2 Peter
General
Written about the close of the first century, and probably had not been
widely circulated among the Christian congregations at that time. R1145:6
There is a touching tenderness in
the epistle of the aged Apostle Peter to the household of faith, showing that,
while he realized that the time of his departure was drawing nigh, his
solicitude for the growth and development of the Church was increasing.
Accordingly, he writes two general epistles, not so much to advance new truth,
as to call to remembrance truths already learned and fully received, and to
counsel all to faithfulness and to growth in grace and in the knowledge of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. R3215:1
In this epistle the
Apostle is urging upon the whole Church the importance of developing the fruits
of the holy Spirit. Then he reminds them of the vision of the coming Kingdom
which he himself and St. James and St. John saw in the holy mount. He points out
the need that careful attention be given to the study of prophecy. He warns
them of the false teachers who will be manifested among them. He reminds them
of the condemnation and overthrow that came to the angels who turned from
obedience to God, of the catastrophe that befell Sodom and Gomorrah because of
their corruption, of the destruction of the ungodly in the Deluge, of the
perverse and wicked course of Balaam the prophet, and its consequences. Then he
charges that some of them were following his course, and next he discussed the
fact that things will not always continue as they have been; that evil shall
not always triumph; but that a great change impends, which will be the
introduction of a new feature of the divine plan; namely, the establishment of
God's Kingdom upon earth. R5863:3
2 Peter 1
2 Peter 1:1
Verses 1-13 give a divine
explanation of how the holy Spirit will manifest itself and the qualities,
therefore, that are to be looked for in the servants of the Church. R2446:5
An apostle -- One of the twelve. R1283:1*
Precious faith -- "The faith which was once delivered unto the
saints." (Jude 3) This is not the faith promulgated by the Higher Critics.
R2137:1
With us -- The apostles. R2136:3
The righteousness -- The true foundation upon which we should build--faith that
Christ's sacrifice for sin was once for all. R2137:2
God and our Saviour -- Our Lord and Savior (Sinaitic manuscript). R2136:3
2 Peter 1:2
Grace and peace -- As we grow in grace, we will grow in peace. R2137:3
The majority of Christians lack a
knowledge of the things which are necessary to preserve to them the grace and
peace found through their primary faith in the Lord as their Redeemer; and lack
a sufficiency of knowledge to multiply these. R2136:6
Be multiplied -- If our hearts leaped for joy when we realized the first
droppings of grace and peace, how should our songs abound now, with the
increasing evidences of divine favor--with this multiplication now experienced.
R1531:6
Such should be the experience of
all who have obtained like precious faith with him. This increase of blessing
should come through an increasing knowledge. R1532:1
Few know anything about the
multiplication which the Apostle mentions. R2136:6
You -- Those who are already justified through faith in the
precious blood of Christ. R2136:3
Through -- The Lord's grace comes unto us through the knowledge of
God. NS506:4
Knowledge of God -- Intimate acquaintance with him, his character and the
divine plan, gained through the study of his Word. "This is life eternal;
that they might know thee, the only true God." (John 17:3) R2137:3,
2138:5; A346
The source of the Christian's
strength. A346
The influence of this knowledge
and fellowship with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, reacts upon our own
hearts, and has a cleansing and sanctifying effect. R2137:4
The knowledge of the truth is the
sanctifying power, the peace-and-joy-imparting power, and the evidence of
divine grace and favor. R1532:1
There is to be a progress in the
life begun which will continue as long as we are "in this
tabernacle." R2136:3
"Sanctify them through thy
truth: thy Word is truth." (John 17:17) R200:5, 1532:1
2 Peter 1:3
Divine -- Greek, ho Theios, the Deity. E71
Things that pertain -- We shall be able to grace and fill whatever station we
occupy in life--if we carefully study and copy godliness. R4809:2, 1114:4
Life and godliness -- God and life and godliness (Sinaitic manuscript). R2136:6
Knowledge of him -- Gained through the study of his precious Word with
reverence and diligence, through the personal application of the principles of
that Word in every day life and through prayer and communion with God. R1532:2
It is not only an intellectual
knowledge of his great and loving plan: it includes also a personal
acquaintance with God, a heart to heart communion and fellowship with him; a
common interest and cooperation. R1532:2
Called us -- God requires certain conditions of those who will run in
the race. R5081:3
Guilty sinners are not invited nor
desired in the Kingdom. All repentant believers are called or invited to
consecrate themselves to the Lord. R2941:2, 3281:1
To glory -- By his own glory (Sinaitic manuscript). R2136:3
"Out of the darkness into his
marvelous light." (1 Pet. 2:9) F90
One must manifest to God that he
has a strong will and firm determination, and that he has cut off everything in
life in order to win the prize. R5081:4
Virtue -- Excellence. R2941:2
God requires that none be proud,
but that they possess humility. He will have no one in the Kingdom of his elect
who is weak, vacillating, so far as his mind is concerned. We must demonstrate
our loyalty to God. R5081:3
2 Peter 1:4
Are given unto us -- The joint-sacrificers. E146; R5596:6, 905:4
The Church. R5596:6, 5371:2,
4218:6, 2138:3; E146, 455
Regenerates; new creatures.
OV379:2
The Christ, Head and Body.
R4072:1, 297:5
These are not given to inspire
thankfulness and consecration, for they are given only to the consecrated to
strengthen and nerve us and to enable us to "overcome" in fulfillment
of our covenant of consecration. R2723:1; OV290:3
Who enter the harvest work before
the door is shut. C212, 220
Jesus never neglected his own
spiritual needs; for the development of himself as a new creature was his first
obligation--as it is our first consideration. SM638:T
Exceeding great -- Heavenly instead of earthly, as made to the Jewish house.
B207; R329:6; NS64:6
It is proper for the Lord's people
to accept these great things with that simplicity which the Scriptures tell us
is best illustrated in a "little child"--"nothing
doubting." HG449:1
If our fellowmen are willing to
endure great hardships for the trivial rewards that are theirs, what should we
be willing to endure who thoroughly believe in the things which God has in
reservation for the faithful? NS455:4
Precious promises -- Of God's Word. HG446:3; NS587:3; SM342:1
The Word. R1491:1
The words of eternal life spoken
by Jesus. R3795:5
Of a share with Jesus in the
divine nature and glory, honor and immortality. OV290:4; T65; R5580:4, 2138:1;
CR252:5; HG366:6; Q39:T, 140:3
Which relate to the life which now
is and also to that which is to come; which sustain and strengthen. R5806:2
These promises working in us to will and to do God's good
pleasure--sanctification. Q453:2; R5126:6
Shining out as helps by the way,
in letters of light. R2138:5
Incentives to our invitation to
sacrifice and self-denial. R2940:6
God has provided these to us to be
stimulated, strengthened, developed, thereby becoming more firm for
righteousness and in opposition to whatever is sinful. SM342:1
The new creature is made strong by
these in proportion as he perceives the significance of them and feeds on them.
R5889:3, 4984:1
They are unfolded to us gradually,
as we prove faithful and go on. C220; R1112:5
These hopes and promises are so
glorious that all earthly things fade into insignificance in comparison with
them. NS270:6
There is nothing that compares
with them. The more we know of the plan and of the privileges which we may have
in it, the more we are enthused. OV425:4
No greater stimulus can be found
than these. R4929:4
So many and so precious that it is
difficult to know which would rank first--perhaps 1 John 3:2. R2138:5 To
whatever extent we are able to grasp the meaning of these wonderful promises,
they speak to us of blessings, favors, "exceedingly, abundantly more than
we could ask or think." (Eph. 3:20) SM532:1
It is when the Lord's servants get
a glimpse of these promises that have to do with the coming eternity, that they
begin to realize in true measure the love of God shed abroad in their hearts.
CR16:1
When trials arise--call to mind
these precious promises, remembering they belong to you. R5425:5
They inspire hope and courage,
urging us to greater faithfulness. CR215:1; R1698:6; OV290:3
By the use of these we may make
our calling and election sure. R4665:6
These are the begetting power that
enters into our hearts and that the Lord uses through his holy Spirit to work
in us to will and to do his good pleasure. Q39:T
The consecrated Christian has
heard these, but not the worldly class. SM388:2
The Lord will not disregard his
promises; he will do all that he has said. R5698:5
Our faith must properly grasp
these or our hearts will not be moved by the message of God's grace and our
prospects of becoming kings and priests in the Kingdom. HG446:3
The Church's share in the
Abrahamic Covenant. R3207:3
"Ye brethren, as Isaac was,
are children of the promise." (Gal. 4:28) or Sarah covenant. R777:4; E105
That by these -- Whereby--by obedience to the call and its requirements.
A222; R271:5
The ambitions inspired by these
are holy ambitions. E257
By the strength and courage which
they infuse. C220; R1112:5, 1859:6
No greater stimulus to true
godliness can be found. R2228:6
They were given to us to the
intent that they should operate in our minds so as to influence our lives in
harmony with the divine will. HG446:6
The strength and encouragement
which they would afford us, as they did Jesus, to be "obedient even unto
death." (Phil. 2:8) R297:4
These promises working in you,
inspiring, inciting you, and showing you the course. CR335:1; R5250:4; Q316:5
Through the operation of these on
our minds and hearts, our course of life should be changed from grace to grace,
from knowledge to knowledge, and from glory to glory. CR34:5
When the present testing time is
ended, all the faithful, those who stand the trial, will be changed from
earthly to heavenly nature, and become inestimable value as inheritors of the
promises and their reward, the divine nature. NS446:6
The divine nature is imparted by
the "precious promises." The going forth of the word of the Lord,
must have reference to the great end. R98:6*
We cannot get along without the
Bible. CR325:3
Ye -- The espoused Church. CR215:1; HG624:1
New creatures. R826:6, 1881:4,
1149:2*, 777:4, 613:4, 456:6, 217:3; E105; F62
Exceptions to all other creatures
either in heaven or on earth. R1879:1
Might be -- Might be enabled to so run as to obtain the promised prize.
C220; R1112:5
We might become. HG284:6, 196:5,
333:6, 358:5, 367:1, 446:6; NS455:3
Gradually attain to partakers of
the divine nature. CR335:1
By the operation of the promises
in our hearts, sanctifying us to his service. NS520:6
The change of nature in the
present life consists of a change of mind and character, in harmony with the
new hopes, aims and aspirations. R3621:3, 1567:3
The saints would be lifted up to
the perfection of their nature--the divine. R413:2
"To them gave he power to
become the sons of God." (John 1:12) R5859:5, 517:5*, 280:6
That thereby we may overcome self
and the world. R1007:3
Might be encouraged to
faithfulness and so become. R2940:6
Partakers of -- The first resurrection. R5263:5, 5199:2, 4799:2, 3132:1,
2982:6, 2051:2, 1642:4, 667:5, 474:5; E105, 396; HG299:5; OV356:3, 384:T
Joint-inheritors with our Lord.
HG298:4
A partaker with him of the divine
nature. R1495:1, 1112:5, 828:2, 569:3, 603:6*; E105
Partake with our Lord in his new
life. R2148:1
In full. R1286:4*, 1149:2*
That we might obtain. HG132:3;
NS270:6
By sacrificing restitution
blessings. R4498:2, 382:6; A196
What a rich promise is here! How
exceedingly great and precious! R2138:1
"That they may be one even as
we are one." (John 17:22) R442:3
The divine nature -- The grade of spirit body being promised to the overcoming
"Bride" or "Body of Christ", the "Royal
Priesthood." R1510:3
The highest form of the spirit
nature. R2980:5, 5830:1, 2859:6, 823:3; A203; F62; T40, 66; HG366:6; NS455:3,
479:1, 520:6; OV24:4, 373:6; Q502:6
A prominent element of which is
immortality, or inherent life. R1879:3, 1642:4, 569:3, 604:1*; E388; HG358:5
Represented by the gold of the
Tabernacle. T18; HG752:2
The hope of the Church is that she
may be like her Lord and share his glory as his joint-heir. R5822:2, 5152:2,
4966:5, 4734:2, 4372:2, 4302:2, 3694:2, 3294:2, 2750:2, 2238:2, 2055:2, 1910:2,
1750:2; OV427:2
To be associated with him as his
Bride--heirs of God, and joint-heirs with himself. (Rom. 8:17) R280:6, 5206:4,
4071:3, 3149:2, 2982:6, 2409:4, 2155:1, 2138:1, 1586:2, 1532:4, 1360:4, 1262:3,
1210:6*, 916:5, 828:2, 517:2*, 217:3; CR488:5; NS625:2; OV308:4
"So much better than the
angels." (Heb. 1:4) A203; R637:5, 616:2*, 329:5
It was essential that all who were
to have this nature should have their trials first, so that there might be no
immortal transgressors. F63
It was reasonable that God should
first offer this with all its glory, honor and immortality to the Logos, who
had always proven faithful. F64, 727
"I will set him on high
because he hath known my name." (Psa. 91:14) R3332:5
The high calling. R456:6, 2434:2,
217:3
The call of this Gospel age is to
glory, honor, and immortality. R5371:2, 5711:1, 5288:2, 4784:3, 3684:2, 3528:5,
2317:5, 826:6, 569:3, 514:3; F63, 92; HG196:5, 298:4; NS481:3; SM143:1, 361:1,
682:1
A great honor and brightness, far
above that of angels and all others except that of the Heavenly Father.
R5035:4, 5116:5, 5025:6, 2980:5, 2409:4, 2317:5, 1510:3, 1265:1, 1262:6; A186;
E388; CR392:2; HG138:2, 298:5, 358:5; NS338:5, 455:3, 520:6; OV354:1
The Church will cease to be of
Adam's race. R5622:2
The saints of the Gospel age are
to be changed from the human to the spiritual, divine nature. R4071:3, 5623:5,
4799:2, 3621:3, 2051:2, 1567:2, 1178:3, 1096:6*, 667:6, 613:4, 329:6, 297:5;
A196; T19; HG299:5, 315:5, 366:6, 546:1; NS551:6; OV379:2; SM682:1
If we are faithful to our covenant
of entire consecration to God, we shall be made like him and see him as he is.
R1532:4, 1510:5
The "Holy of Holies"
beyond the "veil" represented the condition of the faithful
overcomers who will attain to the divine nature. T19, 66
The divine nature was symbolized in
the gold of the typical High Priest's glorious garments. R1944:1
This is the class which will
receive the preeminence over all other classes, all other stations, in earth or
in heaven. R5711:1
Joint-heirship with his Son as
Kings and Priests, and Judges of the world. R3486:5
Sons of God on the spirit plane.
SM474:1; E69
Our immortality is a hope and not
an actuality. SM253:1
We are begotten of the holy Spirit
of God with a view to becoming partakers of the divine nature. R4665:2, 145:4*;
NS101:6; Q508:4
This promotion can be received
from no other quarter than God himself, on his own terms. R5711:1, 1515:5,
1510:5
This was not purchased by our Lord
Jesus, hence he is not the father or giver of it. R1515:5
Raised to the perfection of the
divine nature in the first resurrection, the chief resurrection. SM46:3;
R1442:1, 1437:1; NS535:6, 551:6
This description excludes the
Great Company, and applies merely to the Little Flock. R5166:5; Q316:5
Instead of laboring for some petty
office of an earthly kind, in accepting the captaincy of the Lord Jesus they
have become heirs with him in his glory, honor and immortality. CR16:2; OV308:3
Invisible, spirit beings.
"Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 15:50)
R5199:5, 5263:5
The saints are to be made like
unto Christ's glorious body, who is now "the express image of the
Father," (Heb. 1:3) "the King immortal, invisible," (1 Tim.
1:17) "dwelling in light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath
seen nor can see." (1 Tim. 6:16) R4071:3, 667:6
Jehovah is the life-giver or
Father of men, of angels, and of the new creatures of which Jesus is the head.
Here are three natures--human, angelic, and divine. To all of these, Jehovah is
Father, yet only one of them is of his own divine nature. R354:4, 816:5, 777:4
Since his resurrection Jesus is a
god, greater than ever before; the church are called to the obtaining of the
glory of their Lord, members of his glorious body. R5748:6
God has set before us the grandest
reward imaginable for the doing of that which is merely our duty and reasonable
service--which would bring us the largest measure of joy and peace, aside from
a future reward. R4828:6, 2480:1
Each nature will be so thoroughly
in accord with its own conditions and environments and perfection that each
will have satisfaction in his own state. F63
We are called and begotten to the
divine nature. After the begetting, no one can tell for a while whether he is
one that will attain to the divine nature or not--be of the Great Company or
Little Flock. Q39:T, 508:4
The door to this divine nature is
the one that will soon shut, as our Redeemer illustrated in the parable of the
wise and foolish virgins. NS803:6
The nature of ho theios, the God.
E71; Q770:T
But not equal with God. R802:6
The only text to state the matter
in just these words. R5580:4
Having escaped -- We are free. R4840:3
"We are saved by hope."
(Rom. 8:24) A140
"There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit." (Rom. 8:1) R1286:3, 4998:3
"If after they have escaped
the pollutions of the world they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the
latter end is worse with them than the beginning." (2 Pet. 2:20) E410
Unbelievers have not escaped.
R4546:2, 4998:3
The corruption -- The condemnation that is on the world. R1286:3; NS6:3,
32:3, 246:5; SM665:1
We are no longer dying because of
the divine "curse" or "wrath" but in view of our
justification and subsequent presentation as living sacrifices, our death is
reckoned as a part of Christ's sacrifice. E410
Only a few who have been blessed
with hearing ears and understanding hearts are redeemed from the curse or
sentence of eternal death. NS6:3, 32:3
Is in the world -- Is still in the world. R5596:6, 4840:3; A140
The great mass of mankind outside
the household of faith are still under the original sentence--eternal death.
NS6:3; 32:3, 246:6
Lust -- Worldly desires and ambitions. R1532:4, 2154:2
Desire, selfishness. HG446:6
The desires of the flesh. R2155:1
Our word lust has changed its
meaning a great deal. In the Greek it has a much wider meaning. In the
original, it means any earthly desires, for instance, the lust for power.
