by John Thiel mp3
We are continuing the revelation of Jesus Christ in the study of the seven churches. We have seen Him in the study of Pergamos (last study) with a church that has been released from pagan persecution.
With no longer being persecuted and having to cry for mercy for the Lord to step in the people began to drift into the joy of being accepted in the world as Gods children and pride, spiritual pride began to take over slowly.
Apostasy slowly developed because paganism and Christianity was joined together under the emperor Constantine. As Jesus is watching His church in Pergamos, He has been revealing His patience for two centuries waiting for this church. There is this sad utterance of Jesus:
Revelation 2:21And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
He gave her space to repent. Only the overcomer out of the period of Pergamos is blessed.
Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
To him that overcometh will I give to eat. The people who overcame out of that period are blessed and that’s where I’d like us to pick up our meditation into the church of Thyatira because who were they that were the overcomers out of this period? Who were they? Does history describe who they were? The overcome who came out of this period and continued as Gods faithful church in the period of Thyatira.
In lands beyond the jurisdiction of Rome there existed for many centuries bodies of Christians who remained almost wholly free from papal corruption. They were surrounded by heathenism and in the lapse of ages were affected by its errors; but they continued to regard the Bible as the only rule of faith and adhered to many of its truths. These Christians believed in the perpetuity of the law of God and observed the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Churches that held to this faith and practice existed in Central Africa and among the Armenians of Asia. GC 63.1
Did you know that Ethiopia continued to keep the sabbath, the Ethiopian Christian church, right up to the 11th century when the Papacy finally found them? Armenia was a very important country too.
“In the sixth century, several connected groups evangelized in Armenia and Asia Minor. Their groups were called: Melchezedecs, Athingani, Paulicians, Tetraditoi, and Bogomils. Some of these believers were Sabbatarians; they were also iconoclasts. Iconoclasts were those that did not believe in using images or idols in the worship of God. This was a heavily debated subject in the 6th through 9th centuries in the Eastern Roman Empire. Here are some quotes from historians about them.” https://sabbathsentinel.org/2017/10/24/sabbath-keepers-in-armenia-and-asia-minor-part-1/
Some of these believers were Sabbatarians; they were also iconoclasts. Iconoclasts were those that did not believe in using images or idols in the worship of God. This was a heavily debated subject in the 6th through 9th centuries in the Eastern Roman Empire. Here are some quotes from historians about them.
But of those who resisted the encroachments of the papal power, the Waldenses stood foremost. GC 64.1
Who were the overcomers of Pergamos? These places who continued faithfully and the Waldenses stood foremost. This remnant out of Pergamos that continued out of Gods faithful church.
In the very land where popery had fixed its seat, there its falsehood and corruption were most steadfastly resisted. For centuries the churches of Piedmont maintained their independence; but the time came at last when Rome insisted upon their submission. GC 64.1
Some of those churches began to crumble to the demands of the church but it says:
There were some, however, who refused to yield to the authority of pope or prelate. They were determined to maintain their allegiance to God and to preserve the purity and simplicity of their faith. A separation took place. Those who adhered to the ancient faith now withdrew; some, forsaking their native Alps, raised the banner of truth in foreign lands; others retreated to the secluded glens and rocky fastnesses of the mountains, and there preserved their freedom to worship God. GC 64.1
The Waldenses
Did you notice although they were there in the Piedmont area, they decided to remain loyal and they spread into other countries as well. The Waldenses we will highlight as we proceed. They were the true church of God in the Thyatira period.
In Great Britain, primitive Christianity had very early taken root. GC88 62.2
Primitive Christianity not complicated by the papal developments in Pergamos.
