the acts of the apostles-第111章
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the Lord declares； 〃if any man hear My voice； and open the door； I will come
in to him； and will sup with him； and he with Me。〃 Revelation 3：20。
And for those who in the midst of conflict should
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maintain their faith in God； the prophet was given the words of commendation
and promise： 〃I know thy works： behold； I have set before thee an open door；
and no man can shut it： for thou hast a little strength； and hast kept My
word； and hast not denied My name。〃 〃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。〃 The
believers were admonished： 〃Be watchful； and strengthen the things which
remain； that are ready to die。〃 〃Behold； I come quickly： hold that fast
which thou hast； that no man take thy crown。〃 Verses 8； 10； 2； 11。
It was through one who declared himself to be a 〃brother； and companion in
tribulation〃 （Revelation 1：9）； that Christ revealed to His church the things
that they must suffer for His sake。 Looking down through long centuries of
darkness and superstition； the aged exile saw multitudes suffering martyrdom
because of their love for the truth。 But he saw also that He who sustained
His early witnesses would not forsake His faithful followers during the
centuries of persecution that they must pass through before the close of
time。 〃Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer；〃 the Lord
declared； 〃behold； the devil shall cast some of you into prison； that ye may
be tried； and ye shall have tribulation： 。 。 。 be thou faithful unto death；
and I will give thee a crown of life。〃 Revelation 2：10。
And to all the faithful ones who were striving against evil； John heard the
promises made： 〃To him that
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overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life； which is in the midst of
the Paradise of God。〃 〃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
I will confess his name before My Father； and before His angels。〃 〃To him
that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne； even as I also
overcame； and am set down with My Father in His throne。〃 Verse 7； 3：5； 21。
John saw the mercy； the tenderness； and the love of God blending with His
holiness； justice； and power。 He saw sinners finding a Father in Him of whom
their sins had made them afraid。 And looking beyond the culmination of the
great conflict； he beheld upon Zion 〃them that had gotten the victory 。 。 。
stand on the sea of glass； having the harps of God；〃 and singing 〃the song
of Moses〃 and the Lamb。 Revelation 15：2； 3。
The Saviour is presented before John under the symbols of 〃the Lion of the
tribe of Judah〃 and of 〃a Lamb as it had been slain。〃 Revelation 5：5； 6。
These symbols represent the union of omnipotent power and self…sacrificing
love。 The Lion of Judah； so terrible to the rejectors of His grace； will be
the Lamb of God to the obedient and faithful。 The pillar of fire that speaks
terror and wrath to the transgressor of God's law is a token of light and
mercy and deliverance to those who have kept His commandments。 The arm
strong to smite the rebellious will be strong to deliver the loyal。 Everyone
who is faithful will be saved。 〃He shall send His angels with a great sound
of a trumpet； and they
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shall gather together His elect from the four winds； from one end of heaven
to the other。〃 Matthew 24：31。
In comparison with the millions of the world； God's people will be； as they
have ever been； a little flock； but if they stand for the truth as revealed
in His word； God will be their refuge。 They stand under the broad shield of
Omnipotence。 God is always a majority。 When the sound of the last trump
shall penetrate the prison house of the dead； and the righteous shall come
forth with triumph； exclaiming； 〃O death； where is thy sting？ O grave； where
is thy victory？〃 （1 Corinthians 15：55）standing then with God； with Christ；
with the angels； and with the loyal and true of all ages； the children of
God will be far in the majority。
Christ's true disciples follow Him through sore conflicts； enduring
self…denial and experiencing bitter disappointment； but this teaches them
the guilt and woe of sin； and they are led to look upon it with abhorrence。
Partakers of Christ's sufferings； they are destined to be partakers of His
glory。 In holy vision the prophet saw the ultimate triumph of God's remnant
church。 He writes：
〃I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire： and them that had gotten
the victory 。 。 。 stand on the sea of glass； having the harps of God。 And
they sing the song of Moses the servant of God； and the song of the Lamb；
saying； Great and marvelous are Thy works； Lord God Almighty； just and true
are Thy ways； Thou King of saints。〃 Revelation 15：2； 3。
〃And I looked； and； lo； a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion； and with Him a
hundred forty and four thousand； having
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His Father's name written in their foreheads。〃 Revelation 14：1。 In this
world their minds were consecrated to God； they served Him with the
intellect and with the heart； and now He can place His name 〃in their
foreheads。〃 〃And they shall reign for ever and ever。〃 Revelation 22：5。 They
do not go in and out as those who beg a place。 They are of that number to
whom Christ says； 〃Come； ye blessed of My Father； inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world。〃 He welcomes them as His
children； saying； 〃Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord。〃 Matthew 25：34； 21。
〃These are they which follow the Lamb withersoever He goeth。 These were
redeemed from among men； being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb。〃
Revelation 14：4。 The vision of the prophet pictures them as standing on
Mount Zion； girt for holy service； clothed in white linen； which is the
righteousness of the saints。 But all who follow the Lamb in heaven must
first have followed Him on earth； not fretfully or capriciously； but in
trustful； loving； willing obedience； as the flock follows the shepherd。
〃I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps： and they sung as it
were a new song before the throne： 。。。 and no man could learn that song but
the hundred and forty and four thousand； which were redeemed from the
earth。。。。 In their mouth was found no guile： for they are without fault
before the throne of God。〃 Verses 2…5。
〃And I John saw the Holy City； New Jerusalem； coming down from God out of
heaven； prepared as a bride adorned for her husband。〃 〃Her light was like
unto a stone most
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precious； even like a jasper stone； clear as crystal； and had a wall great
and high； and had twelve gates； and at the gates twelve angels； and names
written thereon； which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of
Israel。〃 〃The twelve gates were twelve pearls； every several gate was of one
pearl： and the street of the city was pure gold； as it were transparent
glass。 And I saw no temple therein： for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb
are the temple of it。〃 Revelation 21：2； 11； 12； 21； 22。
〃And there shall be no more curse： but the throne of God and of the Lamb
shall be in it； and His servants shall serve Him： and they shall see His
face； and His name shall be in their foreheads。 And there shall be no night
there； and they need no candle； neither light of the sun； for the Lord God
giveth them light。〃 Revelation 22：3…5。
〃He showed me a pure river of water of life； clear as crystal； proceeding
out of the throne of God and of the Lamb。 In the midst of the street of it；
and on either side of the river； was there the tree of life； which bare
twelve manner of fruits； and yielded her fruit every month： and the leaves
of the tree were for the healing of the nations。〃 〃Blessed are they that do
His commandments； that they may have right to the tree of life； and may
enter in through the gates into the city。〃 Verses 1； 2； 14。
〃And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying；
〃Behold； the tabernacle of God is with men；
