6 THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL
Es
in the time of the Reformation and yet they fell by
the sword and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil many
days. This was their experience till the time of the
derstand instructed many. This was literally fulfilled
Reformation. Then they were ‘“holpen with a little
help;” but many clung to the Reformation with
flatteries, unconverted. It is the mixed multitude that
ever join themselves to the true believers that add to
the difficulties, and so it is brought to view here in
Daniel’s prophecies; and, as a result of this, they
were again visited by the scourge. “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.” The prophetic
period of twelve hundred and sixty days had definitely
pointed to 1798 as the beginning of the time of the
end. There was a brief period of persecution follow-
ing the Reformation, that fulfilled this part of the
prophecy.
“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things
saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars;
I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and
art dead.
“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that
are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before
od.
“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and
hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will
come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will
come upon thee.
“Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled
their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they
- are worthy.
_ “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white
raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life,
but 1 will confess his name before my Father, and before his
angels.
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto
the churches.”—Rev. 3:1-1. :
This scripture has its prophetic application from
the commencement of the time of the end, in 1798 to
1918. The rebuke to this church is, “Thou hast a
name that thou livest, and art dead.” Following all
reforms, as before stated, a reaction is the next thing
in order. It was true in the days of the apostles; it
was true in all the history of Israel; it was true after
the death of Moses and Joshua, after the days of Noah
and Abraham, and after every other period of reform
in the history of the world; so here again the church
which is now known as Protestantism merely exists
in name and form, but really is dead. Yet, says the
prophet, there are some that are still faithful. The
admonition is: ‘Be watchful, and strengthen the things
which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not
found thy works perfect before God. Remember
therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold
fast, and repent.”
The church of this period had received great light
through the men God had raised up, and especially
during this period knowledge was to increase; but
this knowledge was not appreciated by the masses.
Worldliness and pride had crept in, and the Lord was
forsaken by them. “Thou hast a few names even in
Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and
they shall walk with me in white.” Yes, there are a
few, as compared with the great masses, that are
always true to the truth of God. A new thought is
here introduced: “I will not blot out his name out of
the book of life;” I will confess thy name “before my
Father, and before his angels.” .
The blotting out of the names from the book of
life are to come in the history of this church. Peter
said, “Repent that your sins may be blotted out when
Se ——— SEAT
the times of refreshing comes from the Lord, and he
will send Jesus unto you which before was preached
unto you.” Thus again in this history we are brought
face to face with the closing events of the world and
the coming of Christ. It is not our intention in the
giving of dates to establish a definite date as to vhen
each church began and ended, so much as it is to
follow the general history of the church. For it is
clear to our mind that more than one of the last
churches live co-temporary and at the same time. To
be clothed with white raiment is to pass the period
when all cases are decided and those who are to be
saved and are counted righteous for eternity. Their
names are confessed before the Father and the angels
as being entitled to eternal life. Thus they receive
the wedding garment and that entitles them to the
marriage of the Lamb and the marriage supper when
Christ will serve them.
_ “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These
things saith he thac is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key
of avid, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and
no man openeth;
“l know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open
door, and no man can shut it: tor thou hast a little strength, and
hast not denied my name.
“Behold, 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. .
“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will
keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all
the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that
no man take thy crown.
“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of
my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him
the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which
is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my
God: and I will write upon him my new name.
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto
the churches.”—Rev. 3:7-13.
There is much that could be said about this
Church. Christ in his address to this church says, “He
that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of
David, he that shutteth and no man openeth, he that
openeth and no man shutteth.” Thus he shows him-
self to be absolutely the one and the only one to look
to in this time of need for that which is absolutely
right and true to his church. He further says, “I know
thy works.” Like all other of the churches it is the
works that determine our standing before God.
Of every one of the entire seven Christ says, “I
know thy works.” He does not say, I know how well
you can talk in meeting. Neither what faith you have
in the gift of tongues, nor the gift of healing, nor sore
experience you had while you were being converted
many years ago. But itis works. James says, “Show
me your faith without your works and I will show you
my faith by my works.” It is by works that faith is
made perfect.
The religion of this day is such a shame palmed
off for religion. Philadelphia means brotherly love.
It says of this church, they have a little strength and
have kept the word of his patience. Verse nine shows
there is a great apostacy during the history
of the Philadelphia church. Yet there are some few
in that age that have kept his word. Many synagogues