The gospel received by the Britons in the first centuries, was then uncorrupted by Romish apostasy. Persecution from pagan emperors, which extended even to these far-off shores, was the only gift that the first churches of Britain received from Rome. Many of the Christians, fleeing from persecution in England, found refuge in Scotland; thence the truth was carried to Ireland, and in all these countries it was received with gladness. GC88 62.2
When the Saxons invaded Britain, heathenism gained control. The conquerors disdained to be instructed by their slaves, and the Christians were forced to retreat to the mountains and the wild moors. Yet the light, hidden for a time, continued to burn. In Scotland, a century later, it shone out with a brightness that extended to far-distant lands. From Ireland came the pious Columba and his colaborers, who, gathering about them the scattered believers on the lonely island of Iona, made this the center of their missionary labors. Among these evangelists was an observer of the Bible Sabbath, and thus this truth was introduced among the people. A school was established at Iona, from which missionaries went out, not only to Scotland and England, but to Germany, Switzerland, and even Italy. GC88 62.3
Here is the history of those that overcame from Pergamos and continued as Gods faithful church. The Waldenses, Colomba, Huguenots; these were the most noted people that were revealed. It is here that we come to the message of Jesus to Thyatira. This is the church, the Waldenses, the faithful ones who continued to hold the primitive message of the early Christiaan church.
Revelation 2:18 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; 19 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. 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Jesus is speaking to the people who came out of the falsehood of Pergamos who had developed over those two centuries.
538 AD and the 1260 years
This period of Thyatira spans from 538AD when the pope had his full control over Europe through to 1798. 1260 years. If you know your prophetic times, you will identify in the book of Revelation just that amount of years.
One day = one year in prophecy.
Revelation 11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth
The two witnesses are the Old and New Testament. 1260 days, one day equals a year and there is the exact period of time when the pope had full control from 538 AD when he was taken prisoner by Napoleon armies in 1798.
In verse two it said they will tread under foot Gods people forty and two months. If you work out the days in 42 months, it’s 1260 days. It’s the same period they were trodden underfoot.
The woman, the church had to flee from Satan’s wiles.
Revelation 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
A time = one year times two and a half equals three and a half years is 1260 days. It’s repeated many times. One more time:
Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
The Bible in Revelation is showing us, the exact not only events that are happening but the dates and the times. This period is Thyatira in which Gods church, His pure church is addressed.
I Know thy Works and the Last to be More than the First
Revelation 2:19 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.
What does Jesus mean with that? Thy works, the last are to be more than the first. It’s 1260 years, twelve and a half centuries and there is a work that this church is doing over this long period of time having to deal with what He is revealing to them. As they are working, they are beginning the work. The Waldenses were beginning the work, and it spans right up to 1798 and He says the last is more than the first.
Let us look at the works of the Waldenses. Let us look at that history. We are being taught by modern Christianity today; do not worry about works, just concentrate on Jesus. We are going to see Jesus if we concentrate on Him, He pays attention to the works.
The Waldenses had sacrificed their worldly prosperity for the truth’s sake, GC 67.3
This is Gods church. What were they doing? They were sacrificing their worldly prosperity for the truth’s sake.
…and with persevering patience they toiled for their bread. Every spot of tillable land among the mountains was carefully improved; the valleys and the less fertile hillsides were made to yield their increase. GC 67.3
What was their works? They had to go and leave their comfortable homes and go into the wilderness to work, to provide their food as they had to be careful as they were going to be persecuted. They would be toiling for their bread.
Economy and severe self-denial formed a part of the education which the children received as their only legacy. They were taught that God designs life to be a discipline, and that their wants could be supplied only by personal labor, by forethought, care, and faith. The process was laborious and wearisome, GC 67.3
Children, do you like that? The children of the Waldenses had to labour and to persevere through difficulties producing their living as they had to keep hiding away from the papacy in those mountainous regions. It was discipline, personal labour, laboriousness.
What did Jesus say? I know your works. What were the works? For the truth’s sake; they were doing this. Many times people disassociate the labour of producing for your upkeep, they dissociate from the works of the gospel. But according to what we are seeing, it goes hand in hand.
