IN the inspired epistles we can see how troubles began in the early church. We see how party strife was rampant in the Corinthian assembly. The Apostle Paul could delineate the way " the latter times " (1 Tim. 4:11Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1 Timothy 4:1)) would bring in evil-such as spiritualism-like a flood; whilst also he tells us of the last days when " perilous times shall come " (2 Tim. 3:11This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2 Timothy 3:1)). How terrible must have been the Apostle's grief when he could say, " All they which are in Asia be turned away from me " (2 Tim. 1:1515This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. (2 Timothy 1:15)), those very assemblies that he had formed by his own ministry, the very core of the work of God at that time.
Yet up to the very end of the Apostle's life, though we find all this evil fermenting, there was no OPEN division on record. We get great help as to what is to happen in the future when we study the addresses to the seven churches in Asia. (Rev. 2 and 3.) Looked at from the prophetic standpoint we find the stage of church history represented by Ephesus succeeded by that represented by Smyrna, and then by that represented by Pergamos, till we come to that represented by Thyatira. Of course the sad condition of Christendom in the early centuries was represented by one testimony. But there arose a conflict within the bosom of the Church. The Bishop of Constantinople sought to be the supreme head of Christendom. The bishop of Rome likewise claimed to be the supreme head, the successor of St. Peter. This resulted in the professing church at that time being divided into East and West; East bowing to the headship of the bishop of Constantinople; the West bowing to the supremacy of the pope at Rome.
The Eastern Church, finding its adherents mostly in Greece and Russia, was named the Greek Church from its geographical distribution; the Orthodox church from its vindication of dogma. The Greek church is opposed to many of the doctrine and practices of the Romish church. Both have been and are persecuting churches.
It is very clear that this cleavage points to the fulfillment of prophecy. If the testimony of Christendom were marked by only one religion, when the rising up on the one hand of the Romish Empire, and of that of Gog and Magog (Russia, etc.,) as the great northern confederacy takes place, that would introduce a very difficult element in the working out of prophecy. On the other hand if Gog and Magog (Russia, etc.) were marked by the Greek religion, and the revived Roman Empire by the Roman religion, there would be no restraint imposed by religion when the political uprising of these empires takes place. It seems as if the details and practices that Roman Catholicism stands for, as foretold in Rev. 17, and which have largely passed into history, identifies the prophecy concerning Thyatira as indicating the Western church, and not the Eastern. The Eastern church thrives among the Slav nations; the Western among the Latin races.
We believe then that Thyatira stands for Roman Catholicism with all its corruption and superstition, and persecuting zeal. To the overcomer in this church is given the promise of " the morning star " (Rev. 2:2828And I will give him the morning star. (Revelation 2:28)), a hope not given to the previous churches, consisting as they do of phase following phase, but showing that Thyatira is to go on till the coming of the Lord.
At this point we find a perfectly new development in church history. The testimony of Thyatira was so disgraceful, its superstition and evil practices so marked, that corporate testimony, that is the testimony of the whole, is brought to an end, by the appearance of that phase of Church history indicated in the address to the church in Sardis, not to succeed Thyatira, but going on side by side with that church.
Doubtless this points to the wonderful Reformation when a stand was made by the Spirit of God against grossly evil doctrines and' equally evil practices. Failure came in quickly, for Sardis is said to have a name to live and yet be dead. Then there appears on the scene that which is represented by the church which is at Philadelphia, and lastly that which is represented by the church which is at Laodicea. The promise of the coming of the Lord is given to these last four churches, showing that they go on together till the coming of the Lord. It seems as if Philadelphia is more characterized by the recovery of many of God's dear people to a condition marked by cleaving to God's word and not denying His name, and for the patient waiting for the coming of our Lord, than by a defined ecclesiastical movement. Laodicea marks the greatest departure from the truth in the last times. Surely that is seen in Modernism denying every fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith, leaving only a hollow shell, an empty, nauseating profession to be utterly refused by our Lord, to be spued out of His mouth.
This brings us to the point we wish to make plain. Though internal factions were at work in the days of the Apostle Paul, there was no open division. To-day what do we see? Roman Catholicism, in this country a Reformed Church of England, Methodists, Baptists, Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Quakers, so-called Plymouth Brethren, besides smaller sects without number, and crank religions of sorts.