Q451:5
2 Peter 1:5
Beside this -- Building upon this sure foundation the gold, silver and
precious stones of the Word of God. R5822:1, 5152:1, 4734:1, 4372:1, 4302:1,
3694:1, 3294:1, 2750:1, 2238:1, 2055:1, 1910:1, 1750:1; A321
Such as have this hope. HG446:6
Giving all diligence -- In view of the warfare before us, of the subtlety of our
temptations and of the weakness of the flesh, the faithful Apostle urges all
diligence in the cultivation of the Christian graces and remembrance of the
precious truths. R3089:6, 1627:5*
"Work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling." (Phil. 2:12) R2155:6
Add -- While all of these virtues are imperative requirements of
those who would be esteemed of God as faithful, they are only of value as they
are added to, or built upon a foundation of faith. R2154:5
Cultivating Christian character
cannot be done in a day; but it must be a gradual, daily, life-work; a process
of addition, adding virtue to virtue, grace to grace, day by day and hour by
hour. R4808:3, 5208:5, 3587:5, 3090:3, 1628:2*, 1114:5, 374:5; HG447:3
We do this repeatedly in respect
to all the graces, which keep growing, developing in us and rounding out and
deepening and broadening us as spiritual new creatures. R3587:5
Faith in a personal righteous God
must steadily cultivate those elements of character which are always pleasing
and acceptable to him and which are most essential to our final overcoming.
R1859:6
To your faith -- The foundation. R5757:2, 2154:5, 1576:6, 471:1*, 136:6*
The primary qualification. R5460:1
The basis of character. R471:4*
Your "precious faith" as
described in verse 1. R2154:5
In the exceeding great and
precious promises. R1859:6
Your abiding confidence in the
divine plan of salvation, which centers in the redemption accomplished through
the precious blood of Christ. R2154:5, 4808:5, 1114:6
A "thus saith the Lord"
should be the end of all controversy, the solution of all doubts and a restful
assurance in every perplexity. R4808:5, 1114:3
No righteousness of our own
without this foundation of faith can avail anything to commend us to God. All
our works of righteousness must be built upon this faith. R2154:5
Our judgment will be according to
our faith because while in the flesh we shall never be able to perform works
such as God could approve. R5460:1
Not faith in every thing or every
person, but faith in God--in his plan of redemption through the vicarious, or
substitutionary sacrifice of Christ, and all his rich promises built upon that
sure foundation. R4808:5, 1576:6, 1114:3
Built upon this foundation are the
minor doctrines and those principles which must be worked out in the life. R1576:6
Faith of itself is very good as a
start, but God requires more than this. HG447:1
Faith is a good thing; but faith
without virtuous works is dead; and to hold the truth in unrighteousness is
worse than never to have received it. R3089:6, 3090:3, 1627:5*
Faith is fundamental, and these
graces are as the house of wisdom built upon it. (Prov. 9:1) R136:6*
As human wants are expressed in
seven petitions, so Christian character is comprehended in seven graces added
to faith. R136:6*
Virtue -- Fortitude. R5757:2, 5678:2, 5460:1, 5206:6, 4808:3,4,
3168:5, 3163:6, 3089:2, 2219:6, 2155:1, 2154:5, 2037:2, 90:2; E238; HG446:6;
NS746:5; OV401:4
Strength of character in
righteousness. R4808:5, 2155:1
Courage. R471:4*
It implies much more than merely
abstaining from evil; but living truthfully, that is, true to his covenant,
which to willfully violate would be equivalent to swearing falsely. R4808:5,
1114:3
It implies the cultivation of the
strictest integrity in our dealings, both with God and with our fellowmen; scrupulous
honesty, justice and truth being the only standards. R4808:5, 2155:1
True excellence of character, such
as will mark you as separate from the world and its spirit. R3089:6, 1627:5*
The Psalmist clearly defines this
in Psa. 15:2-5. R4808:5
Add sterling honesty, truth and
fair dealing in all business relations; moral integrity, in all social
relations; manifestly clean hands and a pure heart, and a bridled tongue that
works no ill to a neighbor. R3089:6, 1627:4*
Our faith should be of a strong
kind giving us fortitude for all of life's affairs; for all of our covenants
with the Lord; for a faithful endurance of opposition, contradiction, etc.
HG447:1
The Apostle implies that if we
hold to our faith against the attacks of the enemy it will develop fortitude,
an added grace of character. R2037:2
Virtue leads not only to passive,
but also to active, goodness--in benevolent charity which seeks to alleviate
suffering, to sympathize with sorrow, to comfort those in distress and to
elevate and bless others. R3090:1, 4808:5, 1627:3*
Knowledge -- Greek, gnosis. R2037:4
Knowledge of God and his righteous
will concerning us as revealed in his Word. R2155:2, 4808:6, 1115:3; HG447:2
Knowledge of God's character, that
we may the more thoroughly imitate it; and of his truth, that we may more fully
conform to its teachings. R3090:1, 1627:6*; HG447:2
If faith be held firmly, and
fortitude of character result, this, under the Spirit's guidance, will bring
the faithful one to deeper and wider expanses of knowledge. R2037:2
Give all diligence to the study of
the divine oracles--neglect of this divinely appointed means of knowledge is
equivalent to setting up our own imperfect standard of righteousness and
ignoring the divine standard. R2155:2, 4808:6, 1114:3
Knowledge is valuable to the
sanctifying of the spirit only when we comply with the conditions that we shall
mortify the self-will of the flesh and cultivate more and more of the Spirit of
our Lord. R5570:1
"This is life eternal, that
they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast
sent." (John 17:3) HG447:2
Not our earliest knowledge when we
came to the Lord; nor worldly knowledge. HG447:2
2 Peter 1:6
Temperance -- Self-control. R4808:3,4, 5678:2, 3168:5, 3089:2, 2560:1,
2219:6, 2210:6, 2155:2, 2037:2, 1627:6*, 90:2; E238; OV401:4
Temperateness. R1114:5
The knowledge we gain of God
through his Word should lead us to greater moderation--in thought, word and
action; on business, pleasure, food and raiment. HG447:3
Be moderate--exercising
self-control in all things--in eating, drinking, home arrangements, conduct,
thoughts, words and deeds. R4808:6, 1114:3
Moderation, self-restraint in all
things--we are not to be hasty and hot-tempered, or rash and thoughtless, but
evenly balanced, thoughtful and considerate. R5757:2, 5678:2, 3163:6, 3090:1,
1628:1*
It has to do with all our
sentiments, thoughts, tastes, appetites, labors, pleasures, sorrows and
hopes--and accompanied by faith, fortitude, knowledge from on high, implies
increased zeal and activity in divine things, and increased moderation in
earthly things. R4809:1, 2155:2
And its accompanying spirit of
kindness, and gentleness everywhere, in the shop, store, schoolroom, in
traveling, in visiting, at home, with the various members of the family--and above
all, in the church. R2355:6
One of the most important elements
of good character. R4808:6
We should be examples of wisdom
and moderation to all; and extremists only along the same lines that Jesus and
the apostles were counted extremists. HG447:4
"And every man that hath this
hope in him, purifieth himself" (1 John 3:3) controls himself, purges out
more and more of the old leaven. R2037:2
"He that ruleth his spirit is
greater than he that taketh a city." (Prov. 16:32) R2155:2, 4808:6
"Let your moderation be known
unto all men." (Phil. 4:5) R3090:1, 4809:1, 1627:6*, 1114:3; HG447:4
Patience -- "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may
be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James 1:4) R3090:1, 1628:1*,
1114:4; HG447:5
This grace smooths the way for
every other, because all must be acquired under the process of patient and
continuous self-discipline. Not a step of progress can be gained without it's
exercise--not one of the graces more beautifully adorns the Christian
character, or wins the approval of the world's conscience, or glorifies the God
of all grace whose truth inspires it. R3090:1, 1628:1*
It is long-suffering meekness
earnestly striving to stem the tide of human imperfection and weakness, and
endeavoring with painstaking care to regain the divine likeness--it is slow to
wrath and plenteous in mercy--it is quick to perceive the paths of truth and
righteousness, and prompt to walk in them. R3090:2, 1628:1*
It is mindful of its own
imperfections and sympathetic with the imperfections and shortcomings of
others. R3090:2, 2037:3, 1628:1*
With the poor, blinded world, with
the babes in Christ, with the slow, the stupid, the excitable, the blundering,
the over-confident Peters and the skeptical Thomases. R2155:4
Time is a very necessary element
in the process of perfecting every good thing. The fruit hastily plucked is
unripe, hard, sour, bitter fruit. R2155:2
Let patience have its perfect work
in cultivating character, however severely the plow and harrow may break up the
sub-soil of the heart, meekly submitting to the discipline in every case.
R4809:1, 2155:3, 1114:4
The Greek word from which patience
is here translated means cheerful endurance. R4809:1
But to have patience or fellowship
with the "unfruitful works of darkness" and sin, is the perversion of
this grace. R2155:4
2 Peter 1:7
Godliness -- God-likeness, hearty, cheerful, loving conformity to his
will. R2155:5, 4809:2, 3163:6, 1114:4, 385:5*
General goodness, benevolence,
benignity toward all. HG447:5
Piety. R2037:3, 2220:1, 2210:6, 2155:4;
E238
Devout, controlling reverence for
God, which yields a hearty, cheerful conformity to his will--fervency of spirit
in serving the Lord. R2155:4
A condition in which the love of
God is shed in the heart, influencing all the thoughts and words and deeds.
R2037:3
A careful study and imitation of
the divine character as presented in the divine Word. R3090:2, 4809:1, 1628:1*,
1114:4
This is a later development and
vital element in the Christian character. It springs spontaneously from
appreciative and grateful hearts, whose delight is in the law of the Lord; in
meditation, prayer and praise. R2155:4
Brotherly kindness -- Greek, phileo, duty love, a love which has a cause or
demand upon it. R2807:4
The Greek word Philadelphia
signifies brotherly love. R3949:4; Q449:1
In the natural family
relationship, and also in the spiritual family, the Church. HG447:5
We may not love our brethren's
peculiarities, their features, but we love them as brethren, whether black or
white, bond or free, because they are brethren, comrades in the same race.
Q449:1
To make due allowance for
inherited weaknesses and circumstantial misfortunes of others --to deal
patiently and helpfully so far as wisdom may dictate, with a view to the
correction of those faults, even at the expense of self-interest, if necessary
and prudent. R4809:2, 1114:5
Accept a brother's proffered aid
and meekly bear reproof, determining to overcome deformities of character, and
prove a help rather than a hindrance to others; no longer fostering old
dispositions. R4809:2, 1114:5
An exercise and manifestation of
the principles of the divine character toward our fellow-men. R3090:2, 1628:2*
A love for all who are brethren
and yoke fellows in the cause of righteousness and truth, the cause of God.
R2037:3
Instead of disdaining those who
are ignoble, instead of putting them away, treat them kindly. CR448:2
This of necessity grows out of
godliness. As god-likeness presupposes the other graces mentioned, so its
development implies an enlargement of our hearts to all who are of the
household of faith. R2155:5
Charity -- Love. R5693:1, 5208:5, 4808:4, 3168:5, 3090:2, 3089:3,
2560:4, 2220:1, 2210:6, 2155:5, 2037:3, 1628:2*, 1576:6, 1114:2, 90:2; E238;
HG450:1; OV401:4
Greek, agape, the higher grade of
disinterested love. R2807:4
The broader, more comprehensive,
or divine love, the disinterested love. R3949:4; Q449:1
Love as a general expression
covers all the elements of character which are really parts of love. F186
While all the foregoing are
elements of love, we super-add love itself in the fullest sense toward the
Lord, the brethren, humanity, the brute creation and our enemies. HG447:5
We might divide the race-course
into four quarters: duty-love; love for the Lord because we see something of
the glorious majesty of his character; love for the brethren; perfect love--for
all, even our enemies. F187-189
As we get agape love it means that
we love all. Q449:1
We must reach this climax of love
before we can be counted worthy of a place in the new creation. F190
Love for God and for the brethren;
love deep and pure and true; which thinketh no evil and doth not puff itself
up; is not easily offended; rejoiceth always in the truth and never in
iniquity; the climax of Christian attainment in the present life, the grace of
all graces, which never fades, and which will be perfected when we receive the
new resurrection body. R2037:3, 2155:5
Love unfeigned for the unrighteous
and unlovely, as well as for the good and beautiful. R4809:3, 1114:5
A love which is ever ready to
manifest itself in wise and helpful activity for saint and sinner; and which
pities, helps, comforts, cheers and blesses all within its reach--manifesting
and cultivating the disposition which must be found in every member of the
Christ company. R4809:3, 1114:5
A broad, generous love, taking in
the whole world, even our enemies. R5678:2, 5757:2, 5460:1
A process of addition leading up
to the sum of all graces. R5757:1
We do not attain to the perfection
of love at the beginning of our course, but it is the mark or standard which
indicates the end of the course. F186
The bond of perfectness which
unites all the other graces, and as a name stands for them all. R2155:5
Love is last, and greatest. R78:5,
50:5*
The chief of all graces. R2037:3
Acts of kindness will gradually
lead to an attitude of love, even where the subject does not seem to deserve
it. R3090:2, 1628:2*
Love is an experience, and
includes in it an earnest desire for the well-being of the object loved. R78:5
Love excels all the other virtues,
because it is the most enduring. R4732:4
Charity or love is the crowning
excellency of Christianity, and is necessary to fit for the great salvation.
R78:5
True love on our part will
manifest itself in obedience--disobedience is an evidence of the loss of love
as viewed from the Lord's standpoint. R2466:5
2 Peter 1:8
These things -- The fruits of the spirit. R5760:5, 5692:6, 4078:3; F186;
NS350:5, 376:6; OV401:4
All these fruits. R523:6
The graces of the spirit. E238;
SM515:1
The things previously specified in
verses 5-7. F185
The eight elements which must go
toward making up the Christian character. R4808:4, 1114:5
The knowledge fruit cannot be
obtained independent of the other fruits. R523:6
In you -- The Lord's people, begotten of the Spirit. R2487:4
The epistle of Christ written in
our hearts. R5968:4, 4809:6, 1115:4; Q235:5
The Apostle is urging the
development of the fruits of the holy Spirit in the heart, and so far as
possible in the life--in the words, the deeds, the thoughts. R5677:1, 5899:3
Lacking these, though we have the
knowledge, we will be both barren and unfruitful. R137:4*
And abound -- Abounding in good measure. R5760:5, 5206:6
If you have them in some measure,
keep on cultivating them, so that they abound more and more and rule in you.
R4809:4, 5570:1, 1114:6; F169; SM515:1
As they more and more abound, they
will incite us to cultivate fruitfulness. R2210:6
If the fruits reach the abounding
condition or degree. Q52:5
Let the Word and grace of God
dwell in us richly. R2508:5
It is the abounding of these graces
of character added to our faith in Christ as our Redeemer and Savior that
insures the soul against the possibility of falling. R2155:5
If the Spirit of the Lord abound
in us it will influence our business, our pleasure, our homes, our workshops,
our kitchens, our dining rooms, our bed chambers, our very thoughts. R4929:5
It is the abounding love, the
all-pervading influence of our Lord, in all of life's affairs of those who as
the Bride class would have the abundant entrance into Messiah's Kingdom, that
is required. R4929:6, 2487:4
May it be possible to have a
measure of the Lord's spirit with very little abounding, and hence have merely
an enjoyment of some spiritual things, on special occasions at church, etc.?
R4929:6
They make you -- Will demonstrate. NS376:6
Because Pastor Russell devoted
himself to the development of the fruits and graces of the holy Spirit, the
promise of the Lord was fulfilled in him. R5997:5*; OV443:2*
Neither be barren -- Idle, inactive. Q235:5; R5968:4, 5678:2, 5208:5, 4809:4,
2220:1; F76, 185
A man cannot be fruitful in the
graces and barren in the knowledge of the Lord. R523:3
Unfruitful -- In proportion as we find the fruits of the spirit, we
expect to find the Spirit which produces those fruits. All possessing this
Spirit will be able to grow both in grace and knowledge. R523:3; NS350:5
We must not expect to see the
fruit of our labor to any extent now. R1046:2
The contrary effects of the spirit
of the world upon those who profess to be children of God--the result of a neglect
to study and assimilate the Word. R5678:2
In the knowledge -- Personal intimacy, acquaintance. R2220:1
Acquaintance with the Lord and
participation in his spirit. NS376:6
"The spirit of truth will
guide you into all truth." (John 16:13) E239; R385:5*
Closer fellowship with the Father
and the Lord Jesus, so that the Lord will be able and willing to communicate to
us more clearly a knowledge of his gracious plans and character. E238
A close, intimate acquaintance and
communion with him--in which he will reveal himself to us by showing us
"things to come." R523:6, 374:5
Good works and knowledge are so
closely related that it is useless to think of separating them; they are
produced by the same Spirit. R523:3
Our growth in love and in all the
fruits of the spirit is dependent largely upon our growth in knowledge; and our
growth in knowledge of divine things is dependent also upon our growth in the
fruits of the spirit. E239; NS376:6
You cannot grow in love faster
than you grow in knowledge; and you cannot grow in favor, except by complying
with God's instructions. This instruction, this knowledge, is found in his
Word. R374:5
Knowledge, as a fruit of the
spirit, could never heretofore reach the same size which it now may and should
attain. God expects the size of this fruit to be proportionate with its
opportunities and possibilities. R524:1
A summary of what Pastor Russell
clearly taught and proved by the citations of Scripture authority. R5997:5*;
OV443:3*
Of our Lord -- And in his service. R2508:5; SM515:1
For knowledge will have its place.
R5968:4; Q235:5
2 Peter 1:9
He that lacketh -- He who does not appreciate the necessity of this. Q52:5
If a spirit begotten new creature
fails to see the privilege of cultivating the Master's spirit--the spirit of
holiness--it is because he is not making progress. Q52:5
Is blind -- Like a new-born child that has not learned to focus its
eyes. Q52:6
In promoting the military spirit,
Christendom does not see that the spirit they are cultivating is the very
reverse of the Spirit of Christ, who is called the "Prince of Peace."
R1757:4
The great majority of the race
accept divine blessings daily with but little appreciation, with but little
thankfulness. NS461:2
It is only those who have the eye
of faith, whose eyes of understanding have been opened, who can appreciate the
divine glories and benefits at the present time. NS461:2
Cannot see afar off -- Unable to see the deep things of God. R5640:2
Looks merely at the things of this
present life, and will be unprepared for the graduation examinations prior to
the inauguration of the new dispensation--now at hand. R5206:6
Cannot grasp or appreciate the
things future in the unfolding of our Father's plan. R523:6
He cannot see them as an inspiring
and impelling power, though he may know of them theoretically, and hold the
truth even in unrighteousness. (Rom. 1:18) R2087:6*
"Thine eyes shall see the
King in his beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off."
(Isa. 33:17) R2088:4*
Hath forgotten -- Christendom has almost forgotten. R1757:4
It is no uncommon thing to hear in
church meetings of all denominations men and women tell God that they know
themselves to be "miserable sinners." They ask forgiveness of those
sins which are forgiven. R199:5
There is a danger of forgetting and
falling into the idea that every one must suffer the full penalty for his own
sins. The effect of forgetting this is the neglect of the Christian graces.