The process was laborious and wearisome, but it was wholesome, just what man needs in his fallen state, the school which God has provided for his training and development. While the youth were inured to toil and hardship, the culture of the intellect was not neglected. They were taught that all their powers belonged to God, and that all were to be improved and developed for His service. GC 67.3
The danger is that we dissociate hard physical labour form gospel work. This is demonstrated in the church of Jesus Christ in the Thyatira period where they are taught that all their powers belong to God and that all were to be improved for His service. I can testify to you how true this is as the Lord taught me the same lesson, that you do faithfully the labour of sustaining yourself and then when you understand that, then you can do my work for me. That was such an important lesson for me to learn. I can testify; this is Gods churches way.
By patient, untiring labor, sometimes in the deep, dark caverns of the earth, by the light of torches, the Sacred Scriptures were written out, verse by verse, chapter by chapter. Thus the work went on, the revealed will of God shining out like pure gold; how much brighter, clearer, and more powerful because of the trials undergone for its sake only those could realize who were engaged in the work. Angels from heaven surrounded these faithful workers. GC 69.1
What did Jesus say? I know your works, your patience. They were labouring to sustain their life and labouring with the word of God together. This is Gods church. Their intellect was being exercised and they laboured hard to make sure that the sacred scriptures were written out as remember the papal church prevented the people from reading it in their language. They wrote it out and kept going. That was Gods church; labouring.
The persecutions visited for many centuries upon this God-fearing people were endured by them with a patience and constancy that honored their Redeemer. Revelation 1:9. GC 78.1
Are you picking up this church of Jesus Christ? Jesus the head of this church. That is what life is for a faithful church. God fearing, they endured with patience the persecution. They laboured in discipline to keep their needs up. They laboured and worked in sustaining the pure truth and they were prepared to suffer persecution included in all that. Can you pick something up here in reference to us today how we are spoilt by easy living? Just imagine yourself out there, this is Gods church working, labouring and Jesus is commending them.
Notwithstanding the crusades against them, and the inhuman butchery to which they were subjected, they continued to send out their missionaries to scatter the precious truth. They were hunted to death; yet their blood watered the seed sown, and it failed not of yielding fruit. Thus the Waldenses witnessed for God centuries before the birth of Luther. Scattered over many lands, they planted the seeds of the Reformation that began in the time of Wycliffe, grew broad and deep in the days of Luther, and is to be carried forward to the close of time by those who also are willing to suffer all things for “the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 1:9. GC 78.1
The Waldenses Did the Groundwork
To suffer all things. We have just seen what the Waldenses did. Did you notice that these Waldenses, what did Jesus say? Your works that the latter will be greater than the former. The works that they did, paved the way for John Wycliffe, Martin Luther and other reformers which turned the tide totally against the papacy and released the world from Papal domination. That was the greater part at the end, the latter end, than the first end, the first beginning. The Waldenses did the groundwork and the reformers were influenced and finished the job. That’s what Jesus meant. The latter being greater than the former.
The Lord showed me to understand what the church of God really is like; the pure church of Jesus Christ. We have seen it in the Waldenses. Children don’t ever think that hard work isn’t part of being a gospel Christian. The hard work is part of it. Discipline, wearisomeness, don’t ever get bored with it. Boredom does not belong to the church of Christ; never. Lots of people are bored with these hard things; stick with it.
The Waldenses went to school under cover.
In the schools whither they went, they were not to make confidants of any. Their garments were so prepared as to conceal their greatest treasure—the precious manuscripts of the Scriptures. These, the fruit of months and years of toil, they carried with them, and whenever they could do so without exciting suspicion, they cautiously placed some portion in the way of those whose hearts seemed open to receive the truth. From their mother’s knee the Waldensian youth had been trained with this purpose in view; they understood their work and faithfully performed it. Converts to the true faith were won in these institutions of learning, and frequently its principles were found to be permeating the entire school; yet the papal leaders could not, by the closest inquiry, trace the so-called corrupting heresy to its source. GC 70.1
I love studying this don’t you? Don’t you see something here we have to be intelligent, wise, work under cover if we are Gods church? We have to learn this now because as trouble comes our way, if you an astute person, you’ve learnt it, did you notice where they learnt it from? From their mothers knee. Such important meditation.