A little over a century ago there was a very gracious work of God's Spirit, resulting in earnest Christians all over the world', seeking to gather to the Lord's name alone, eschewing party names and sectarian associations, and seeking to answer in simplicity to the teaching of Scripture. Alas, this beautiful testimony, amid the ruin of Christendom, has been blighted and spoiled by division after division occurring. The question arises with many, What shall we do? Where shall we go amid all this sad confusion? We answer, there are divine instructions left for us in the word of God.
It is very evident that the ministry of the Apostles, especially the peculiar ministry of the church committed to the Apostle Paul, was largely oral, as we have already seen. It must have been so, for the great church epistles were not written till the very end of Paul's life, when a prisoner at Rome. It may have been that he wrote those valuable epistles when chained to a soldier in his own hired house (Acts 28:33And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. (Acts 28:3)o). This will bring into clear light why these epistles were written. Surely it was that all down the centuries saints of God might realize what was in the Divine mind about the church, its structure, its endowment, and the practice becoming those, who compose it. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy for this purpose. We read, " These things have I written unto thee... that thou mayest know how to BEHAVE THYSELF in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Tim. 3:14,1514These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:14‑15).) These epistles are surely for the instruction and help of the Lord's people till the end, forming their minds according to the divine pattern. But seeing the broken condition of the professing church and that corporate testimony has long since ceased, what directions do we get for these last days?
It is not a little remarkable that these great church epistles-Ephesians and Colossians-were followed in the course of a very few months by the Epistles of the Apostle Paul to Timothy and Titus. We remember these epistles were written to individuals for their help in the last days. We are certainly in the last days, as the state of everything around us testifies. Surely we are near the moment when we shall hear the summoning shout, and be caught up in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, to be with our Lord on high.
In drawing the attention of our readers to these epistles, we have then instructions given to each one of us as an individual. Here are the Divine instructions: " The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Tim. 2:19-2219Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:19‑22).)
It is well to give careful heed to this charter for the last days. First it indicates to what a low level Christian profession had fallen, when we have to be thrown back, as it were, upon Divine omniscience for the knowledge of those, who are truly God's children. On our side we can only reckon that those, who depart from iniquity, are really the Lord's.
Further the professing church has grown so corrupt and has departed so gravely from the Divine plan, that there are found in it vessels to dishonor. These are of such a character that no Christian in loyalty to the Lord and His truth could walk with them. Many a saint remains in very doubtful associations, and listens to ministry that he knows is subversive of the truth of God, and yet remains in that association in the vain hope that his presence may help to stay the trend of that which is evil. The Divine injunctions in such a state of things are to be clear of it, so we find the apostolic instruction is that we should purge ourselves from these vessels to dishonor, so that we may be vessels unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master's use. This does not mean, as some have attempted to press, that we are in our minds and spirits to be free from evil teaching, and yet remain in fellowship with those, who propagate it. No juggling with facts, no attempts to square our consciences can make such a course right. No, the vessels unto dishonor are the-men, who teach dishonorable doctrine, and we are to be separate from such, and seek to be vessels unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master's use. That is step number one.
Further we are told what is to be our aim, that is to follow righteousness, faith, love and peace. If we follow these four things we shall be rightly balanced in our thoughts. It is possible to be over-righteous and hard and unyielding. Here come in faith and love-faith connecting us with the spiritual world outside of time and sense, love, the expression of the Divine nature. Thus we arrive at peace, that great fruit of the Spirit.
Now we shall find others wrought upon by the Spirit of God in the same mind as ourselves. Calling upon the name of the Lord out of a pure heart one is free happily to associate with such in godly Christian fellowship. " God setteth the solitary in families." (Psa. 68:66God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. (Psalm 68:6).) " Where two or three are gatherered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20).) Precious promise!
When in such a path and position one realizes how good it is to have God's original thought for His church, as told us in the Epistles to the Ephesians and Colossians, before our minds, showing us what is suitable to God, in the strangely altered days of to-day, as compared with the apostolic days, 2 Tim. 2:19-2219Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:19‑22) is indeed a charter for the last days.
An illustration may help. In these days of high taxation it has fallen to the lot of a great many of the nobility, unable to keep up the home of their ancestors, to leave their noble mansions, and build themselves some modest house in which to live. Would it not have an influence on the minds of their children and grandchildren to be told of the glories of the past, to view with awe the imposing piles where their family had kept up state generation after generation, and give them a true desire to live with high ideas of right conduct in their altered circumstances? So it is very illuminating to study deeply the great church epistles, and other parts of God's word, to give, as it were, color to our thoughts, and produce in us a deep desire to be treading the path that God would have us to tread to His glory. How blessed it is that we have the Lord's own company in all this.