R137:4*
From his old sins -- The word "sin" has merely the thought of
transgression; and many of our transgressions are wholly without iniquitous
intention. R2295:1
The word "iniquity"
carries with it the sense of wickedness. R2295:1
Should any return to sin, "as
a sow to her wallowing in the mire," (2 Pet. 2:22), he removes the
covering of sins, and falls back where he was before. R2295:1
2 Peter 1:10
Wherefore the rather -- As though Peter said on this account you must criticize
yourselves very closely to see that you are developing the real fruits of the
spirit, which will have prominently among them an increasing knowledge of our
Lord. R523:6
Brethren -- God's elect. R3587:5
Peter exhorts the heirs of the
Kingdom to patience, perseverance, virtue and faith. A284
Give diligence -- Give the more earnest heed. R2220:4
To the cultivation of these
graces. R2330:2; F691; HG401:4
By adding these graces. R137:4*
Be watchful and take necessary
precautions to prevent blight and decay of character and to guard against the
intrusion of evil powers and influences calculated to sap the life of the new
creature. R4809:4
While God has supplied every
necessary aid, he has left the matter in such a way as to make our earnest
desire for the promised blessings a condition of our not falling. R1458:6
The Lord's plan is to call and
elect during the Gospel age a Little Flock of overcomers of the world, faithful
unto death, as a Royal Priesthood, to share with the Lord Jesus in the
Millennial Kingdom. R3586:3, 3587:5, 1574:1; HG615:4; NS263:5
"Seek ye first the Kingdom of
God." (Matt. 6:33) R2479:5
To make your calling -- We were called to be joint-heirs with our Lord. R5460:2,
3585:2
To a change of nature from human
to divine, and a place in the Kingdom class. R4794:6, 4594:4; HG359:6
To "glory and honor and
immortality." (Rom. 2:7) R3913:5; HG358:5
God has predetermined a new creation,
invited some to develop the character, arranged so that some may be able to
meet the conditions: it is for us to accept the call by making a complete
consecration and to zealously strive for the requirements. F185
The terms of the Gospel are necessarily
those of a call or invitation; leaving the matter of acceptance open and
optional with the invited ones. R2940:3
This "high calling" to
joint-heirship with our Lord in the Kingdom is a very special call; it will
soon end and never be repeated. R4979:1, 2622:4, 3585:2
God has called us with this high
calling, and from the time we accept the call and make requisite full
consecration, he gives us the earnest of our inheritance, viz., the spirit of
sonship. R3586:5
Only those nominated have the
remotest opportunity of becoming the elect; first through faith--"faith
cometh by hearing," (Rom. 10:17) bringing justification from past sins,
and peace with God, then being called to sacrifice. R3586:3
Let us not only assure ourselves
of the fact that there is an elect class being selected, but let us note the
lessons enjoined upon the called ones--the instructions to make their calling
and election sure. R3586:3
How highly we, who belong to the
Gospel dispensation, should value its privileges and opportunities, seeking to
make our calling and election sure. R4979:1
Applying only to those who come
under the conditions of justification, and subsequent full sanctification
through a belief of the truth. R2941:4
Sinners are called to repentance;
only justified believers are called to the heavenly calling--only such called
ones as accept the call by making a full consecration belong to the
"chosen" class--the Bride class will be those who were not only
called but also chosen, and also found faithful. R4078:2, 5377:5, 3586:2
We who are being called from the
Gentiles are invited to fill up the deficiency in the elect number of Israel;
and will be divided among the twelve tribes, though the Scriptures do not show
according to what rule. R3586:4
"I beseech you, brethren
(justified through faith and called), that ye present your bodies living
sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God and your reasonable service." (Rom.
12:1) Such as have responded in this manner to the call are God's chosen.
NS372:1 The Lord chooses such characters and such characters choose the Lord,
and in choosing him seek to walk in his footsteps and follow the directions of
his Word. NS264:2
Nothing connected with the call is
compulsory. Many have been called in comparison with the few that will be
chosen. R4138:6, 4078:2, 3586:3, 2415:1; NS372:1, 654:1
While the harvest work was
commencing and in progress, the "call" to the divine nature continued
to go forth. Up to October 1881 any believer in the ransom who presented
himself a sacrifice to God was acceptable. R682:2; C219
The majority of professing
Protestant Christians do not know that there is an election. Some regard God's
call or nomination as being the election itself, and are confused by this text.
R3585:6
And -- It is not sufficient that we should be chosen and accepted
of the Lord to a membership in the elect Church--we must stand testing to prove
our worthiness of that position. NS372:2
It is not sufficient that we
consecrate, that we be sure that we have made a consecration--it is required of
us that we demonstrate character, loyalty and faithfulness to that vow. NS372:2
Election -- To the chief favor of God. R4809:5, 1115:1
To the heavenly Kingdom. R3585:4,
2479:5, 874:1; SM17:1
Of attaining to joint-heirship
with the Master. R5667:4, 3585:2
For which you have been called,
nominated by God. R3587:5
"Elect according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father." (1 Pet. 1:2) "And whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his
Son." (Rom. 8:29) R2940:6, 3587:2
We are the "elect"
before the election has been finished, before the testing is completed, in the
sense of having been nominated--"moved and seconded." HG445:3
God moved that we should be
elected and "called us with a heavenly calling." It remained for us
to "second the motion" by presenting ourselves in full consecration
of heart to the Lord. HG445:3
None can remain in the elect
company, nor make his calling and election sure, without being under the
sprinkling of blood--justification; being sanctified, and having full
submission to the will of God. R3587:2, 3586:2
There is a great prize to be
given. There is an election going on. R5914:4
A Bride for Christ is being
selected from amongst mankind. R4138:5; CR435:5 The entire Christian era, from
our Lord's first advent down to the time of his second coming, is the period in
which the election or selection of the Bride takes place. Q788:2
If God is selecting a Church in
the present time, it must be with a view to the use of it subsequently to serve
in some manner the interests of the remainder of the world from whom they were
elected. HG445:1
Jesus was the elect of God, and we
who are now being chosen from amongst men are to be "members of his
Body," the elect class, chosen in him, and as such must be conformed to
the likeness of his character. R3587:3; F187; HG445:2
God foreknew us and predestinated
that there should be a Church class selected to be their Redeemer's associate,
his underpriesthood, his subordinate kings during the Millennium. HG445:2
Very few have been nominated of
the Lord for his election. R3585:6
An election in progress--an
election of 144,000 to a higher position than that of any earthly magistrate or
potentate--they are promised this highest of all honors for all eternity.
R3585:2, 3586:1
In worldly elections there are
legitimate expenses; and every candidate is expected to lay down part of his
life--to spend time, influence, strength and vigor to secure his own or his
friend's election. NS264:3; R3585:3
The world think it remarkable that
we who are candidates for the superlatively high office for which God has
nominated us should spend time, influence and means, in our own and our
brethren's election. They consider our time wasted. R3585:3
If a presidency is worth a
lifetime of effort and planning and the expenditure of immense sums of money,
what would this heavenly election be worth? NS264:5
The sacrifices of a thousand lives
and the grounding of ten thousand hopes and ambitions in other directions would
be but a small cost in the attainment of the glory, honor and immortality
promised to the "very elect." NS264:6
What an interest we properly take
in our election, after learning that the office for which we are running is a
combination of priesthood and kingship! HG446:1
Those whom God nominates or calls,
are expected to appreciate the honor, the blessing, the high exaltation which
is proffered them, and expected to show this appreciation in their endeavors to
secure the election. NS264:4
Only the faithful, the loyal, will
ultimately constitute the "very elect." "Called, chosen, and
faithful," describes the attitude of the pupils in the school of Christ
who graduate with highest honors. NS372:4, 593:3, 654:5
From God's standpoint the whole
struggle for political preferment to the neglect and disregard of the still
higher calling and election is as foolish as to grasp for bubbles and neglect
diamonds. NS265:2
God is holy, and the elect are to
have his spirit, his disposition of love for righteousness and opposition to
iniquity. F186
Those who do not have experiences
of growth in grace and knowledge are deficient, and cannot hope to make their
calling and election sure. R3587:5 The word "chosen" in Matt. 22:14
and Rev. 17:14 is from the same Greek word as elect. R3586:3, 3587:3
If there is an elect class, it follows
that there must be a non-elect class. R3587:6; F164
The calling and election of the
Little Flock works no hardship, no injury, to the non-elect, who are in no
sense further condemned because not called. F164
Scripture references to the elect.
R3586:3-3587
The doctrine of election has
fallen into disrepute because of its association with the unscriptural doctrine
that God has provided a great place of eternal torment for all the non-elect.
NS263:6; HG668:2
We have high respect for the well
intentioned and honest endeavors at the polls. The masses of Christendom should
as far as possible vote for the soundest principles and the most conscientious
men. NS263:1
The Little Flock too vote. So
firmly is their mind set on this matter that they vote the same ticket right
along--they vote for Jesus. NS263:3
Sure -- It is for each individual. 5914:4
By full compliance with the terms
and conditions of the call, and this even unto death. R5876:3, 2940:3, 2415:1;
SM427:2; CR433:1
By a full and hearty compliance
with the gracious high calling which we have learned and which our hearts have
accepted. NS771:1
By cultivating the graces of the
spirit and thus coming into heart-likeness of our Lord Jesus. R3586:1, 2782:2;
F186
By drinking faithfully of the cup.
(Matt. 26:27) R5341:3
By standing the various trials of
faith, love and obedience which God may require. F79; R2453:4; NS372:3, 551:6
By continuing to labor in
character-preparation, that we might be found worthy. R5762:2, 5950:1, 4138:6
The battle with the world, the flesh,
and the devil must be won in our hearts else we will not make our election sure
and receive the crown of glory. R3586:2, 2692:6; HG446:4; NS265:6
By faithfully following in the
footsteps of the Redeemer, heeding carefully his counsel, and availing ourselves
of his assistances by the way. R4138:6, 3586:1
By faithfulness under trials,
testings and difficulties. NS624:5
By giving the more earnest heed to
the things which God has shown us, and assisting others who give any evidence
of being "brethren." R2875:6, 2692:6, 2453:5
By a clear grasp and comprehension
of the deep things of God. Q154:5
By faith and obedience. R2220:4
To the extent of our ability live
up to the covenant of self-sacrifice in the Lord's service, which we covenanted
when we accepted his call. NS372:4
It is important that we understand
the conditions. R4796:2
By so running the race of life
that we may be worthy of the crown of life. OV131:1; R4810:1, 4078:3, 1468:4
Positiveness for God is the only
condition in which we can hope to do this. R5614:4
He has not called us in vain to
something which is impossible for us to attain. CR443:6
To these God will show his
exceeding grace. R4914:4, 4461:3
Surely God who nominated us has
made every provision for our election and will cooperate. Surely our Redeemer
will give us every assistance. Just as surely responsibility for failure would
lie at our door. HG445:5
Our context tells us upon what
terms the called and accepted may make their election sure. HG446:6
Those who willingly renounce the
world, its prospects, schemes, plans, ambitions, hopes, and pleasures, and
accept instead the heavenly hopes and promises set before us in the Scriptures.
NS264:1
A share in the inheritance to the
spiritual body and the Kingdom glories of which our spirit begetting is but the
foretaste. R3586:5; SM17:1
Paul did not consider his election
to that honor absolute; hence, his laborings to "make sure" that
result. (Phil. 3:11) R624:3*
Those who do not make their
calling and election sure will lose their anointing and will not receive the
divine nature. But if they hold to the Lord, they maintain their justification,
and may be part of the Great Company. R4746:4,1; CR460:6
Some will miss the Kingdom, yet
not so utterly fall as to go into second death. CR153:1
We must either make our calling
and election sure under the terms of the call, as accepted, or be rejected as
unworthy of life everlasting--as fit for the second death. SM178:2
For -- Seeming to understand that some would question the
possibility of their gaining so great a prize, the Apostle gives a word of
special encouragement. R3587:5
If -- There is a contingency upon which the scales of divine
judgment, as to our worthiness or unworthiness of the inheritance, must turn.
R2154:4
Ye -- New Creatures--those called and who are making their
calling and election sure. CR152:2,6
The primary consideration with us
is our sanctification. "This is the will of God (concerning you), even
your sanctification." (1 Thes. 4:3) R5677:5
If we maintain the good fight of
faith as new creatures. R4047:4
The contingency is not in the
doing of these things perfectly, but if added to our faith in the imputed
righteousness of Christ, we have cultivated all the graces to the extent of our
ability, we shall not fall. R2155:6; SM395:1
Our continuance in safety, in
grace, depends upon our own course of conduct after God has done his part
through his Word and providences. R1698:6
Do -- Add one after another of the qualities of the fruits of the
holy Spirit, and so build up Christian character. R5677:1, 5460:1, 137:4*; F79;
NS541:4, 576:6, 746:4
The fruit will appear, not only in
the development of the Christian graces of character, but also in increasing
activities. R4809:6, 1115:4
Our feet will be swift to run on
errands, our hands prompt to do God's bidding, our tongues ready to bear
testimony to the truth, our minds active in devising ways and means to do so
more abundantly and effectively. R4809:6, 1115:4
There is a difference between
believing these things, professing these things, and doing these things.
CR152:2
It is not merely believing, not
merely consecrating, but the Apostle says, "If ye do things." CR152:3
Do all in your power, and God does
not expect you to do one more thing than that. CR152:5
Fulfill the royal law of love and
devotion to God and the neighbor. R2487:3
Our work as Christians is to
cooperate with God in the salvation of the Church class--not a salvation from
eternal torture, but from death. R5677:4
Bear all. R523:6
Perfection is only something which
can be approximated in the present life. The measure of our effort to attain it
will prove the measure of our faithfulness and earnest desire to do so.
R4809:6, 1115:4
He expects doing, but does not
expect perfect doing, because he remembers our frame. CR152:3
There is a philosophy in the
growth and development of Christian character, just as truly as in the growth
and development of vegetation--the desirable end being maturity and luxuriant
fruitfulness. R4808:1, 4096:6*, 1113:3
If no fruit appears, we may be
sure that little or no effort is being made at cultivation, pruning, etc.
R1154:4
"If any man's work abide
which he hath built." (1 Cor. 3:14) A321
These things -- The things mentioned in the preceding verses. R2154:5;
SM633:1
The eight elements which must go
toward making up the Christian character. R4808:4, 1114:5
Each piece of armor (Eph. 6:13-18)
each fruit of the spirit, is a part of the necessary preparation for this
"evil day," this "hour of temptation," now present.
R5678:4, 2453:2; NS541:4
Cultivate the Spirit of Christ.
R1698:6, 5370:4; F408; HG401:4; SM321:2
Beautiful graces and fruits of the
spirit, manifest in our Lord. CR152:5; R3587:5; SM321:2
Diligently cultivating this
disposition. R4809:4, 2286:6, 1114:6
Continually adding to our stock of
the heavenly graces. R2219:6
The steady persistent cultivation
of these graces of character will clarify our spiritual vision, enabling us the
more fully to comprehend the truth of God. R1859:6
Each step of knowledge brings a
corresponding step of duty and obedience, and each step of duty and obedience
taken will be followed by a further step in knowledge. E239; R2219:6
If we have the witness of the
Spirit of growth, both in grace and in knowledge, let us rejoice therein, and
let us follow on in the same pathway until it shall bring us to that which is
perfect, both in knowledge and in grace. E239
By studying our manual, his Word,
which our Lord has given to us, and by developing the various fruits and graces
of the spirit. SM17:1
Love to God and to our fellows.
SM17:1
Which you covenanted. R200:6;
NS372:4
Pursue a course that would be
pleasing to God. SM304:3; Q52:5
Character, built up after the
instruction of the Word of God, is absolutely necessary to an entrance into the
Kingdom of Christ. R5678:5, 5307:6
The needlework upon the wedding
garment. SM256:1; HG449:6
If we are obedient to the Word of
the Lord, and are properly exercised by the experiences which are given us, we
shall gain his approval. R5460:2, 4660:2
"Let us, dearly beloved,
cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting
holiness in the fear of the Lord." (2 Cor. 7:1) R5739:6
Ye shall never fall -- Because "All things work together for good to them
that love God." (Rom. 8:28) F74; R874:1
You are sure to stand approved of
God. R4808:4, 1114:5
Ye shall never fail. We shall in
no case fail of securing our election. HG447:6; NS746:5
Following in the Lord's way we
find the only true joy, and can make the only true progress. R5559:4
If you are growing in grace, if
you are doing the best you are able along this direction. CR152:6
The implication is that there
would be some tendency to fall, some testings, and that this development of
character would be necessary so that the individual might be able to stand.
R5677:1
Fortified by development of character,
these will not fall, no matter what the trial that the Lord may permit to come
upon them. R5678:2, 862:2
Those who have a temporary fall,
but who afterward overcome in the trials which the Lord will allow to come upon
them, thus showing their loyalty to him, will be fully recovered. R5460:4
There may be more or less
stumbling on the part of the elect, "through manifold temptations" of
the flesh, the earthen vessel in which the spirit begotten, elect, new creature
temporarily resides. R3587:5
You will stumble, but stumbling is
not failing. CR152:6, 153:1
All except the very elect may be
stumbled by deceptions. R1644:3
We need to be continually on the
alert respecting our own fleshly weaknesses and besetments, that we may war a
successful warfare, and thus share with our Lord his Kingdom and crown.
R5678:5; F190
Your final selection to that
position of glory, honor and immortality, to which you were called, shall be
sure. R4809:4, 1114:6
God will not suffer us to be
tempted above that we are able, but will with the temptation provide a way of
escape. (1 Cor. 10:13) R1699:1
If there is a fall in our case, it
will be due to failure to do our part. R5460:2; NS546:5
Some will not manifest sufficient
zeal. These will come through great tribulations. If by these experiences they
are brought to a full loyalty to the Lord, they will be granted everlasting
life. R5460:4
One of the final and most
searching tests and the one under which probably the most of those once
awakened and armed will fall, will be love for the brethren. R2453:4
Nearly all who "fall
away" first lose all fear and become self-confident. R3596:5
This is the time long foretold,
when "a thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right
hand," (Psa. 91:7) because they have neglected the necessary development
of character, and have been deluded. R5678:4, 2450:3; NS95:6
Those who have tried to raise
money for the heathen or for building fine church edifices, have gotten up
church fairs and entertainments, etc., not appreciating the necessity to build
character, are falling all around us. R5678:5
2 Peter 1:11
For so an entrance -- But so doing. R2782:2
With the characteristics of the
Master deeply engraved upon our hearts. Q235:4; R5968:4, 137:1*
They that add to their faith all
the graces of the spirit shall have an abundant entrance into the Kingdom.