To have made known the object of their mission would have ensured its defeat; therefore they carefully concealed their real character. GC 71.1
They couldn’t make it known. They had to work under cover/under the radar. How important that is. I know the experience, working under the radar. If they opened up too much, what would happen? It would ensure its defeat.
Every minister possessed a knowledge of some trade or profession, and the missionaries prosecuted their work under cover of a secular calling. Usually they chose that of merchant or peddler. “They carried silks, jewelry, and other articles, at that time not easily purchasable save at distant marts; and they were welcomed as merchants where they would have been spurned as missionaries.”—Wylie, b. 1, ch. 7. GC 71.1
Powerful. I still remember when were in the International Missionary society SDARM church, Br Cholich went into China as a merchant, and he managed to spread the message there. They accepted him as a merchant, as a business man. This is what the church carries on to do.
All the while their hearts were uplifted to God for wisdom to present a treasure more precious than gold or gems. They secretly carried about with them copies of the Bible, in whole or in part; and whenever an opportunity was presented, they called the attention of their customers to these manuscripts. Often an interest to read God’s word was thus awakened, and some portion was gladly left with those who desired to receive it. GC 71.1
That was the groundwork of the church of Thyatira. Are you picking up Gods true church? This is the church that we are members of, did you know that? Notice something. Remember we read that the latter will be more powerful than the former.
The persecutions visited for many centuries upon this God-fearing people were endured by them with a patience and constancy…. GC 78.1
They were hunted to death; yet their blood watered the seed sown, and it failed not of yielding fruit. Thus the Waldenses witnessed for God centuries before the birth of Luther. Scattered over many lands, they planted the seeds of the Reformation that began in the time of Wycliffe, grew broad and deep in the days of Luther, and is to be carried forward to the close of time…GC 78.1
Your works will get stronger in the latter end of this period and that’s where the other members of the church came into the forefront. Wycliffe, Martin Luther and all those other reformers. You know what John Wycliffe was called? The Morning Star of the Reformation.
Where did he get his support from? The Waldenses had infiltrated the Catholic church in this powerful way. From the 15th century, the great reformation accelerated and finally broke the power of the papacy. Here is Gods church from 538AD to 1798AD.
Now we come to something that Jesus was saying that He had against this church. Follow carefully as we have just highlighted the pure church of Christ. What did Jesus mean as we come to Revelation 2:20?
A Few Things Against Thee
Revelation 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
I have a few things against thee. Why did Jesus have something against this wonderful people?
For centuries the churches of Piedmont maintained their independence; but the time came at last when Rome insisted upon their submission. GC 64.1
They were free to worship but Rome now was insisting, pressing upon them.
After ineffectual struggles against her tyranny, the leaders of these churches reluctantly acknowledged the supremacy of the power to which the whole world seemed to pay homage. GC 64.1
The leaders of the Waldensean churches crumbled; the leaders. Reluctantly acknowledged the supremacy and power to which the whole world paid homage. The whole world was surrounding them and a lot of these ministers and leaders of the Waldensean churches were now under pressure. As they submitted and paid homage:
There were some, however, who refused to yield to the authority of pope or prelate. TGC 64.1
This is what Jesus was talking about. You Waldensean church of mine, I have something against some of you. You are permitting them to reach in your churches, you are permitting them to partake of the falsehoods that the papal church was pressing upon you.
Exclusive Listening
I have this against you that you are permitting her Jezebel, the corrupt church to teach you. You are permitting yourself to be influenced by them speaking to and teaching you. Do you observe something here about Jesus Christ? He is calling upon what? He is calling for exclusive listening. That’s what He’s calling for. You are having Jezebel teaching you; that false prophet. Don’t be under her influences, don’t listen to her. Exclusive listening. Listen to what Jesus said in regard to us in the last days. As they were listening to this jezebel they were being influenced, they were being crumbling under this kind of thing. Here we have as to what Jesus refers to as the faithful, wise servant and the unfaithful servant.
