood of Jesus, even the forgiveness of sins; shall we say after this, “Ah, it is all very fine, no doubt God says so; but nobody in this world knows whether He speaks truth or not?” This is really so. “He that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” (1 John 5:10-13.) Now were not all these things written that we may know “that we have eternal life?”
The seed must first be sown in the field before the fruit. Cultivate a briar as we will, it is a briar still, there must be the new nature of the rose engrafted. So man must be born wholly anew. A new nature will bring forth its own fruity and to us the fruit is the only proof of the new nature. There must be Christ, or all is briar and thorn. Christ first, Christ last, “Christ is all.” And where Christ is all, then “Christ in all.” Christ our righteousness before God is all. Christ in us, by His Spirit, is all power for righteousness before men. It is the blessed privilege of every Christian to say Col. 1:12-14. How few know this! How few believe it!
46. “W. Η. R.,” Buntingford. The four and twenty elders represent, not only the church, but the redeemed: all that arc Christ’s at His coming. Thus the type of the four and twenty courses of priesthood, is fulfilled. It is intelligent worship, that specially marks them as redeemed. The church ceases to be seen on earth at the end of Revelation 3; and the elders cease to be seen in heaven, when the marriage of the Lamb takes place.
1 Cor. 15:23, does not speak of the children of either believers, or unbelievers; but of the resurrection of those that are Christ’s, at His coming. We judge it is wise not to go beyond what is revealed in the word of God.