R32:3*, 4078:3, 137:1*; F691; HG668:4; NS546:4, 733:1
The grand consummation of our
election--our Kingdom honors and glories. HG447:6
Only such as are copies of God's
Son shall have a share in the Kingdom of Messiah. R4929:6, 2453:4
The glorious inheritance with
Christ in his coming Kingdom. R5677:4
In no sense of the word did the
Apostle consider that the Kingdom had been set up at Pentecost in any but its
embryo or preparatory form. HG368:4
Be ministered -- Granted. R5968:4; Q235:4
In due time. F692
The present Gospel age is merely
for the selection and education of those whom God purposes to use as his
ministers, to the world in general in the Millennium. R2490:2, 3586:3
Being justified fully, your final
selection to that position of glory, honor and immortality shall be sure.
R4809:4, 1114:6
The elect will not be received of
the Lord with chidings and upbraidings for the imperfections of the flesh which
were unwillingly theirs; but the heart-character formed will alone be tested
and approved. R3587:6
Unto you -- The faithful. SM584:1
The Royal Priesthood. R2490:2,
2782:2
Only the Little Flock will gain
this; not the Great Company who will come up out of great tribulation. NS371:6
Abundantly -- The fruits and flowers of the holy Spirit abounding in the
garden of the heart, will make a Christian ready. R5899:4
If we stand the Lord's approval we
shall be granted the glorious things which he has promised to them that love
him--"glory, honor and immortality." R3587:6
There will be a glorious welcome,
a joyous greeting, among all the heavenly hosts when the laurels of victory are
placed upon the heads of all the overcoming soldiers of the cross. R2154:2
All this abundance of grace and
glory is the possible inheritance of even the weakest saint who humbly looks to
God for strength from day to day to endure hardness as a good soldier. R2154:3
"Let us be glad and rejoice,
for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself
ready." (Rev. 19:7) "Therefore shall the people praise thee
forever." (Psa. 45:17) C193
Everlasting kingdom -- Which is therefore still future. A284; NS541:5
The Millennial Kingdom. NS541:5
The divine agency for carrying
salvation to all the families of the earth. R5307:6
This is the prize of the high
calling. R2154:1
The very thing that all of the
Lord's people are invited to share. R5677:2, 3587:6
If we seek and find God's
righteousness, we shall also find his Kingdom. R2804:6* Let our ambition be to
have a share in that Kingdom! R5570:4
Of our Lord -- If the very thought of the coming glories has lifted us up
above the world and its cares, its trials, its follies and its pleasures, how
much more will the realities mean to us when we shall be perfect and like our
Lord and share his glory! F728
2 Peter 1:12
In remembrance -- "Beware lest thou forget the Lord." (Deut. 6:12)
R4050:6
These things -- The things of verses 5-7. R3089:2
The seven graces. R137:4*
Know them -- Too many have contented themselves with knowing the truth,
without making special efforts to live it, daily and hourly. R3090:5
And be established -- Signifies that we have carefully studied and proved it by
"the law and the testimony," (Isa. 8:20) and are convinced of its
verity, so that our faith is steadfast and immovable. R3089:3
We have been permitted to see, not
only the various features of the plan, but also the necessity and
reasonableness of all its various measures in order to the full accomplishment
of its glorious outcome. R3089:3
It is indeed a most blessed
condition, bringing with it such peace and joy as the world can neither give
nor take away. R3089:3
But we need to bear in mind that
our election to the high position to which we are called is not yet made sure.
The race for the prize of our calling is still before us. R3089:3
If the truth is received into good
and honest hearts, we have the assurance that we shall never fall. R3090:3,
1628:2*
To be established in the faith is
one thing, but to be established in Christian character and in all the graces
of the spirit is quite another. R3090:3, 1628:3*, 137:4*
Feeling the necessity of a deeper
work of grace in our hearts, a practical suggestion is made of a mid-week
meeting devoted to worship, prayer, praise, brotherly exhortation, conference
and counsel, but not Bible study or controversy. R3090:3
In the present truth -- It will guide us into separateness from Babylon. SM127:2
Scriptures and features of the
plan, on what it means to be established in the present truth. R1627:2*
2 Peter 1:14
I must put off -- While Peter realized that the time of his departure was
drawing nigh, his solicitude for the growth and development of the Church was
increasing. R3215:1
This my tabernacle -- The flesh. It was consecrated to death and it must fully
die. R344:6
The human is to die--the earthly
form must be laid off. R344:5
As our Lord -- As did Jesus, so must we all, fully lose humanity. R344:3
As Jesus our pattern showed
us--but the new life hid with Christ will not die, though it slept until now.
R344:5
Hath shewed me -- "When thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy
hands and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldest
not." (John 21:18) R3215:1
2 Peter 1:15
Ye -- Peter wrote his epistles to the intent that his testimony
might be with the Church. F225
After my decease -- A clear evidence that Peter did not expect to live until
the establishment of the Kingdom. F225
He committed his writings to holy
men for the benefit of the Church after his death. R5829:6
In remembrance -- The Church to this day may profit by his brotherly counsel.
R4809:5, 1115:1
The Apostles laid up in store food
for the Church in future days. R1899:2
2 Peter 1:16
Fables -- The vision on the Mount of Transfiguration was no fanciful
fable even though it should not be classed on an equality with divine
revelation made through the prophets. R4890:5
The tendency of the world, the
flesh, and the devil is to absorb our time, thought, interest and affections in
worldly affairs; eating, drinking, marrying, building, planting, business,
pleasure, sectarianism, and cunningly devised fables. R2303:1
The Higher Critics are greatly
mistaken in their judging of the Word of God along the lines of external
testimonies and Evolution theories. R3791:1
Coming -- Greek, parousia, presence. B159; R1693:1, 559:4, 223:2
The vision represented the
establishment of the Kingdom at Jesus' second presence. An illustration of the
present time in which the Kingdom is being established. R559:4; HG186:4
Eyewitnesses -- Three apostles witnessed the vision--Peter, James and John.
(Mark 9:2-13) R5121:1, 3790:6, 2288:3; F675
The transfiguration scene was a
"vision"--the unreal appeared real--and it was well suited for the
purpose. R2288:3; F676
It was to establish the faith of
the apostles, and the early Church. R3790:6, 3793:5, 3345:5
This vision, helpful as it was at
the time, became secondary as Peter came to a better understanding of prophecy
which describes our Lord's second coming and Kingdom. R4649:6, 3790:6
Of his majesty -- The royal majesty. Q797:2
His Kingdom. R4649:6; HG186:4
A vision of Christ's dignity and
glory in the Kingdom. R2659:2
His kingly glory. Peter was
persuaded respecting the majesty of Jesus, of his dignity as the Messianic King
and the fact that all there pictured in vision would eventually be fulfilled.
R3793:5
A vision of the coming glory of
Messiah's Kingdom. R5121:6,4, 1761:1,4; B20, 255; HG186:4, 205:4
A representation of Christ's
coming glory. R5772:4, 598:5
The transfiguration vision was an
illustration or presentation. R559:4
The central figure was Jesus
himself. Moses and Elias were merely accessories to fill out the picture.
R3793:5, 5772:4
Moses represented one class and
Elijah another, as participators with Jesus in his Messianic glory. R5333:5,
5121:6
Moses represented the Law
dispensation, and Elijah represented the Gospel dispensation. R5772:4, 3790:6,
3345:5, B255
Moses represented the Ancient
Worthies who shall be the earthly representatives of the heavenly Kingdom, and
Elijah represented the "overcomers" of this Gospel age. B20; F677;
R5121:6, 3794:4, 2659:4, 2289:1
Moses represents the human element
of the Kingdom, while Elijah represents the entire Gospel Church, the spirit
house of sons. R559:4; Q260:1
A forceful teaching of the coming
of our Lord in glory, in due time. OV203:2
There is no doubt, whatever, that
the promised Kingdom will eventually come. The vision confirms this to us.
R5121:6
The Kingdom is yet to come, for we
have not the Kingdom of Christ. HG186:5
The entire Kingdom was represented
in tableaux to Peter, James and John. R3790:6, 5121:1
2 Peter 1:17
Such a voice -- The voice of the Heavenly Father. Q797:2
2 Peter 1:18
The holy mount -- Of transfiguration. B20; F675; R3790:6, 2288:3, 1761:1,
598:5, 342:2, 123:6
A picture of Messiah's Kingdom.
R5333:5; Q713:2; PD64/74
2 Peter 1:19
We -- The Church. R4988:1; B141; NS88:2
The child of God. The worldly will
be in darkness as to God's purpose and methods. R820:5
More sure -- A more sure evidence than the vision. R4649:6, 5772:4;
HG186:4
Surer even than these outward
signs of the transfiguration. R454:5, 4890:5, 1761:4, 454:5
The Apostle was honoring the Bible
above any vision. OV203:2
So highly did Peter esteem the
prophecy of the Old Testament that he considered it better evidence than his
own sight. R598:5
Word of prophecy -- Of divine revelation. E205; R4890:5, 3162:3
Through the prophets. R4890:5,
1408:2
With the written Word of God in
our possession now, we neither have need of traditions of men nor of old wives'
fables, nor of astrologers; guides. R3703:1
One Scripture helps to elucidate
another. R5339:2
The "vision" was a
symbolic view of the Kingdom, but without the "sure word of prophecy"
it would have been unintelligible. R1761:4
As we see it today--by faith.
R1432:6
Discerning the Lord's second
presence will not be by miraculous revelations, nor dreams, but through the
Word of testimony, the Bible. R2972:3, 1401:5
The day of the Lord is called a
day of darkness, and we, unless enlightened by the word of prophecy, would
stumble as the others of the church are doing over the stone of stumbling, in
this dark place. R176:6
The Pope is encouraging Catholics
to study the Bible. We urge Protestants to likewise to begin an investigation
of God's Word. Protestant and Catholic Bibles are not materially different, but
practically alike. HG541:6
Whereunto -- To the eye of faith the Lord is now revealed by the
prophetic lamp. C133; B20, 141
That ye take heed -- In respect to his plans, present and future. R2979:5
Urging a watching attitude on the
part of the saints--not a watching of the sky, but a watching for the
fulfillment of all that God had spoken by the holy prophets concerning the
"times of restitution." (Acts 3:21) B20
Return to Bible study with our
hearts uplifted to God that he may give us the light promised to his faithful
people in the end of this age. R4778:4
A comparatively small number have
done well to wait the Lord's time, at heart longing for Messiah's Kingdom.
SM237:2; OV276:T
He comes secretly and unknown to
the world, but those believers who are taking heed to the sure word of prophecy
need not be in darkness. (1 Thes. 5:2-4) R579:3, 1401:5, 341:4*; B141
Such as give no heed are not
watching and will not know. R2303:1
So now, the prophecies are more
convincing than if Jesus were to appear as a man. R123:6
As unto a light -- We have the Gospels, recording our Lord's words, parables,
dark sayings, etc., the Epistles of the New Testament, comments of the inspired
apostles on the Old Testament writings and the prophecies of the Old Testament.
R5224:5
The Word of the Lord is the only
light and guide for his people. SM243:T
The prophetic testimony respecting
what great light will usher in the golden age. R2313:6
This same light is exposing the
corruption and falsity of many long-venerated theories and institutions,
religious, political, social and financial. R2979:5
The Lord's presence shall affect
nominal Christians, and the civilized world in general, also, but in a totally
different manner. R2979:5
That shineth -- With knowledge of God. R493:1*
The holy Spirit is the light of
the Church by which we are specially guided into the truth. R5339:1
With their lamps trimmed and
burning, the saints will not be in darkness respecting the momentous events of
the impending battle; but they will be of good courage, knowing the outcome
portrayed in prophecy. Dxvii We are receiving more of the spirit of the truth,
the spirit of love, the spirit of God, and proportionately the weary shadows of
the earth are fleeing away. NS498:6
The Bible is a light to the path
of God's people in the midst of this darkness. R5038:2
One Scripture throws light upon
another, and thus with increasing brightness the Word of the Lord as a lamp
gives light upon the pathway of his Church. NS817:1
During the night-time the faithful
of the Church are represented as walking in the light of God's Word. NS749:5
As the Lord's people become
illuminated, the world is proportionately blessed. R4305:1; SM560:3
The Church is able to point out to
the world the cause of the trouble, to announce the presence of the new Ruler,
to declare the plan. She becomes the light-bearer and instructor of the world.
B142
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my
feet, and a light unto my path." (Psa. 119:105) D617; R5038:2, 4988:1,
4305:1, 176:5; HG113:6; NS88:2, 749:5; SM560:1
"Let your light so shine
before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is
heaven." (Matt. 5:16) NS88:3; SM560:1
In a dark place -- Sin and selfishness still abound. The golden rule does not
control. R2313:6; NS88:3
We are still in the dark place and
shall be until the darkness gives way and the day is here. R5339:1
Those who are not God's people and
who do not have the light are walking in darkness. SM243:T
In this night-time the elect are
different from the majority of those around them--they desire God's
righteousness and pray, "Thy kingdom come." NS749:5
The night-darkness is not
scattered. HG113:6
The darkness of the world. HG113:6
The darkest features of the night
are past; and the errors which impelled our forefathers to burn one another at
the stake no longer fetter--bind our hearts and minds. NS498:6
How many read these words as
though they were written "prophecy is a dark place which we do well to
avoid." R2012:5*
Until the day dawn -- Prophecy will have freshly important truths for us, all the
way along until day-dawn. B20
Until the Millennial morning dawn.
R4649:6
Until the darkness gives way and
the day is here. R5339:2
The "night" of sin has
been upon the world for centuries. The "morning" is at hand, but not
yet fully come. NS749:5
When the harvest has been
accomplished, and the purposes of the Lord have been done. CR251:5
We are in the dawning of that new
day. CR267:3
The new day of divine blessing is
dawning, and the manifold blessings and inventions of our day, both in temporal
and spiritual matters, are but foregleams of the coming glory, which will
transcend our brightest dreams. HG542:4
The gross ignorance and
superstition of the "Dark Ages" is gradually giving place to the dawn
of the Millennial morning, which is shedding light upon the divine Word and the
pathway of the Lord's faithful. NS498:5
A new day is divinely arranged
for, which shall dawn in its proper season. We are now in the night-time
preceding that new epoch. SM243:T
The Millennial morn is already
here, but it is early--not yet light except to the prospective waking, watching
Bride, who receives the light of the Morning Star. R348:6
The new Millennial dispensation is
the morning in which the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his
beams, and in which the shadows of superstition and works of darkness shall all
be driven away SM560:2; HG113:6
Indicating that the morning is at
hand and that the Sun of Righteousness will soon fulfill its mission of
blessing all the families of the earth. OV203:2
God's Word is to shine more and
more brightly down to the very end of the Gospel age. R4858:1
The fact that God's Word is now
opening to his people who scan its pages in its own light is but another proof
that we are in the closing days of the Gospel age. NS817:4
The light of the new age of
Christ's Kingdom is accountable for the great blessings that are coming upon
the Bereans of our day, as well as mankind, in temporalities. NS817:4
Shining brighter and brighter
through our greater intelligence and more general education. HG542:1
After more than eighteen centuries
the Church of Christ, under the guidance of the Father, has been walking in the
path of the just, the narrow way, the path of life; and has had the light
necessary at every step of the journey. NS481:5
"The path of the just is as
the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."
(Prov. 4:18) A25; R5339:1, 5055:2, 2972:3, 493:1*; NS817:4; SM242:1
The day had not dawned in Peter's
time. R519:4*
The day star -- The revealment of our Lord's presence illuminates the
hearts of his faithful ones and causes them to understand. R2979:5, 2550:1
The light of truth giving
understanding as to where, how, and what to seek and expect. R1012:4
The light promised by the Lord as
a precursory of the glorious sunrise of the new dispensation. R4482:6
The great light, the Sun of
Righteousness, has not yet arisen, but the day-star is now shining in the
hearts of the faithful. R2550:1
The eyes of our understanding have
been enlightened because we see the day star (phosphorus--light bringer) has
arisen. R341:4*
Arise -- The glorious morning of the new dispensation is breaking
and for all those in the right attitude of heart the day star is manifested,
and soon all the members shall have passed "beyond the wall" of death.
NS481:5
In your hearts -- This light of knowledge, in our hearts, is the star of
importance now, without which the Lord's second advent cannot be discerned.
R1012:4, 2979:5
2 Peter 1:20
Private interpretation -- To understand any science or book it should be read
according to its own principles of interpretation. Moved by one Spirit it
should be taken as a whole and not disconnectedly. We should compare Scripture
with Scripture. R24:1*
Rome complains of the incredible
obscurity of the Scriptures, not for the purpose of rousing men to diligence in
studying them, but to bring them into hatred and contempt. R2012:5*
2 Peter 1:21
The prophecy -- Spoken or written by men inspired by the Spirit; not
understood by them, but was for the Church--prophecy can only be fully
understood when fulfilled. R66:3*, 349:6*
Many prophecies are highly
figurative, symbolical; and their principal lessons were intended for spiritual
Israel. HG408:6
Our Lord and the apostles in their
teachings quoted continually from the prophecies and invariably applied the
lesson to their day or to some future event of this Gospel age. HG409:1
By the will of man -- As claimed by the Higher Critics. R1690:6
They were not the imaginings of
longing human hearts. R1418:6
Holy men of God -- Old Testament prophets. R4940:3, 3764:1, 3424:1; F219
The general character of these men
was good. R349:6*
The Old Testament must be as true
as the New. SM170:1; R1622:3
"Unto whom it was revealed,
that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are
now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you with the
holy Spirit sent down from heaven." (1 Pet. 1:12) R3424:1, 5536:1; E178;
HG409:1
Such as God was pleased to use as
his mouthpieces. R5616:1
As they were moved -- Moved to speak by the holy Spirit of God. R1418:6, 3027:3
Mechanically; not in an
explanatory and sympathetic sense, as in the case of the apostles and the
Church. E178; F219; R3650:5, 2820:2, 2484:6, 370:5
The things which they uttered were
not for themselves but for us upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (1 Cor.