Matthew 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
That is what you read of the church of Thyatira that Jezebel and all her influences will finally destroy them. Notice what this servant does, this evil servant, he not only smites his fellow servant, but he eats and drinks with the drunken.
What is the wine of Babylon? False doctrine. She made them drunk with the wine of Babylon. Jesus is saying, be exclusive as to who you are listening to. Let the testimony of Jesus really speak to us here. We are not aware if we are listening to those who are confused on some doctrines, that confusion will affect you.
The world is full of men and women who cherish deceptive theories, and it is dangerous to listen to them…. UL 75.5
Are you hearing Jesus? It is dangerous to listen to those who are communicating deceptive theories. Here is the testimony of Jesus; exclusive listening.
The different parties of professed Advent believers have each a little truth, but God has given all these truths to His children who are being prepared for the day of God. He has also given them truths that none of these parties know, neither will they understand. Things which are sealed up to them, the Lord has opened to those who will see and are ready to understand. If God has any new light to communicate, He will let His chosen and beloved understand it, without their going to have their minds enlightened by hearing those who are in darkness and error. EW 124.2
I was shown the necessity of those who believe that we are having the last message of mercy, being separate from those who are daily imbibing new errors. EW 124.3
If you are a careful watchperson which I have watched very closely over the years, you can hear oh yes, this is encouraging, this is good news and all of a sudden comes in error. We are to be exclusive hearers. Don’t listen to those who are imbibing error as if you are not fully aware of all the truth and you are thinking wow what they are sharing is truth, and they talk about pioneer truth.
The Godhead
Just one example. There is a company of Seventh Day Adventists who are not part of the conference church who are making a very astute revelation that trinity or the Godhead doctrine of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, they very capably bring in beautiful subjects of the 1888 message, I’ve watched them closely as I’m trying to help others not get caught up by them. they make it look so good. They use pioneer statements when the pioneers were still developing their understanding of the Godhead. They rejected the trinitarian doctrine which was a catholic doctrine, as they rejected that, they slowly discovered the pure truth as they were still in development.
These capable preachers will make it appear to you that the original Seventh day Adventist belief is that there was only the Father as God. Jesus was the Son of God, the Holy Spirit was the spirit of the Father and the Son wasn’t a person. That is what they teach. If you are not alert and you are listening to these very capable preachers error, that will affect you. You can’t avoid it. That is what happened to the Waldenses when they were under the teaching of smart theologians of their time.
If God has delivered us from such darkness and error, we should stand fast in the liberty wherewith He has set us free and rejoice in the truth. God is displeased with us when we go to listen to error, without being obliged to go; for unless He sends us to those meetings where error is forced home to the people by the power of the will, He will not keep us. EW 124.3
Oh to read these statements and take them for real, He will not keep us.
The angels cease their watchful care over us, and we are left to the buffetings of the enemy, to be darkened and weakened by him and the power of his evil angels; and the light around us becomes contaminated with the darkness. EW 124.3
These are the words of Jesus. It’s not my words but I’m letting you know that these are so real to us today, we are to be selective in regard to where we will listen for the truth. What I just read to you, isn’t that what happened to the Waldenses? They were permitting these falsehoods to infiltrate and therefore, they crumbled. That’s what Jesus had against them. You are permitting, you are listening to Jezebel. You are listening to error. Don’t.
As we were listening to the highlighting of the experience of the Waldenses, Columba, Huguenots etc. for twelve and half centuries, this faithful church was burdened with the opposition and the persecution. You know the stories how they had to flee into the mountains more and more and the detail of their attacks. The slaughter and blood bath, we don’t need to go into the details that people often do.
50 million was a small estimate of the number of martyrs the Catholic church martyred. What kept them to not become totally overwhelmed with this terrible blood bath for them to continue patiently in spite of it?
