Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1903-02-18


and white raiment. that thou mayest be
clothed. and that the shame OF thy naked
ness do not appear, and anoint thine eyes
with eyesalve. that thou maye see'-liev
3:lS.
Text Sctting.-This text, from
which the Lord may be pleased 10
teach us Ills truth and the certainty
with which He operates, is taken
from the wonderful revelation of
Jesus Christ given To His beloved
disciple John, as he communcd in the
Spirit on the Isle of Patmos on the
Lords Day. 1t is part Of the message
to the church at Laodicca. one Of the
seven churches To whom a last solemn
warning and admonition was sent. Itis
the commonly accepted view of Bible
SCHOLARS and commentators that.
while the churches addressed had an
actual existence and the several mes
sagcs had their direct application I"
the special needs of the churches at
that time, stIll il was the intention
and purpose of God that these let
tiers should have a wider and general
application to the church of Jesus
Christ during the Gospel diSpcnsa-
ton. until its taking mp as the bride
of Christ. Johns prophetic vision il
separated by the Spirit, Who dictated
its writing, into two divisions: The
things which are" and The things
which shall bc hereafter"
There is much difference az opiE-
ion among Bible students as to in
depreciation, some holding that tile
things which are" imply the present
state of things in the churches when
John was writing, as represented in
chapters and ,; and that The
things which shall he hereafter" are
the things symbolically represented
. concerning the future history of the
churches, aS set forth in chapters
tn -; while others believe that
"Thc things which arc" marks the
present period of the church in the
world to the time of the coming of
Christ in the glory aud clouds of
Heaven to receive His bride. ihc
church, as it is taken out of the
world to meet Him i'm the air. and
"Thc things which shall hc hercaft-
CT" are the things set forth from
the fourth chapter to The end of the
Revelation, and describe what Will
take place in the world after the
church has asccndcd to be with is
Lord.
This latter opinion is gaining
ground among the most dev"ut and
spiritual Bible scholars. and Certain-
~ gives increased interest and force
TO the message to tho seven churches,
and brings our text into living touch
with present conditions and needs.
for while we may always learn help
full spiritual lessons from texts
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