10:11) R3650:5, 5055:4, 2820:2
They uttered deeper and broader
truths than they themselves comprehended--truths which only the future would
fully reveal. R4940:3, 3650:5
They did not understand the things
in the full degree. R4197:5; E177; HG133:4
They were inspired as to the words
they spoke and wrote, and not as to the thoughts and sentiments. R1690:6
They were in some way, whether
through miraculous or natural means, inspired by, or brought under the
influence of God; so as to be used by him in speaking or writing such words as
he wished to have expressed. R1148:1
God used them to express his mind,
though his mind, his spirit, his thoughts, were not in them. Though they
expressed it, they could not understand his mind. R370:5
God was the one who moved these
prophets to speak and write. CR400:2
God was able to inspire the
sentiments and leave much of the clothing of them to the judgment and taste and
mannerism of the prophet, merely overruling where necessary to hinder any
misstatement. R3210:5
By the Holy Ghost -- By the mind or power of God. R370:5
Things which were not their own
thoughts. R2521:2
Their minds were fecundated by
God's power, causing them to bring forth thoughts such as God wished to have
expressed. E175
Probably clairaudiently, after the
manner in which evil spirits now speak through spirit mediums. R2400:5
God's holy power or influence
operating upon the minds of the prophets caused them to speak and to write of
future things in relationship to the divine purposes which even they themselves
did not understand. Q787:4
The holy Spirit of God
communicated information to the prophets through the holy angels, the invisible
spirit beings who encamp round about them that fear God. R2349:6
Moved by one spirit, the Bible
should be taken as a whole, and not disconnectedly. We should compare Scripture
with Scripture. R24:1*
2 Peter 2
2 Peter 2:1
There were -- In the past. R3142:5
False prophets -- Public expounders of idolatry. A55
"Grievous wolves" in
sheep's clothing. R1350:3*, 3142:5, 1851:4
Who evidently spoke by an
inspiration, or power in them almost like the real prophets of God; these were
the counterfeits. (Jer. 23:21) R265:4
Among the people -- Of Israel. R910:2, 767:6; A54; NS44:4
There shall be -- Among us. R1663:6*, 767:6
Future--in the end of the Gospel
age. NS44:4
As the Jew was blinded by a false
view of the Law, so now, many will be hindered by reason of the false
presentation of the doctrine of grace from false teachers who claim that to err
is human, to forgive, divine. C254
False teachers -- Peter thus positively asserts that there would be teachers
of falsehood right in the midst of God's people. R1350:3*
Misrepresenting; putting darkness
for light and light for darkness. R2693:4 Who pretend to be shepherds; but are
self-seekers, wolfish; they do not lay down their lives for the sheep, but feed
upon the sheep. R4568:3
Some falsely claiming to be
apostles. R5752:1
To pervert the truth. R3215:1
"Babylon," confusion,
Christendom, was already beginning to work amongst the Lord's people in Apostle
Paul's day, but the working was evidently but slight until after his and the
other apostles' death. F201
Peter pays his compliments to the
false teachers in and outside of the false systems, and locates them in the
present time in no uncertain terms. NS44:4
We see these as distinctly as we
see false Christs, claiming to be bodies of Christ, claiming to be the
church--while really there is but one Church. Theosophy, Christian Science, New
Thought movements are among them. NS44:5; R3185:3
The apostles say little about the
general unbelief of the world, but they do warn us repeatedly of those who will
privately bring infidelity into the Church. R423:4
Whoever exercises the gift of
teaching lays himself open to increased responsibility in the sight of God and
men "Be not many teachers." (James 3:1) R2156:3
Privily -- Privately, secretly. F201; R1663:6*, 1335:6, 744:6, 552:4,
423:4
Deceptively; covering the real
purport of their teachings. R3142:5
In a subtle manner. R910:2
They do not openly deny the
meaning of the words "bought" and "ransom", but while
quoting these words they covertly and privily seek to leave an impression
contrary to their true and undeniable meaning. R744:6, 1350:2*, 463:2, 448:2
Having gradually and cunningly
secured control of the church's conscience, the councils privily brought in
damnable heresies, and palmed them off upon the conscience-fettered laity as
truths. R1135:2
They must wear a garment of light,
as Paul calls it, and the more successfully serve the error which they privily
bring in and set before the Church. R910:2
Shall bring in -- Introduce. R1335:6, 423:4
To the fold. R3142:5
Future from the Apostle's day.
R744:6
Damnable heresies -- Heresies of destruction. (Diaglott) R423:4
Destructive heresies. R744:3,
1350:3*, 1335:6
Errors leading to condemnation and
rejection. R3142:5
Endeavoring to subvert the
fundamentals of the Gospel. R552:4
To undermine the faith and to turn
the faithful aside from the hopes and promises and simplicities of the Gospel.
F201
The seriousness of denying the
ransom is far reaching and leads into a great variety of errors and heresies
reflecting against other truths and laying a foundation for other errors.
R910:3, 641:4, 431:3, 190:1
Shame and confusion will cover the
faces of many who propagated the God-dishonoring, love-extinguishing,
truth-beclouding, saint-hindering, sinner-hardening, blasphemous doctrine of
eternal torment. R2598:1
Many of the Lord's true followers
have been dreaming about the conversion of the world, while the great enemy,
Satan, has been sowing tares with liberal hand in their very midst. R3769:6
The appointment of elders is
necessary because, now, as amongst the early Church, there are wolves in
sheep's clothing who would bring in heresies, against which the chosen elders
should be able to defend the flock. R1890:4, 1851:4
The time has come "when they
will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears; and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Tim.
4:3, 4) R676:5
The words "damnable,"
"destruction," and "pernicious," in verses 1 and 2
are all from the one Greek word.
R744:3
Destructive heresies swiftly
destroy the teachers as teachers and others follow their destructive ways and
bring the true teachings of Scripture into disrepute. R744:3
Denying the Lord -- Greek, despotes, sovereign. E70; R744:3
"The having bought them
Sovereign Lord denying." (Diaglott) It is a rule in the Greek to put the
important or central thought first in a sentence. The ransom is the central
thought. R910:2, 1335:6, 744:3, 423:4, 44:4*
Making prominent the denial of
having been bought as the destructive heresy. R744:3
Yet with much feigned reverence
and humility they profess allegiance to him, thus falsely presenting themselves
as messengers of truth. (2 Cor. 11:13-15) R3185:3
A denial of the ransom. R1350:5*,
1459:4, 910:3, 852:2, 641:4, 125:6
This is the new view common
amongst clergymen of every school and denomination--the no-ransom view--no
atonement necessary. R3458:4, 744:6, 392:3
That bought them -- "With his own precious blood." (1 Pet. 1:19)
E296; R392:3, 387:2
Or ransomed them. R744:3, 1459:4,
745:4
Greek, agorazo, to purchase in the
open market. R387:2, 44:4; E447
"Ye were bought with a
price." (1 Cor. 6:20) R387:2, 448:2, 392:3
Denying that any ransom price was
given or required for man's recovery. C254; R448:2
Denying that our Lord gave for us
and all men a corresponding price--removing the foundation of all our hopes.
R910:3, 744:6, 552:4, 423:1
The ransom was and still is a sure
test. Every doctrine that denies the ransom is an active opponent of the truth,
is anti-(against) Christ; every doctrine that ignores it is seriously wrong,
not of God. E296 In the days of the apostles, and especially now, some
acknowledge Jesus as Lord, but deny that he "bought them." R744:3
The Lord's people should be on
guard against the agents of another gospel, which claims that Jesus was merely
an example and teacher. R1746:2; NS44:6, 318:5
He was our Savior or Redeemer
first, and having bought, purchased, redeemed, ransomed us from the dominion or
control of death, he became rightfully our owner, our Lord, our Master. R745:4
If he has not bought us, he is not
our Lord, and has no right or control. Hence those who deny the ransom, really
deny the Lordship of Christ, no matter how much they may claim to acknowledge
Jesus as Lord. R910:3
This is the rock which Christendom
is even now striking against and being broken in pieces. (Matt. 21:44) R448:2
Those who intelligently and
conscientiously memorialize the shed blood of our Lord's body, broken for us,
are not the ones to fall into this sin. R2457:2
The amount of truth now necessary
to our sanctification and protection from the foretold "scoffers" of
the end of this age, is much more than was necessary to those in former times.
R1782:5
Swift destruction -- Contrary to the Universalist theory. R3083:2
Death is the penalty of willful
sin. HG305:6
Not eternal torment of evil-doers.
R1085:6; HG163:2, 305:6
2 Peter 2:2
Many shall follow -- Few, therefore, will be able to stand--a Little Flock.
NS44:5
All but the "very elect"
of God will be more or less stumbled by the errors and worldliness of our day.
R5801:6
We do not seek to prohibit our
readers from reading the works of Paine, Voltaire or Ingersoll, or the Day
Star, but we want the latter as well as the rest labeled infidel. R631:6
Pernicious ways -- Destructive of the very foundation of hope and its
corresponding license in dealing with Scriptures which oppose them. R910:3
Destructive of the truth,
destructive of the faith once delivered to the saints. R744:6
As for those who come under the
power of the Adversary we can only expect that their hearts and minds will
become more and more perverse. R4477:5
By reason -- The goats and wolves in sheep's clothing striving for
places of authority in the church. F248
The way of truth -- The true way of salvation--through the ransom--the way of
the cross. R910:3, 744:6
Here we have the false teachers,
the truth unpopular, and the majority falling into error. HG44:4
Evil spoken of -- Will be reviled. R910:3
The ecclesia is far better off
without any public servant than to have for a leader a golden- tongued
"goat," who would surely not "direct their hearts into the love
of God," but seductively into wrong channels. F248
A warning against readers of The
Day Star: Restitution will be the bait, error will be the hook, and sophistry
the line by which the unwary will be drawn into infidelity. R431:3, 423:4
2 Peter 2:3
Through covetousness -- Ambition, etc. R1663:6*
A mark by which we may distinguish
who are wolves in sheep's clothing. R3747:1
Make merchandise -- Would use you for their own advantage. R4480:4
2 Peter 2:4
Spared not -- In the time before the flood the angels had their trial.
R4879:3
Angels that sinned -- Angels of light who became disobedient. R4976:1
Fallen angels; demons. R5059:1,
5470:1, 5043:4, 4577:3, 3309:3; SM195:1
Inferior angels. R4976:1, 4577:3
Who did not maintain their
condition of loyalty to God. R4879:3
In Noah's day, by taking human
wives; they "kept not their first estate." (Jude 6) E104; F620;
R4068:2, 2171:4, 892:6, 254:2
They preferred to materialize and
live in human conditions. This was in violation of the divine arrangement, and
was the result of their loss of faith in God's wisdom and power. R5115:6,
4577:4, 3934:4; NS549:1; OV17:4
They seem to be thoroughly
degraded in their appetites and desires. R4976:2; HG725:4
Mankind became a prey to these
angels who "lusted after strange flesh." (Jude 6,7) R5706:3
Assuming human bodies, which they
had been privileged to do for the purpose of assisting mankind, they misused
those bodies. R3934:4, 5160:1
These angels should have been
contented and happy in the exercise of the powers and qualities and blessings
given them by the Father richly to enjoy. R4068:2
The "angel of light"
sophistries of the powers of evil, and their works of healing, will surely
delude all whose eyes of understanding are not open through heeding the
testimony of the sure Word of God. R5801:6
Their means of getting possession
of human bodies has been by getting possession of their wills. R4976:2
The fallen angels, although
restrained, have contact with each other and are well aware of procedures in
general. R3309:3
The reign of sin and death amongst
mankind furnished the opportune test of the loyalty or disloyalty of all the
angels of heaven. CR66:5; OV185:4
The Bible mentions evil angels as
well as righteous ones, a fact quite contrary to Mrs. Eddy's (Christian
Scientist) definition of angel. HG705:6*
Cast them down -- Condemned them to an overthrow. R5043:4
In the sense of being treated
ignominiously. SM195:1
These fallen spirits frequented
the earth in the days of our Lord and the apostles. Hence they were not down in
some place, but "down" in the sense of being degraded from former
honor and liberty. R2603:5
From honor and dignity, into
dishonor and condemnation. R2603:5; Q21, 743:3
Degraded them and delivered them
into chains of darkness. Q841:T, 743:3; R2603:5; HG30:2
To hell -- Greek, tartaroo, our earth's atmosphere. SM195:1
Literally, tartaroo, the lower
atmosphere. Hence, the devil is called "the prince of the power of the
air." (Eph. 2:2) HG30:2
The Greek word tartaroo refers
more to an act than to a place. This is the only Scripture where this word is
used. Q743:3; R2603:5; HG511:5; SM195:1
Reserved in tartarus--our earth's
atmosphere. R5043:5, 4880:2, 4879:3, 4068:2, 3490:2, 2171:4, 254:2, 170:3*,
111:3; HG130:6, 725:1; NS839:5; OV17:4; SM97:3
Confined in tartarus--the
circumambient air of this planet. OV294:2; HG130:1; NS124:1
Thus separated from the holy
angels. R4068:2; SM195:T
If both mankind and the angels are
to be judged during the same period, it would seem entirely reasonable that
both should be associated with the earth and its atmosphere. R2646:4
The translators of the Revised
Version erred in giving the marginal reading of tartarus--a word used in
Grecian mythology as the name for a dark abyss or prison. Q743:3
The place where Satan and the
fallen angels are restrained. NS839:5
Chains of darkness -- Cut off from fellowship with God and the holy angels and no
longer permitted to materialize and thus to commingle with humanity. R4682:2,
5043:5, 4880:2, 4577:4; OV18:3; SM98:T, 548:1
Reserving them in chains, under
darkness. F620; Q841:T
The darkness of the night, for
they can operate only under the cover of the night or conditions of darkness.
Q841:T Imprisoned, not in a special place, but in the sense of having their
liberties restrained. R5043:5; F620
They are imprisoned, restrained,
but not destroyed. R2171:4; HG725:1
"Spirits in prison." (1
Peter 3:19) Q744:1, 840:4
The penalty inflicted upon them.
PD17/26
Restrained from materialization
and from working their power in light, as they had done previously. R4976:1,
2171:4; HG725:1; Q671
Whenever these fallen spirits, in
spiritualistic seances, manifest their powers through mediums, pretending to be
certain dead human beings, they must always do their work in the dark, because
darkness is the chain by which they are bound. R2603:5; HG30:1
Whatever they do must be done in
the dark. SM195:1
Darkness is twin to evil and all
the foul spirits of earth seek its cover. No respectable person likes to be
found in these dens of darkness; or with the literature that comes from such a
fountain. HG30:5
Darkness is the first and foremost
condition of all their manifestations, nor can they endure the full glare of a
tallow candle. God has placed them under this one restriction of darkness.
HG30:3
They have exercised their
influence to whatever extent they have had permission. If they had had
unlimited power they would have wrecked the world long ago. R5470:1
Secretly; or through agents,
mediums, witches, etc. R4068:2, 4976:1, 4880:2, 266:4; HG130:1; OV18:3
This includes both Satan and the
angels of lower order. SM548:1
For 4,400 years these fallen
angels have been exiles from God. R5160:4, 4880:2
They have been restrained since
the flood. R4976:6, 5160:4, 5043:4
They were not destroyed, because,
while their fleshly bodies which they assumed might indeed perish, yet they
would merely dematerialize, or assume their spirit conditions again. R5043:4
The sentence against these was not
death, but that they should be confined in chains of darkness until the
judgment of the great day. SM98:T
The letting loose of the winds
(Rev. 7:1), powers of the fallen angels, would seem to show that God has let go
his hand of restraint; resulting in the complete overthrow of the social order
in anarchy. R5470:1, 4880:4; Q21, 737:3
Now the great day nears, the
chains are being gradually loosened, and these wicked spirits have greater
liberties than ever before. R3490:2, 2171:4; HG725:2
Spiritists claim that the spirits
are breaking these bonds and that gradually they will be able to do fully in
the light everything that they can now do in the dark, and even more than this.
R4880:3, 266:5
Not that the evil spirits will be
able to break the bands, or chains, but that it will be part of God's plan to
let this happen. R4976:6, 4880:3
We find evidences that the fallen
spirits are obtaining more liberty. We have reason to believe that there have
been materializations. R4976:5, 4977:1; HG30:3
The history of these demons would
seem to show that the evil concupiscence which led to their fall before the
flood, still continues with them. Their pleasure is still in lasciviousness and
degradation. R2171:5; HG725:4
These fallen angels did appear in
human form before the flood, but there is not one instance recorded in which
they have been able to free themselves from this restraint of chain since. The
angels that left not their first estate are not so restrained, and have
appeared frequently as men, as recorded in the Old and New Testaments. R1678:2
They have less power, less
privilege, than formerly. R4976:1
However, they were still working,
as when Saul sought the witch of Endor to inquire as to how the battle would
go. (1 Sam. 28:7-20) R4976:2; HG726:2
So we read in the New Testament
that there are many possessed--not of devils, but of demons. R4976:2; NS124:1;
OV294:2
As for the sons of the fallen
angels by human mothers, there is no hope for them. They will never be awakened
or resurrected. But the rest of the antediluvian sinners of Adam's race were as
much redeemed by Christ's sacrifice as other sinners of the race at any time.
R5160:4, 3934:5
We are to distinguish clearly
between the restraint of the fallen angels and the binding of Satan who is the
prince of demons. R4976:1; HG725:2; Q22:2
They were not imprisoned in some
far-off world called hell, nor are they engaged there in stoking fires for the
torture of poor humanity. R5043:4
Not in literal chains of iron.
SM195:1; Q671
Unto -- Until the judgment of the great day. R4976:5, 5470:1,
5160:5, 4879:3, 266:4; Q21, 22:3; SM195:1
Until the great Millennial
morning. R4682:2, 2171:4; HG725:2
The angels may have been more or
less on trial since the time that they were consigned to the chains of
darkness. Q20
Judgment -- Greek, krisis, trial. R1679:2; HG728:6
The great Millennial day of
judgment. R2603:5, 1679:2; HG725:2, 728:6
Implies a fresh trial, seeming to
apply to the present time, a great time of temptation. Q17:T; R4880:1, 4879:3;
NS124:1; Q22:3
In order to be tried at all, these
fallen angels must have certain liberties granted, to prove them. R4880:1
A trial somewhat after the manner
of their previous trial before the flood. R4880:1
A great trial, or testing, in
respect to their willingness or unwillingness to do according to the divine
will. R4880:3
The evil spirits will do all the
evil that is in their power, and this will constitute the trial of all the
fallen angels--the lifting of the restraints to see whether they will go
contrary to the divine will. R4880:4
At the beginning of Messiah's 1000
year day of the reign of righteousness. SM195:1
In the closing of the Gospel age,
and the lapping of the Millennial age. R3490:2, 266:4; Q21
In due time there is to be a
judgment or decision rendered of God respecting those angels--in connection
with the inauguration of the Millennial day. SM98:T
The work of the glorified Church
will be not only to judge the world during the Millennial age, but it will
include also the judgment of these fallen angels. (1 Cor. 6:3) R2646:4
Judgment of the present time and
not judgment of the Millennial day. Q22:3
We cannot think that God will
allow this trial of the angels during the Millennial reign, for then, nothing
shall hurt; nothing shall destroy. R4880:1
Trial or judgment of the fallen
angels will probably be along lines of their previous trial or test--those
obedient to God have a blessing, those disobedient have a curse. Q16:6
Whether this implies that in the
immediate future they will be able to materialize in daylight is difficult to
determine. If so, it would greatly increase Satan's power to blind and deceive
for a short season. R2603:5
It may be something in connection
with the saints that will constitute the test of these angels. R4880:6
The things which you and I may
see, and understand, and declare, are the things which are judging them, or
becoming a test for them. And as they come to know these things, they are
tested by them. Q18
The judgment of the great day may
not refer to the fallen angels so particularly as to us of the world. Q21
In a sense their trial has been in
progress just the same as the judgment and trial of the Church has been in
progress, to see whether or not we love righteousness and hate iniquity. Q21
It would not surprise us if some
of the fallen angels who sinned in the past have repented and have had long
centuries of experience with the unrepentant ones. The trial time will prove
each of these angels. R4880:3; Q21
All who manifest their alliance
with evil in any way will become subjects of the second death; while others who
show their loyalty to God will mark themselves as worthy, presumably, of
everlasting life. R4880:6
We have reason for believing that
after 1881, there will be wonderful spiritual manifestations. R170:3*
2 Peter 2:5
Spared not -- With the Deluge the first world passed away; that
dispensation, that order of things, came to an end. R1614:3, 2842:6
The old world -- Greek, kosmos, order or state of things. R10:2*
It was not the earth which came to
an end, merely that order or condition of things which prevailed prior to the
flood that ceased there. PD18/26; Q777:1
That was the dispensation in which
the angels were permitted to mingle with men--the object being to help mankind
recover from the fall. God knew they could not do this, but he permitted it for
a good purpose. R1614:3,6
The first 1656 years of earth's
history, down to the Deluge--the period of the ministration of angels--showed
to angels and to men the inability of the angels to recover fallen man.