John the Baptist
Have you ever thought why Jesus didn’t get John the Baptist out of prison? Why did he leave him there? Why didn’t he go and encourage him? What was all that about?
Jesus did not interpose to deliver His servant. He knew that John would bear the test. Gladly would the Saviour have come to John, to brighten the dungeon gloom with His own presence. But He was not to place Himself in the hands of enemies and imperil His own mission. Gladly would He have delivered His faithful servant. But for the sake of thousands who in after years must pass from prison to death, John was to drink the cup of martyrdom. As the followers of Jesus should languish in lonely cells, or perish by the sword, the rack, or the fagot, apparently forsaken by God and man, what a stay to their hearts would be the thought that John the Baptist, to whose faithfulness Christ Himself had borne witness, had passed through a similar experience! DA 224.2
What encouraged them? Jesus promoted John the Baptist but John the Baptist was left in prison to be beheaded. “It doesn’t matter if we, as Jesus will also.” I will be sweet smelling contrition. Contrition of sacrifice. A sweet smelling savour. They realised yes, John the Baptist. Jesus was crucified as well. That helped them. Observe Jesus care for them. He knows they are going through this terrible persecution. He says, I know you’re burdened and some of your friends have gone aside, imagine how they felt. Their ministers were capitulating to the papacy. Imagine what Jesus would say. All those centuries of agony.
Revelation 2:24 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. 25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
Jesus is speaking to these souls who are under such terrible burdern. Their relatives slaughtered, thousands of them slaughtered in the caves. Hold fast till I come. You are my people; you are my church. Hold fast till I come. What is Jesus saying here that he impressed apostle Paul to say? They knew their Bibles. They knew what Jesus meant here.
2 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
Jesus is not going to come until all the papacy is going to be revealed and then when its’ fully revealed after that. When Jesus says to them, hold fast till I come, they knew what He meant. Oh we have to go through this period of time, hold fast. After the declension, the demise of the papal church totally revealed, then I will come. Hold fast till I come. This is all intelligent communication from Jesus. This illudes to the statement, occupy until I come. When is the beginning of the end? When is the beginning of the time of the end? 1798 isn’t it? That’s the date of the beginning of the end. Then came 1844 and then the preparation of the coming of Christ.
Have we come to appreciate the nature of Christ’s church that we are to be members of? As I went through all these beautiful declarations and statements, this is Christ’s church. Are you in tune with them? This is Christ’s church? Laboursome. Suffering under persecution. Paying no attention to the negatives. None at all. Concentrating on the high calling. Will we in these last days be as fastidious as they? To take up the work with equal tenacity as they did if we are Gods church. If we are members of Gods church, this is what we are to learn from that story.
The enemy of righteousness left nothing undone in his effort to stop the work committed to the Lord’s builders. But God “left not Himself without witness.” Acts 14:17. Workers were raised up who ably defended the faith once delivered to the saints. AA 598.1
That’s Gods church. That’s what the Waldenses were doing against all opposition.
History bears record to the fortitude and heroism of these men. Like the apostles, many of them fell at their post, but the building of the temple went steadily forward. The workmen were slain, but the work advanced. The Waldenses, John Wycliffe, Huss and Jerome, Martin Luther and Zwingli, Cranmer, Latimer, and Knox, the Huguenots, John and Charles Wesley, and a host of others brought to the foundation material that will endure throughout eternity. And in later years those who have so nobly endeavored to promote the circulation of God’s word, and those who by their service in heathen lands have prepared the way for the proclamation of the last great message—these also have helped to rear the structure. AA 598.1
We are part of a structure if we are part of Gods true church. We are part of a system of truth that was carefully nurtured throughout history.
“The church in the wilderness,” and not the proud hierarchy enthroned in the world’s great capital, was the true church of Christ, the guardian of the treasures of truth which God has committed to His people to be given to the world. GC 64.2
They contended for the faith of the apostolic church, the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Brethren and sisters that’s what this ministry is about. Let us rally for the wonderful example of these hero’s of the past and join them.
Amen.
