THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL , ~ 6
tion to the plain word of God. This is all done to prove that Sun-
day is not a sanctified day. Therefore ye need not keep Sunday.
They don’t stop to think then if he did rise on the first day then
Sunday is the sanctified day and not the Sabbath. Poor basis
indeed for Sabbath keeping. The commandment is sufficient for
any one and that says the seventh day is the Sabbath. Coma
brethren, straighten up. Stand on the commandment alone for
Sabbath keeping. The resurrection sanctifies no day to be kept
as the Sabbath, neither the day of his crucifixion, nor his birthday.
Read our tract written especially on this subject. So we rest for
a time at least.
INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF REVELATION
AS ADDRESSED TO THE CHURCHES.
(Continued from page 3)
there were some, even among the faithful, that had
yielded to the worldly influence in the doctrine of
Balaam, which was polygamy. The Nicolaitanes were
of the same class as the followers of Balaam. The
Lord requires discipline of those in His church, even
under the most trying circumstances, and if this is not
heeded, the judgments of God will surely follow, as
described in this scripture.
“And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These
things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame
of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
“I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and
thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the
first.
“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because
thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a proph-
etess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication,
and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
“And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she
repented not.
“Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit
adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of
their deeds.
“And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches
shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts:
and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
“But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many
as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths
of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
“But that which ye have already hold fast till IT come.
“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the
end, to him will I give power over the nations:
“And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels
of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of
my Father.
“And I will give him the morning star.
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto
the churches.”—Rev. 2:18-29.
This church, the fourth in number, covers the
period from 538 to 1798 A. D. The definition of
Thyatira is the “sweet savor of labor.” Works have
been a strong element of favor in all of these churches;
for, while charity and faith are mentioned with works,
it is said, “The last shall be more than the first.” Not-
withstanding God’s great love and gentleness toward
his people, he calls attention tothe points wherein they
come short. One of the charges against this church
was that they had suffered ‘that woman Jezebel, which
calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce
my servants to commit fornication (unite with the
world), and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” As
a woman is a symbol of a church, this woman Jezebel
is taken to symbolize the apostate church of the
Papacy at this time. The true people had no doubt
suffered the teachers of the apostasy to teach in their
churches, and were influenced by them. Jezebel was
the wife of Ahab in the days of Israel, and was one of
the bitterest persecutors against the prophets of God
that ever lived in the world’s history; hence she fitly
represents this age of the church.
Verses twenty-two and twenty-three threaten the
apostacy by saying: “I will cast her into a bed, and
them that commit adultery with her into great tribula-
tion, except they repent of their deeds. And I will
kill her children with death; and all the churches shall
know that I am he which searcheth the reins and
hearts; and I will give unto every one of you according
to your works.”
While the apostasy of Greek and Roman Catholic-
ism has done her work of death and destruction, she
has not escaped the judgments of God, and the greatest
judgments of all still await her in the near future.
The Lord says to the true ones in this age of the world
that have not known the depths of Satan, “I will put
upon you none other burden.” The church had all
she could carry, without God requiring the strict dis-
cipline which otherwise would have been laid upon
her. God would not mete out to them more than they
could bear, as stated in verses twenty-five to twenty-
eight.
To the church that lived in the second and third
centuries the Lord said, “Hold fast until death,” but
to the church of Thyatira he says, “Hold fast till I
come;” “And I will give him the morning star,” and he
shall rule the nations “with a rod of iron; as the
vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers.”
Whether there will be a people living in the closing
days of this church that will continue to live until
the Lord comes, the reader must judge. One thing
certain, the coming of Christ is now introduced, and
to each church following substantially the same ad-
monition to give: “Hold fast till I come.”
To the Philadelphian church the Lord says, ‘“‘Be-
hold, I come quickly;” unto the Laodiceans, “Behold,
I stand at the door, and knock;” and to the Thyatira
church, the one now being considered, “I will give him
the morning star.” The morning star is the one that
shines so brightly just before the morning light ap-
pears. In the twenty-second chapter of Revelation
we read: “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto
you these things in the churches. I am the root and
the offspring of David, and the bright and morning
star.” Rev. 22:16.
At the close of the Thyatiran period, in 1798, the
“time of the end” begins, as foretold by the prophet
Daniel, who says: “Many shall run to and fro, and
knowledge shall be increased.” This will be con-
sidered, however, in a subsequent chapter, “The Pro-
phetic Church.” Says Daniel, “Knowledge shall be
increased.” John speaks of “the morning star,” while
Peter says, “The day star shall arise in your hearts,”
thus showing that this date would mark a period that
would open up the scriptures regarding the soon-ecom-
ing of the Lord; and the admonition is, “Hold fast till
I come.” The period of this church is also mentioned
by the prophet Daniel, in these words: “And such as
do wickedly against the covenant shall be corrupt by
flatteries; but the people that do know their God shall
be strong, and do exploits. And they that under-
stand among the people shall instruct many; yet they
shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity,
and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall,
they shall be holpen with a little help; but many shall
cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of
understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge,
and to make them white, even to the time of the end;
because it is yet for a time appointed.” Dan. 11
32-35.
"While the Papacy did wickedly against the cov-
enant, and corrupted the people by flatteries and by
outward show, the people who did know their God
were strong, and did exploits, and those that did un-