R1154:6; NS549:1
Long enough to furnish a test of
loyalty of every member of the angelic host. NS549:1
By the fall of some of the angels,
it became manifest that evil was very contaminating and demoralizing even to
the pure, and could only be dealt with as a plague--stamped out. R1154:6
Saved Noah -- Sparing only Noah (who was perfect in his generation, not
of the hybrid race, Gen. 6:9), and his family. This was part of the preparation
for the new dispensation. R1560:4; SM97:2
As Noah and his family were the
only ones spared from the old order, so Christ is the Ark of Safety now for all
who will be saved out of the present order of things. R5161:4
The eighth person -- God was fully justified in the arrangement which blotted
out the human family, except eight persons--righteous Noah and his family.
SM61:1
The flood -- Which deluged the world and wiped out the whole mongrel
race with which sin had peopled the earth. R1560:4
An attestation to the truthfulness
of the Deluge. R2842:6
World of the ungodly -- Degradation, and not advancement, was the course from Adam
to Noah. R866:1
2 Peter 2:6
Sodom -- Of Sodom it is declared that the sin thereof was great, and
God "took them away as he saw good." (Ezek. 16:50) R1779:2, 1270:4
Condemned -- Greek, katakrino. R999:2
The Sodomites were not condemned
to second death but were an example of those who would be. R1618:3
With an overthrow -- Sin and death were condemned or sentenced to overthrow by
reason of the ransom given for the slaves over whom they have reigned. R999:2
Making them -- They were made an example of the ultimate doom that will
come upon all who reject God's grace and die the second death. R5076:5, 583:5
An ensample -- An example of God's treatment of evildoers--both of his
vengeance and of his mercy. His vengeance was manifested in their destruction;
and his mercy is specially manifest in their promised deliverance. R1618:2
So far from creating sin or
inciting to wickedness and crime, God's actions, where he has interfered at
all, have been toward the restraint of sin. R1779:1, 1270:4
The Sodomites, and all of Adam's
posterity, are included in the redemption work of Jesus. R5076:5, 1779:2,
1270:5
Unto those -- An example of them for the restraint of those. R1779:2,
1270:5
That after -- Not examples of God's dealings in the present time, but of
the punishment or destruction awaiting the finally incorrigible during or at
the close of the Millennial judgment period, or day. R583:5
Live ungodly -- Contrary to God's will--in sin. R1270:4
2 Peter 2:7
Vexed -- Lot was not in sympathy with the evils of Sodom. R5179:2
Having no real peace of mind in
the selfish, worldly choice of residence which he made. R2848:6
2 Peter 2:8
Dwelling among them -- His determination to make the country of the Jordan his
home does not signify that he had fellowship with the Sodomites. R2848:5
Vexed -- Lot was sore distressed by the lascivious life of the
wicked Sodomites. R3939:4
His righteous soul -- Deluded into association with evil influences for the sake
of worldly prosperity. He thought he could live separate from the
contaminations of Sodom, and even exercise a good moral influence over the
unrighteous. R2484:6
2 Peter 2:9
The Lord knoweth how -- It is very seldom that God visits punishment upon the world
in the present time. R569:5
"I will trust and not be
afraid." (Isa. 12:2) F420
Reserve the unjust -- Every wrong deed, every wrong principle acted upon, has an
evil affect upon character; as all right doing brings blessing. So mankind, as
they have obeyed or disobeyed, will be elevated or degraded in character when
they enter the next age. R4856:3
God is long-suffering and patient
to the ungodly. R4856:4
God hath appointed a day in which
he will judge the world by Jesus Christ. R569:5
Day of judgment -- Greek, krisis. HG231:5
The Millennial day. R1882:4;
HG334:5
The Day of Vengeance. NS217:3
When "he will reward every
man according to his works." (Matt. 16:27) A103; HG347:4
God is not punishing them now.
HG231:5; NS217:6
Those who have followed a wrong
course will get their lesson. They will have much more difficulty than will
those who have learned lessons from the tribulations of the present life.
R4856:4
A man who has practised evil will
require severe discipline before he will learn that the customs of the past
will not be allowed. R4856:4
To be punished -- Greek, kolasin, to cut off, as lopping off branches of
trees, to prune. R1040:2, 2608:2; HG133:5; OV166:T
Since the new order will be such
that nothing will be allowed to hinder it, a wrong course in this life will
then receive retribution in the sense that it will be the result of a wrong
condition. R4856:4
The billions of the dead will be
rewarded at the return of Christ. Whatever may become of them, we may be sure
they are not now in a condition of suffering. A103; NS217:3
The punishments will be adapted to
the nature of the offences, and the benevolent object in view--man's permanent
establishment in righteousness. R2613:5
The purgatory of the Bible is to
begin when this Gospel age ends, when the Little Flock of saints has been
selected. R1469:4
Not eternal torment, but some just
recompense of reward for every evil deed. SM222:T; HG334:5
2 Peter 2:10
But chiefly them -- Principally teachers, and chiefly in the end of this age;
those once among the elect. F166
Dignities -- Those whom God has honored and "set" in the Body.
F166
2 Peter 2:12
These -- All the willfully wicked, disobedient or rebellious.
R5078:5; OV185:4
Disobedient; lovers of evil.
PD95/109; R5167:2; NS579:4
Willful sinners against full
light. OV363:T
The unwilling, recalcitrants.
OV24:3
Natural brute beasts -- The willful rejector and opposer shall be cut off in the
second death; die like a brute beast. R4849:6, 5776:5, 5037:4, 4657:1, 1005:2;
HG707:2*; NS831:1; Q224:6
Those not willing to recognize the
King of Glory and obey him are to be destroyed. R5847:4, 1006:6; OV251:4
Those who forfeit and lose the
likeness of God, the perfection in which he created them, are reckoned as
unworthy of the honorable title of sons of God--as the brute creation which
never had and never lost this likeness. R1005:1
"And it shall come to pass,
that every soul which will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from among
the people." (Acts 3:23) R5847:4; OV166:T
None will ever be redeemed from
the second death. CR270:2; NS832:3; NS844:6; OV291:4
But there shall be no knowledge of
suffering for them. R4965:4; OV185:4
Taken and destroyed -- The second death. OV363:T; R5344:1, 5314:6, 5078:5, 4849:6,
4755:4; HG643:6; NS841:3, 858:1; OV24:3; PD95/109
Those who will not be obedient to
the requirements of Christ's Kingdom will be cut off in the second death,
having had the full measure of divine favor. R4989:6, 4965:4; NS863:6; Q225:T
All who fail to get the eternal
life or happiness in God's provision will get eternal death, second death,
utter extinction. NS708:2
As it is proper to destroy a
corrupt person who has injured others, and to cut off his opportunity of
perpetuating evil, so it would be to destroy a brute beast. Q224:6
Not preserved in torture. SM314:2;
OV145:4, 174:6, 373:5; HG222:3, 608:1; Q225:T
Utterly perish -- Everlasting destruction. OV166:T, 145:5, 125:T; R5641:2,
5371:2, 5314:6, 5167:5; CR293:4; NS832:3; SM437:T
Annihilation. Q763:2; NS832:3,
863:6
Whoever willingly and knowingly
rejects the grace of God, and chooses sin in preference to righteousness, will
be esteemed a wicked sinner, unworthy of everlasting life or any further favors
from God. R5314:6; NS844:6
Their destruction will be similar
to that of the brute beast that perisheth. R4755:4; OV125:T
This penalty is only for the
wicked who willingly and intentionally refuse the grace of God. CR279:3;
R4755:4; HG643:6
Ultimately sin shall be destroyed.
R5344:1
If we should fall away, it would
be impossible to renew us again to repentance; God would have nothing further
for us; our disregard of his mercy would mean that we would die the second
death. (Jude 12) R5641:2
We once died to sin and to have it
revive means a return to wallowing in the mire. R4843:4; Q507:8
Contrary to the Universalist
theory. R3083:2; NS831:1
Own corruption -- Those who demonstrate their unwillingness to come into
heart sympathy with righteousness. SM437:1
We may rejoice even in the second
death of the unwilling and disobedient, realizing that true and righteous is
the divine edict under which they will perish. CR67:4
2 Peter 2:14
Souls -- Beings, persons. R205:3, 276:6
2 Peter 2:15
The right way -- The ways of righteousness. F166
The way of Balaam -- Type of a class that teach error for profit. F166
Representing false teachers in the
nominal church. R2204:6
Wages of unrighteousness -- The reward of iniquity. R2204:5
Earthly gain. F166
When a reward was offered Balaam
if he would curse Israel, he was willing, in order to secure the reward, to
conform to the evil proposition in spirit, in intention. R2204:5
Some of these Balaams are in the
ministry and for the sake of salary and the maintenance of their positions, and
the friendship of the wealthy Balaks, are willing to preach doctrines which
they do not believe. R2204:6
2 Peter 2:16
Dumb ass speaking -- Contrary to the teachings of many modern theologians. The
Bible is so interwoven and united in its various parts that to tear from it a
miracle is to destroy or discredit the whole. A61; R949:6
2 Peter 2:18
Were clean escaped -- Those who accept Christ during this Gospel age, are
reckoned as having passed from death unto life; as having escaped the wrath,
"the corruption that is in the world." (2 Pet. 1:4) E410
They shall escape this special
wrath, but they do not escape the general wrath which is revealed from heaven
against all unrighteousness. E410
2 Peter 2:19
While they -- False teachers once enlightened. F166 Promise them liberty
-- Freedom from belief in one God, one Lord and one hope. E286
They themselves -- The teachers. F166
Philosophers. E285
Corruption -- Philosophies claiming to have more liberty. E286
2 Peter 2:20
Knowledge of the Lord -- That is, by being "begotten by the Word of God."
R1698:3; SM715:1
Jesus Christ -- Their ransom. R383:5
Overcome -- The beginning of any sin is the first yielding to its
intoxicating influence: and therefore we are faithfully warned to abstain from
the very appearance of evil. (1 Thes. 5:22) R2017:1
Than the beginning -- They are worse than those who have always been of the
world. R1589:4
2 Peter 2:21
Better for them -- For those who have once been clearly in the truth and have
forsaken it. F629; R1589:4 Those that have received the grace of God in vain.
SM715:T
Those who sin willfully after
receiving a knowledge of the truth--and consequently no hope for them in the
coming age. (Heb. 10:26) R2698:1, 1698:3; F167; SM715:T
They have had their blessing.
R4628:5
Not to have known -- They are in a much worse condition than the world. R4784:5
"It is impossible to renew
them again unto repentance." (Heb. 6:6) R2698:1, 4628:3, 1698:3, 383:4,
260:6; F166, 630; SM715:T
Of righteousness -- Truth. R1062:5
"When a righteous man turneth
away from his righteousness and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them
(unrepentant), for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die." (Ezek.
18:26) R2016:6
After they have known -- Been "begotten by the Word of God." R1698:3
Having known the Lord and having
once experienced his tender care and helpfulness in all of life's affairs.
R4784:5
To turn from -- Having wandered off, losing their first love; having
forgotten that they were purged from their old sins. R4784:5
There can be no more imputation of
Christ's merit to such. R4628:5
The holy commandment -- One who is awakened from the creeds of the Dark Ages and
sees, is a thousandfold more guilty than the poor blinded deluded ones whom his
influence and example helps to keep in bondage and ignorance of the truth.
R1062:5
2 Peter 2:22
The true proverb -- Proverbs 26:11. R2053:2
The dog -- Because the dog nature and disposition are still there.
R1589:5
There is nothing in the Bible
indicating the resurrection of animals. Q818:2
Is turned -- Returned. F166; R4628:5, 260:6
To his own vomit -- If we cease to desire to do God's will, we cut loose from
our Lord and begin to walk according to our own will, as natural and no longer
spiritual beings. R260:6
This step must prove fatal.
R4628:5
This applies only to the class
that comes to the Lord now and has the hearing ear, the seeing eye, and the
begetting of the Spirit. Q209:2; NS745:4
That was washed -- "He washed us from our sins in his own blood."
(Rev. 1:5) E445
Wallowing -- The class who returns to sin again. R5270:1, 3892:2,
2295:1, 1633:6; NS382:4, 745:4
Those who turn willfully and
deliberately back to the will of the flesh. R5486:2, 4628:4; NS372:5
Losing the Spirit of the Lord, the
Spirit of the truth, and abandoning their consecration altogether. HG668:5
Having once been delivered out of
Babylon and returning thither. R2991:5
In the mire -- Of sectarianism and blasphemy against God. R2991:5
Filthy, in having the very gross
sins that the world has. R4974:3
Each member of this Royal
Priesthood is at liberty to go back to wallowing in the mire. SM11:T; NS382:3
If a new creature sinned
willfully, he would no longer be a new creature. R5729:1
"Those who draw back unto
perdition." (Heb. 10:39) T68
Willfully, willingly,
intentionally, casting aside their justification and relationship to the Lord.
NS372:6
Removing the covering of sins, and
falling back where he was before. R2295:1
To the ways of sin and the
gratification of the flesh. R3892:2; T68; NS157:6
Giving evidence that they have not
the real heart-love for the truth, purity and righteousness, and are not worthy
of the life everlasting. SM773:1
These have gone back on their
covenant and there is nothing left for these but "the blackness of
darkness." (Jude 13) R5270:2; Q653:1
These will die the second death.
Whether their number is large or small is not for us to judge. We may
reasonably hope that such unfaithful characters do not predominate. HG668:5
2 Peter 3
2 Peter 3:1
Stir up -- Whatsoever things are true, just, lovely and of good
report--think on these things and stir up each other's minds with these. (Phil.
4:8) R2540:1
Your pure minds -- Spiritual minds--to love, faith, zeal and good works.
R5556:4
We may put before our brethren of
the Lord's flock only "clean provender." R2540:1
By -- Greek, en. Translated: in, by, through, with, under; and
determined by the context. R836:3
Remembrance -- Concerning these important things. R5863:3
2 Peter 3:2
Holy prophets, and. .
.apostles -- The same authority was
claimed for the writers of the epistles, as that which was accorded to the Old
Testament Scriptures. R1146:1
2 Peter 3:3
Shall come -- Greek, eleusantai. R149:1*
In the last days -- In the closing years of the Gospel age--in the harvest.
B167; R603:1*, 579:4, 349:4
During the presence of the Lord;
as in the days of Noah. B167
The conclusion of this age and the
inauguration of the new; because this one is to pass away with great commotion
and the new order brought in. Q430:5
Scoffers -- In the nominal church. B167; R2979:1, 2693:4, 603:1*
Unfaithful servants and
hypocrites. Professed Christians, overcharged and intoxicated with the spirit
of the world. B167
The scoffer's point is that
nothing in the circumstances appeals to the natural eyes. R237:5*
This great change will come
suddenly--a radical change such as came in the days of Noah--a sudden
catastrophe, the coming of which will be scoffed at by those having a form of
godliness without its power. R5863:3
Many professing Christians are
looking for a fleshly Christ, visible to the fleshly eye, and making an
imposing demonstration which they cannot mistake. R5993:3, 591:4*
Their own lusts -- Their own desires, plans, theories, etc. B167; R2979:1,
349:4
Increase of knowledge among those
whose hearts are depraved, and who are given over to self-seeking, will simply
increase the means of lawlessness. R1190:4
2 Peter 3:4
Where is the promise -- Some would thus question, being surprised at the
information that we are living in the days of the Son of Man, while there is as
yet no outward manifestation of his presence. R2975:6, 948:3
This very inquiry is most literally
fulfilled; almost the exact words being used by those who sneer at his
presence. R591:4*
This indicates that the class who
when the end comes are in darkness concerning it, are unbelievers of God's
testimony. R621:1
Ignorance of God's plan is to be
expected of the world, but the true people of God have the promise of his
special instruction so that they need not be in darkness respecting the divine
program. SM184:2
It would be with the world as it
was in the days of Noah, careless and thoughtless, the whole attention given to
fleshly desires, not understanding nor caring for the spiritual. R326:6*
In presenting the truth to others,
let time be the last part of the "good news" and tell no one of the
time and presence, except they show that they have "an ear to hear."
R216:6
Of his coming -- Greek, parousia, presence. B159, 167; F223; R5993:3,
2979:1, 2975:5, 1693:1, 948:3, 621:1, 591:4*, 579:4, 555:4*, 349:1, 237:4*,
223:1*, 216:6; HG24:4, 26:6
Accepting a 587 BC date for the
fall of Zedekiah, instead of 606 BC, would extend the Jubilee antitype 19
years--to 1893 AD. R3437:4
Fathers fell asleep -- In death, awaiting the resurrection morning. E346
They are still asleep in the dust
of the earth. SM397:T
All the dead are reckoned as
sleeping, waiting for his return and his exaltation with his elect Bride in
glory. R2197:6
The apostles frequently used this
appropriate, hopeful and peaceful figure of speech. F345; R1881:1; HG332:2
All things continue -- The affairs of the world continue in their ordinary
channels. R2975:6
The present order of things.
NS787:6
It is in appearance only that
things so appear to the worldly. NS27:4
Many whose fears are aroused,
quiet them by supposing that the present must be only the ordinary course, that
it has always been so. R948:3, 353:1*
Their chief consolation; no
radical changes in the affairs of humanity. R5062:1
In the days of his presence the
world will be eating, drinking, planting and building, and know not. R2975:6,
349:4; B167
They remember not that the ark and
the flood were the end of a former epoch, and that present events are as much
out of the usual rut of this epoch, as the closing events of that
"world" were out of the usual. R948:3
The conservative Phariseeism of
today shakes the cautious head and says; we cannot be on the eve of a new
dispensation and a revolution so stupendous, involving the whole present social
structure. R1488:5
The natural man and his scientific
leaders will consider that earthquakes have been going on and will continue to
go on without any relationship to our Lord's second presence and the time of
trouble. HG400:4
They are unable to understand the
"signs of the times" revealing his return. R5993:4; B167
They do not realize that every age
has its close or "harvest." R948:3, 579:4
For such reasons many shut the
eyes of their understanding to the most remarkable condition of affairs in our
day. SM288:T
Since six thousand years have
passed without God's interposition to suppress sin and to lift mankind out of
its present state, they reason that God's future dealings should be judged of
by the past. R1092:4
As they were -- As at present. B167
This way. (Diaglott) R237:5*
From the beginning -- As they are now and have been from the foundation of the
world. R1092:4; HG400:4; NS27:4
Evolutionists conclude that man
did not fall from the divine image, but has been progressing from the image of
a monkey, gradually attaining perfection. R3893:6, 2693:3
2 Peter 3:5
Willingly are ignorant -- The majority of professing Christians are careless,
indifferent to what the Lord had caused to be written for their admonition and
encouragement and assistance in this "evil day." SM288:1
Heavens -- Referring to the spirit beings and influences--the angels,
fallen and unfallen. OV27:2
The spiritual or superior rule of
the angels. R4222:3; A69; HG538:6; PD94/108
Earth -- Social conditions. PD94/108
Referring to humanity subjected to
the spiritual influences. OV27:2
Peter calls each of these periods
a separate heavens and earth--heaven symbolizes the higher or spiritual
controlling powers, earth symbolizes human government and social arrangements.
A69; HG538:6
Out of the water -- When the waters subsided, the tops of the mountains and
hills appeared again. Even the trees were not uprooted, for if they had been
floating on the water the dove could have found rest. HG11:3
In the water -- The flood waters rose until the hills were covered, and
then the mountains. HG11:3
2 Peter 3:6
World that then was -- Greek, kosmos, order or state of things. R1677:3, 5161:2,
97:2*, 10:2*
The first great epoch, or
dispensation, or age; before the flood. A66; R5161:2, 1677:3, 1615:4, 532:2,
256:5, 97:2*; HG537:6; OV26:4; Q852:4
A different order from the
present, hence the prince of this present evil world was not the prince of that
which preceded this--of the world or dispensation before the flood. R1677:6
Several Scriptures suggest that
the first world was under the supervision and special ministration of the
angels. R1677:6; A66, 220; HG537:6; OV26:4
The rainbow in the clouds was
given as a sign of God's covenant with men, that the earth should never again
be destroyed by a flood of waters. R1615:4
As Noah and his family were the
only ones spared from the old order of things, so Christ is the Ark of Safety
now for all who will be saved out of the present order of things. R5161:4
Being overflowed -- The close of the first dispensation. R2842:6
With water -- The fact that the water was literal leads some to believe
that the fire also must be literal, but this by no means follows. Noah's ark
was literal too, but it typified Christ. A318
Perished -- Having served its purpose. A69; HG538:6
Came to an end. R10:2*
Disappeared--not the literal
heaven nor the literal earth, but the symbolic or figurative. R4222:3
Not the literal earth and literal
heavens ceased there, but that dispensation or arrangement of things existing
before the flood. A318
It appears that there was little
or no change of the earth, or heavens, but simply a great destruction of life.
HG11:4
2 Peter 3:7
But the heavens -- Symbolizes the higher or spiritual controlling powers. A69;
HG538:6; PD94/108
Civil and ecclesiastical rule.
B168
Satan, and religious systems under
Satanic direction. OV27:2
We see more or less of an
excitement now amongst theologians and all classes. People are losing confidence
in their leaders of the past. R5317:5
Just now they are having a little
diversion with special attacks on us. R5317:5
And the earth -- The entire social fabric. B168; D271; PD84/108
Human society as now organized
under Satan's control. A69; HG539:1
We are expecting a change; and if
this change shall be accompanied by physical or electrical disturbances, now is
the time for them to be coming. R5318:1
Which are now -- The second great epoch or dispensation, from the flood to
the establishment of the Kingdom of God. A67, 318; R4222:3, 2832:2, 1684:1,
1677:3, 1615:4, 532:2, 256:5; OV26:4; Q852:4
Under the limited control of
Satan, "the prince of this world." A67; HG233:6, 537:6
"This present evil
world." (Gal. 1:4) R1814:1, 5161:2, 1684:1, 1615:4, 256:5; A67; HG538:1;
OV26:4; Q852:4
Called "the present evil
world" not because there is nothing good in it, but because in it evil is
permitted to predominate. A67; R5161:2, 10:3*; OV26:4; HG538:2; PD84/108
Society was reorganized under new
conditions, but on the same physical earth, and a new spiritual government or
rule or order obtained also. R4222:3
Includes three ages, each a step
in the plan of God for the overthrow of evil. Each step is higher than that
preceding it, and carries the plan forward and nearer to completion. A71;
R256:5; HG539:4
The three subdivisions are the
Patriarchal age reaching from the flood to the death of Jacob; the Jewish age,
reaching to the death of Christ; and the Gospel age, reaching to the first
resurrection. HG11:6, 539:2; A71; R256:5
Man is permitted to try governing
himself; but by reason of the fall he is under the control of Satan. A221
Clearly spoken of as distinct from
the former heavens and earth. HG11:3
By the same word -- Of divine authority. A318
Reserved unto fire -- Representing the destruction of whatever is burned. A318
This second world is doomed to
pass away. R10:2*, 2832:2, 1615:4
The whole structure will be
involved in anarchy. R5317:3; B168; D271; PD84/108
The overwhelming flood of trouble
coming shortly. B168
A destructive season of
lawlessness that will destroy the "elements"--labor, capitalistic,
etc., that go to make up the present social order. Q852:4
A great cataclysm of trouble,
anarchy, called "fire," will mark the termination of the present
dispensation. R2842:6, 5796:1, 5753:2, 5735:3, 5317:2, 2832:2, 1615:4
All present institutions are to
utterly perish in the great time of trouble with which this age is very shortly
to end. R2832:3; HG234:1
The conflagration might possibly
have its beginning in the Church. R5317:5
The trial of the fallen angels (of
the present heavens) is in the near future--perhaps to some extent already
begun. R4880:1
Even now there are fires burning
here and there, exposing, to some extent, the evildoers. R5317:3
The world that now is is already
being violently shaken, and is beginning to crumble away financially,
politically, socially and ecclesiastically. Q853:T
This attempted reign of man under
Satan is to end in the greatest time of trouble the world has ever known. A221
There will be no patching of
present institutions, but a clean sweep of them by the fire of divine wrath
preceding the establishment of the new order. R6014:5, 2218:3
Not to be fulfilled literally by
electrical displays of lightning, by storms, or in connection with the zone of
electrical energy which some scientists believe is approaching the earth, etc.
R5317:2
Day of judgment -- The word "judgment" implies, not merely a
sentence, but also a trial. HG315:5; NS161:6
God's justice, indignation, will
burn against every one who is wicked, and this fire will go on all through the
Millennial age. R5317:3
The judgments of the Lord will be
abroad in the earth and the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
(Isa. 26:9) R5317:3
An opportunity to rise out of
sinful and fallen conditions, to full harmony with God. R5076:5
God has elected kings, priests,
and judges, to rule, bless, instruct and judge mankind, in general. SM175:2;
CR486:1
If the thought be kept in mind
that the world's day of judgment is a thousand years long, the character of the
judging then to be done will the more readily be discerned. NS161:6
A sentence upon each individual of
the human family would be impossible within a 24-hour day under any imaginable
conditions, reasonable or unreasonable. NS161:6
2 Peter 3:8
That one day -- During which Christ will reign over and thereby bless all
the families of the earth. A222; R3889:6
The day of the Lord's presence.
B168
The world's judgment--one of the
thousand year days--the day of Messiah's glorious reign. SM151:1, 171:3;
R5780:3, 568:6; B168; CR486:1; HG147:3, 315:5; NS180:2, 857:6; Q794:4
The Millennial day. R2664:4,
5780:3, 2990:3, 2304:1
"He hath appointed a day, in
which he will judge the world in righteousness." (Acts 17:31) R3028:6,
5780:3, 5563:6, 2990:3, 2664:4; CR486:1; HG273:2; NS329:2; Q794:4, 830:T,
853:4; SM175:2
"They lived and reigned with
Christ a thousand years." (Rev. 20:4) R568:6, 2304:1
Not a twenty-four hour day. F19;
R4552:1, 3889:6, 2304:1, 568:6; HG315:5; NS161:2, 180:1, 329:3; Q794:4
With the Lord -- The interim between our Lord's death and his second advent
is not long from God's standpoint. R2454:3; NS5:3, 31:3, 514:1
As a thousand years -- With man. NS161:6
Each day of the great week which
commenced with the creation of Adam and ends with full restitution to the image
and favor of God, is a thousand years. R1187:3, 6013:6
During six of these great days the
death sentence has brought man down in some respects to the level of the brute.
R4552:1
Bible chronology quite clearly
teaches that the six thousand years since Adam's creation have ended. Now the
great seventh day, also a thousand years long, has commenced. R6013:6; SM792:2
The seventh thousand day commenced
in 1873, consequently we are now in the Sabbath day. R230:2, 91:5*; B40
The Bible mentions days of various
lengths. R5139:3, 568:6; HG583:4; Q758:2
A thousand years as one day
-- Adam died "in the day" in
which he became a sinner (1000-year day), and none of his posterity lived more
than 969
years. R3391:2, 3377:6, 1610:4; F332;
HG120:2; NS707:4
"In the day that thou eatest
thereof." (Gen. 2:17) F332; E391; R4551:6, 3377:6, 2768:5, 2153:2, 1718:2,
1610:3; HG297:6, 608:2; OV16:3; Q762:5
The six great thousand-year days
beginning with Adam are ended. Bviii; R6013:6, 5139:3, 3180:5, 91:5; SM792:2
Six great days constitute man's
period of battling with sin and death and the seventh shall be the day of
Messiah, the Sabbath, or rest day to the world. SM171:3, 471:1; PD18/26
The development of God's plan has
been long from the human standpoint, but not so from the divine. PD18/26;
R2736:1, 702:4*; NS5:3, 31:3, 399:4
It is only as measured by the
shortness of present life that 6000 years seem very long. With God, "a
thousand years are but as yesterday." (Psa. 90:4) R1092:4, 2768:5; HG583:4;
NS393:1, 457:3
Our Lord died in the year of the
world 4161--after four days had passed and the fifth day had begun. R3375:2,
1187:3
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack -- God is not slow. R4856:4
Though it may at present appear as
though the Lord is slack in the fulfillment of his promises, both in regard to
well-doers and to evildoers, it would be a mistake to suppose thus. R1272:3
Longsuffering -- Plenteous in mercy. R1272:3
The extension or prolonging of the
Jewish age after AD 33, and of the Gospel age after AD 1878, is an expression
of the long suffering of God to his defiled people. R198:5*
Not willing -- Not desiring. R1272:3
God's attitude toward sinners.
R2574:4
God willeth not the death of him
that dieth, but that all should turn unto him and live. (Ezek. 18:23) R2398:6,
1449:5
God has been holding back the full
penalty in mercy, according to his provision in Christ. (Psa. 103:9, 10)
R1402:6, 1272:3
Not that God wills not the death
of him who dies for his own sin, but that he has no pleasure or delight in it.
R1449:6*
"God wills all men to be
saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2:4) R1449:6*,
1125:4, 903:5*
Any -- Of his people. R198:5*
Perish -- The willfully wicked, who reject all his mercies, shall be
blotted out of existence, not tormented. R2574:4
To repentance -- Turn unto God and live. R1272:3
He wills to restore all who shall
prove worthy--that is the object of the Millennial reign. R1125:4; HG292:5
The Lord is willing that all
should come to a full appreciation of the truth and by acceptance of it be
saved from the full penalty of willful sin. R1402:6
Every good deed shall in due time
be remembered and rewarded, and every malicious deed punished; "Vengeance
is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." (Rom. 12:19) R1781:2, 1272:4
"As many as I love I rebuke
and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent." (2 Pet. 3:9) R198:5*
2 Peter 3:10
But -- Zealous for our growth in knowledge, Peter endeavors to
inspire us thereto by calling attention to the wonderful events and close proximity
of the Day of the Lord. R3215:5
The day of the Lord -- The thousand-year day of his presence. B168, 40; NS111:6
It is the day in which the old
order is to perish and the glorious new order is to be ushered in. R5916:2
Will come -- Greek, heko, will arrive; be here. B168; R555:4*
Thief in the night -- Unobservedly, quietly. B168; A318, 334; R3215:5, 794:1*
Jesus' presence unknown to the
world. Q91:3; R2974:1; NS7:2
The Church class will know in
advance respecting the Day of the Lord. (1
Thes. 5:2, 3) NS7:2; R555:4, 326:6
Throughout this entire age the
Lord's people have been left in uncertainty as to the time of the Master's
second coming. R5735:3
As with the Jews in the end of
their age, they "knew not the time of their visitation," (Luke 19:44)
so it is with the present religious systems. R1785:4
It will be present while some are
scoffing and smiting those fellow-servants who declare the truth. B168
In the which -- The great time of trouble follows closely the second coming
of Christ. R5863:6
The heavens -- The symbolic heavens--present powers of the air of which
Satan is the chief or prince. A318; R1814:2
The great Antichrist system. C238
The church. NS565:2
A figurative term for the present
religious institutions--ecclesiasticism. R5864:1
The ecclesiastical powers of
Christendom. D528; R5456:1, 5753:2, 5735:1, 5517:4, 5348:6, 5161:4, 5058:6,
3215:5
"The heavens do rule."
(Dan. 4:26) R26:4
Ecclesiasticism will be on fire
first. SM423:3; R5864:1
Peter describes the great Day of
Wrath, intimating that it will begin with the nominal church class. R5348:6,
5517:1, 5317:5
The governments--the higher or
ruling powers. R593:1, 409:6, 26:4
The religious systems and
principles which at present govern and control mankind. R1470:3
The ecclesiastical, and the spiritual
things connected therewith. R4222:3
Ruling powers, political and
ecclesiastical, founded as they are by usurpation and with tyranny, despotism,
injustice, error, superstition, prejudice and ignorance entering largely into
their foundation principles. R794:1*
Perhaps we have neglected the fact
that great Babylon apparently is dealt with before the world trouble comes. To
expect the world's great trouble to begin October 1914 would be to expect
astounding things. R5348:6
Shall pass away -- To be supplanted by the new heavens and the new earth.
R4222:3, 3154:6
Meaning nothing more than a change
of dispensation. HG11:3
Only a change of dispensation,
attended with great national destruction. HG11:5
With a great noise -- A great hissing noise. A318
Great disputation, confusion, etc.
R5517:1, 5456:1, 593:1, 409:6, 26:4; A69; HG538:6
A great commotion, a great
disturbance. SM316:2, 423:3; R5349:1, 5317:5, 1470:3
Tumult and confusion. R3215:5
At the second coming of our Lord.
R4222:5
Already the noise and tumult,
which shall eventuate in worldwide anarchy, are distinctly heard in every
nation; for the Day of the Lord has indeed begun, and the heat of human passion
is growing daily. R3215:6
With a "rushing sound,"
as escaping steam that must obey the decisive action of the "fervent
heat." R794:1*
And the elements -- Component parts. R5349:1; D552
Of present ecclesiasticism. D528
The present order of things.
R5569:3
Of society. NS565:2
Of tyranny, ignorance and
superstition. R716:1*
The various parties and sects composing
it, split and torn by discordant views. R3215:5
Labor element, artisan element,
capitalistic element, religious element. R5526:5, 1488:4; Q771:4
The capital element and the labor
element will seek to burn the other up. R5317:3, 5161:4
We see the capitalistic element
and the labor element separating the one from the other. SM423:1
The fire will devour the
capitalistic, banking, political, religious and industrial elements. R5864:1,
5735:1; Q771:4, 852:4
The fire will extend to the social
structure. The social, political, financial and ecclesiastical systems together
make up our present order. R5864:1, 1615:5
The same word used by Paul in
speaking of the beggarly elements of this world. (Gal. 4:9) R26:4, 409:6
Shall melt -- The social fabric. R668:1, 5735:1, 5349:1
The melting down will begin in the
overthrow of the religious institutions. R5735:2
The fire will next affect the
social and industrial organization--merchandise, capital and labor, society,
etc. R5864:1
Be dissolved--they will separate,
part company, fail to keep together, and will be swept away. R5864:1; Q771:4
Disintegrate into its various
elements. R1470:3
The nations of the world will go
down quickly. R5526:4
In the fervency of the heat and
strife of that time. R5349:1
With fervent heat -- The heat of public discussion and investigation. R3215:6,
5864:4 Discussion, tumult, strife. R5526:4,5, 5349:1, 3154:6, 1470:3; NS565:2
Human passion and wrath. R1488:4
In the bitterness of that time of
selfish strife the elements will no longer blend and coalesce as before.
R1470:3
The strife between capital and
labor. R5161:4
The "elements" will all
dissolve with the fervency of the heat. R5863:5
The earth also -- Human society as now organized under Satan's control. A69;
R716:1*; HG539:1
The social organization under both
church and state influence. D528; A319; R5058:6, 3215:6; Q771:4
Social order of human affairs.
R5456:1, 5753:2, 5349:1, 5348:6, 4222:3, 1470:3, 593:1, 409:6, 26:4
Organized society, including the
financial and political powers. R5735:1, 5753:2; SM423:2
Society as at present organized
will "reel," "melt," and be "dissolved." R1813:6,
3215:6, 1814:2, 593:1, 409:6; NS565:2
Shall take fire. SM422:3
After the heavens are on fire.
SM423:3; R5863:3, 5349:1
It will be after the fall of
Babylon--that the great distress of nations will come. R5348:6, 5864:1
Our physical earth has been the
basis for "the world that was," "the present evil world,"
and the "world to come," and signifies the order of things. R4222:3,
1615:4, 532:2; A69; HG538:6
The physical earth will remain
practically as it is, and will begin to undergo the transforming influences of
restitution under Christ. SM422:2; R1615:4; A69
The principle of disintegration
and reconstruction is constantly operating in nature; in rocks and animal and
vegetable organisms. R5864:2
There will have to be a thorough
breaking up of the fallow ground of men's hearts, and a thorough disintegration
of present arrangements before the seed of truth can be planted that will bring
forth fruitage of the new dispensation. R5864:2
And the works -- Pride, rank, aristocracy, royalty. A319
Present institutions will be
swallowed up. Div; R5161:4
Shall be burned up -- Discovered--ancient manuscripts. R794:1*
Destroyed in the strife and
friction caused by increasing knowledge, combined with selfishness. R3215:6
In the combustion or consumption
of the trouble. R5349:1
By a symbolic fire of destruction
that is coming. R4627:3, 5864:1, 5161:4
With the fire of God's jealousy.
(Zeph. 3:8) R1615:4, 5863:6, 3215:6, 794:1*, 668:1; D528
The Lord's anger will burn against
all kinds of injustice and iniquity. Wrongdoing and wrongdoers will then be
punished. R4628:1
The fire of God's anger no more
means a literal fire than does the expression a fiery horse. It is the fire of
God's wrath against sin. R5863:6
Overthrowing all law and order in
anarchy. R5349:1
Pictured as a great conflagration.
R5863:3, 5317:3, 4990:1
A great deal of burning,
heart-burning and headaches and prostration are caused today by various
exposures of one kind or another as time advances. R4628:4
The present age will end with the
dissolution of the symbolic "heavens" and symbolic "earth,"
which signifies the utter disruption of the present social and ecclesiastical
order. R2218:2, 5517:4; HG627:2
In reading this prophecy the
majority of Christian people seem to think that there will be a literal burning
up of the material heavens and earth. R5863:6, 5735:1, 5456:1, 5161:4
A literal interpretation overlooks
the fact that St. Peter, speaking of the same time, in Acts 3:19-21 declares
that Times of Restitution and blessing, not times of world-burning, will follow
the second coming of Jesus. HG627:2; R5517:4
The time of trouble is referred to
as a whirlwind, tempest and flood, etc. Manifestly, it cannot be all of these
in a literal sense. R4627:3, 1813:6
After the "fire" has
done its work the Lord will then turn to the people a pure language. (Zeph.
3:8,9) The fire is symbolic. Q772:T,4; R5753:2, 4627:3, 1814:1, 794:4*
Fire is very properly a symbol of
destruction, and is so used through the Scriptures. R4627:3
Fire is frequently used in a
symbolic sense to represent tribulation. St. Peter says, "Think it not
strange concerning the fiery trial that shall try you." (1 Pet. 4:12)
HG627:2
2 Peter 3:11
Seeing -- The Lord's faithful, watching people, guided by the Word of
truth, will have an understanding of temporal affairs. R5735:2
The Apostle exhorts that they be
not swallowed up by politics, money-getting etc., but that they set their
affections on higher things. B168
"When these things begin to
come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads; for your deliverance draweth
nigh." "When ye see these things, know that the kingdom of God is
nigh at hand." (Luke 21:28, 31) R5735:2
All these things -- Present earthly conditions. B168; R3215:6, 2123:1*
Present political, social,
religious and financial arrangements. R1622:2
All the things that occupy men's
minds and absorb their energies. R5735:5
The many snares and delusions of
this evil day. R1914:5
How comparatively unimportant
should the things of this present order seem to us. They are not worthy of our
time or words. R1622:2
Shall be dissolved -- Are only temporary and will soon give place to the better
order. B168
Shall all go down. R3215:6
Shall so shortly be dissolved. R1914:5
We see that their passing away is
just at hand in this our day. R5735:5, 3215:6
It will not be stopped until the
present order shall have been wholly dissolved. R5735:4
Is to pass away--to give place to
a new order, social and religious. R1814:2, 5735:1
Manner of persons -- We have the one pattern, to be like our Father which is in
heaven. CR7:2
How serious life should be!
R5778:4
All Christians should be zealous.
CR309:4
If this was a serious
consideration in the Apostle's day, how much more weighty does it seem today,
when we stand at the threshold of the new dispensation and amidst the
disintegrating influences of the old. R1622:2
As we note the bitter persecutions
of the past, we should the more forgive arrogance and bigotry. All should turn
from human traditions and everything contrary to the Bible. PD86/99
How highly we, who belong to the
Gospel dispensation, should value its privileges and opportunities, seeking to
make our calling and election sure! R4979:1
All those who believe in the great
change just before us should be living for the future and not for the present.
R5735:6
Let us lay these precious words to
heart; for we stand in the very presence of the Great Judge of all the earth.
R5864:5, 3215:6
Ought ye -- New creatures in Christ. R5735:6
We who have heard the Lord's
invitation to joint-heirship in his Kingdom. OV205:6
The Apostle puts this solemn
question right home to us. It is applicable now as never before. R5864:4
We as ambassadors for the King of
kings and Lord of lords hold a very responsible and dignified position. NS466:4
We who are the recipients of much
more abundant grace of this Gospel dispensation compared to the Law
dispensation. R2010:3
We who have had such great favors
and privileges and enlightenment. R5206:4
If our fellowmen are willing to
endure great hardships for the trivial rewards that are theirs, what should we
be willing to endure? NS455:4
To be -- We need to guard against being overcharged with the petty
cares of this present time, and against imbibing the spirit of the world. Only
by constant watchfulness and prayer can we keep ourselves unspotted from the
world. R1622:5
Separate and distinct from all
other people in the world. R2218:3; B168
Imbibe the spirit of the Bible by
studying its teachings. R5735:6
Holy conversation -- Behavior. R5405:4
Holy conduct. B168
Holy living. SM706:2
In all holiness of life, in
separateness from the world. R5864:4, 3791:1
The transitoriness, the trifling
value of the most alluring of earth's gifts, should cause us to turn from them
and to set our affections and hopes on heavenly hopes and things, which are
infinite in value. R5735:6
There is nothing unholy in the new
creature, and the imperfections of the flesh are covered by the robe of
Christ's righteousness. R5735:6
The new creature begotten from
above wishes to be holy and to keep his tabernacle holy. He breathes by nature
a holy atmosphere; anything contrary is poisonous to this heavenly germ.
R5735:6
If our bodies are the temple of
the holy Spirit, we should be quickened into active and diligent service and to
the bringing forth of all the fruits of holiness. R1981:6
New creatures should fellowship
with one another seeking to build one another up in the most holy faith.
R5736:1 "Let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ."
(Phil. 1:27) R4805:5, 1622:5
The child of God who is slovenly
or careless in the management of his earthly body is not living in accord with
true holiness; is not properly developing the heavenly "seed"
begotten within him. R5736:1
Godliness -- Piety. B168
Godlikeness. R1981:6
Godlikeness certainly cannot
include any harmful gossip, unclean or unholy conversation, disloyal or
rebellious words. R4805:5
We should lay up treasure in
heaven, where the institutions will be permanent, and where armies and
revolutions will not destroy the government. R5735:6
The very thoughts of the brain and
the meditations of the heart should be conformed as nearly as possible to God's
perfect standard. R5736:1
To see that meekness, sincerity,
moderation, temperance and truth are always manifest in us, and that our
general character bears the divine likeness. R1622:5
"Be ye holy, for I and
holy," (1 Pet. 1:16) is the injunction of our Father in heaven. R5735:6,
5405:4, 3149:6
One not living up to his
privileges, will likely be taken unawares as by a "thief in the
night;" and will find too late that he has lost the "prize."
R5736:4
These words, while serving a
purpose for good all down this Gospel age, are specially meant by the Spirit
for us, who are living in this very Day of God. R3215:6
The return of Christ and the
coming of the Kingdom are related to each other as elements of the Christian's
hope, and are used invariably in the Bible as motives to holiness and
perseverance. R32:6*, 298:4*
When we remember our own imperfections
and blemishes and how much the Lord must overlook and forgive in us, how
generous it should make us in our sentiments toward the brethren. How their
weaknesses should appeal to us! SM706:2
2 Peter 3:12
Looking for -- Watching for the evidences (signs) to prove that it has
come. B168
Those of piety who are looking for
that day will know of it before the full bursting forth of the fire of wrath.
B168
Unto the coming -- Greek, parousia, presence. B159, 168
The day of God -- The age commencing with the second coming of Christ. R532:2
Wherein the heavens -- In figurative language, symbolically picturing the
ecclesiastical influence of our day. R4208:3
The present ruling powers. R3215:6
Certainly not the literal heavens,
separated by millions of miles of space with nothing between to take fire. B169
Not the heaven of God's residence,
but the ecclesiastical heavens. R5161:4
Being on fire -- Trouble and destruction. SM424:3; R4990:1; HG149:4
Shall be consumed, shall cease to
be. SM316:1
Symbolic--will consume everything
of the present time that is contrary to the divine will, everything that is
unjust, inequitable. R5161:4
St. Peter described the sign of
the Son of Man in the heavens, revealed in flaming fire. (Matt. 24:30) SM422:3
The destruction of the religious
systems and principles which at present govern and control mankind. R1470:3,
4990:1
The warring element will fight out
this battle; thus will God promote the change. R5567:5
The "fire shall try every
man's work of what sort it is." (1 Cor. 3:13) R4208:3, 5517:1; HG627:2;
NS565:1
Be dissolved -- Pass away with great commotion. R1470:3; SM422:3, 423:3
In the beginning of the "Day
of the Lord," which "shall burn as an oven." (Mal. 4:1) A69;
HG539:1
And the elements -- Of which they are composed; Papacy and Protestantism. D552
Shall melt -- Symbolic of the time of trouble, in which present
institutions shall be swallowed up. OV269:4; Div Confusion, trouble and
dissolution. A69; HG538:6
2 Peter 3:13
Nevertheless we -- We who have come into covenant relationship with the Lord;
we who, unlike the rest of the world, know of the divine plan. R3215:6
Look for -- Not to some other planet, but to this same one, and a new
social order of things and new ecclesiastical rule. R4222:5, 2218:3
New heavens -- The new spiritual power--Christ's Kingdom. A319, 334, 69;
R5753:2, 5161:4, 2832:2; OV248:3
Ruling powers--the Kingdom of God.
B168
Ecclesiasticism, God's glorified
Church. D529; R5735:2, 5567:5, 5517:4, 5456:1; SM316:1
The glorified Jesus and his
Church, in the Millennial Kingdom. OV27:2; R6014:5, 5456:1, 2832:3
The Kingdom of God, to be
established in power and great glory. R3216:1; PD94/108
The new era, symbolically called.
R2843:1, 5796:1, 1814:2
New religious system--the Church
or government of righteousness for which we pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy
will be done on earth as it is done in heaven." R1814:1, 1470:3; Div
Higher, or ecclesiastical and spiritual powers. PD94/108
In which the Lord will dominate
human affairs. OV248:3
New spiritual domination under
which human regeneration will bring the "new earth." OV248:3
And a new earth -- Earthly society reorganized on the new basis of love and
justice, rather than of might and oppression. A319, 334, 69; B168; D529;
R1470:3; Q771:4
A new social order--symbolically
called the "new earth." R5161:4, 5796:1, 4990:1, 2218:2; D551;
NS788:6; PD94/108; Q430:5
The new social order which
Messiah's Kingdom will establish. R5456:1,2, 6014:5, 5753:2, 5161:5, 3216:1,
1814:1; PD84/108
Mankind under the new conditions
of the New Covenant. OV27:3
The Millennial Kingdom will
promptly be established on the ruins of "the present evil world"--on
the ashes of present civil, religious, political institutions. R2920:5; D558;
Q844:T
The law of love will then prevail
amongst perfect men, and a direct responsibility will be realized to God.
R4223:1
Mankind under the new conditions
of the New Covenant. OV27:3
The new organization of society. A
new earth symbolically, although upon the same earth literally. R1814:1
It will be in the hands of the
Ancient Worthies, when his Kingdom shall be fully established. R5567:5
It will be the original heavens
and earth restored. R4222:6
"The world to come."
(Heb. 2:5) F609; A70; HG11:6, 416:3, 538:1, 539:5; OV147:3; Q852:4
This same planet, but under new
conditions, new social arrangements, provided by the Messianic Kingdom. R5517:4
There will be a new arrangement of
things in the affairs of the earth, but just what will be the nature of the
physical changes, or how these will be brought about, we do not know. R5317:6
The third epoch is to be a
"world without end" (Isa. 45:17) under divine administration, the
Kingdom of God. A67; R10:2*; HG538:1, Q852:4
This third earth and third heaven
are the final and perfect, wherein "the tabernacle of God is with
men." (Rev. 21:3) R210:3*, 2832:1
This will be the third heavens,
and the third earth, which will differ from the present condition of things in
that it will be righteous, whereas the present is unrighteous, imperfect.
R2832:2, 5161:2
All three of these
"worlds" or dispensations are connected with our planet, the earth.
The Apostle divides them into heaven and earth; by the heavens referring to the
spirit beings and influences, and by the earth referring to humanity subjected
to these spiritual influences. OV27:2; R1677:3, 210:3*, 10:2*; HG11:3
Three great epochs of time in each
of which God's plan with reference to men has a distinct and separate outline,
yet each is but a part of the one great plan which, when complete, will exhibit
the divine wisdom. R1677:3, 532:2
The three great epochs represent
three distinct manifestations of divine providence. A66; HG537:6
There are heavens and earth in
each order. They seem to exist in relation to each other as cause and effect,
the outer, lower and visible as an expression of the inner, higher and
invisible. R210:3*, 206:3*
Not referring to new worlds, nor
to heavens ranged one above another, as many have supposed. (2 Cor. 12:2)
R2832:2
Wherein -- In the third great epoch or dispensation. R1677:3
Dwelleth righteousness -- Only that which is righteous, just, equitable, true, will
be recognized. R6014:5
In which selfishness will be
wholly eliminated and righteousness will prevail. R5161:4; SM769:1
In which justice and love, instead
of power and selfishness, will be the law. A335
The reign of righteousness and
love, in contradistinction to the present reign of sin, selfishness and death.
HG234:1
Wherein right and truth and love
will have supplanted error, superstition and selfishness. R1470:4
And wherein wars will cease to the
ends of the earth! R5796:1, In which "the survival of the fittest"
will be absolutely true. Q844:T
Not because there will be no evil
in it, but because evil will not predominate. The blotting out of evil will be
gradual, requiring all of the first thousand years. A67; R10:3*; HG538:2;
OV27:3
The Lord will send to mankind
"a pure message, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve
him with one consent." (Zeph. 3:9) R5161:5
Satan will be bound and can
deceive the world no longer. R4908:6, 1809:5; HG234:1, 540:3
David portrays the introduction of
the same blessed Millennium of peace and righteousness. (Psa. 46:8-11) R1470:4,
5863:6, 5796:1, 1813:6; D551
"The ages to come";
(Eph. 2:7) the first of which is the Millennial age. HG11:6, 539:2; A71
Doubtless these were the same
things which John afterward saw in vision on the Isle of Patmos. A70; HG539:2
Paul was given a glimpse of the
next dispensation. He was "caught away" down the stream of time to
the new condition of things, the "new heaven," hence the "third
heaven." (2 Cor. 12:2-4) A70; HG539:2; Q830:T
2 Peter 3:14
Such things -- The overthrow of the existing order and the establishment
of the glorious Kingdom of God's dear Son. R5864:5
Be diligent -- Let us be diligent. R5990:5
The prize of the high calling is
not for the easy-going Christian. R2123:1*
Be found of him -- Not that he shall wash you when he comes, but you shall be
found of him so cleansed. R163:1
Without spot -- Give diligence and see that our robe is spotless. R163:1
And blameless -- Ready for the entrance into that rest which remains.
R5990:5
For our Lord "is able to keep
you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory
with exceeding joy." (Jude 24) R5864:6, 3216:4
2 Peter 3:15
And account that -- Words of special comfort and cheer to us now, in this brief
waiting time since the close of Gentile Times. How glad of this little extended
time some of the Lord's dear ones are, who have consecrated since 1914. R5864:5
Beloved brother Paul -- Mark Peter's affection for Paul, who had so plainly
reproved and rebuked him. R1041:3
Note the sympathy and love
existing between Paul and Peter; evidently the rebuke (Gal. 3:11) was accepted
in the spirit of meekness. R664:2*, 416:1*
Wisdom given unto him -- Paul did not launch out into foolish speculations but
confined himself to the expounding of sacred Scriptures and to exhortations,
inspired by the revelations made to himself--a prophet as well as an apostle.
R1719:6, 1148:4
Written unto you -- Impulsive Peter seemed to gain more self-control, and he
boldly and freely endorses the teaching and course of his "beloved brother
Paul." R552:4, 1041:3
2 Peter 3:16
All his epistles -- The Apostolic epistles were written to the various local
congregations, and were directed to be publicly read and to be exchanged among
the churches. R1146:1
The earliest notice of a
collection of the New Testament books. Speaking as if some collection existed
and was received in the churches as on a par with "the other
Scriptures." R434:2*
These things -- The things relating to the three worlds and the three
heavens of which the Apostle was writing. Q829:4
The things which Peter thought
strange of are the very items which now, in God's due time, so grandly
illuminate not only Peter's prophecies and John's Revelation, but the entire
Word and plan of God. R1148:4, 668:1; B169
Hard to be understood -- Even by Peter and only partially then by Paul himself.
R1148:4
Liable to be misunderstood by
some. R668:1
Difficult. R179:1*
Especially in reference to the second
coming of Jesus and our change. R181:6*
Paul's revelations influenced all
of his writings and caused him to give such expressions as were hard to be
understood, but which, in the light of subsequent events, are now being clearly
revealed to the earnest student. Q830:T
The truth concerning the trumpet's
voices and fire associated with his coming does not lie on the surface. We need
not be surprised, then, if the same be true of all the circumstances attending
Christ's return. R167:2*; B169
Unlearned -- In the Word. R179:1*
Unstable -- As one who believed in the harvest truth and now teaches
that the Church has no share in the Redeemer's suffering, in filling up that
which is behind of the afflictions of Christ. R4433:3
The "unlearned and
unstable" have wrested many of the Apostle's statements from their true
connection and significance. Q830:T
Wrest -- Twist. R4435:2, 2219:2
"Handle the Word of God
deceitfully." (2 Cor. 4:2) R2218:6
Scriptures that apply to "the
new heavens and the new earth" have been variously warped and twisted from
their true application and forcibly assigned to "the heavens that are
now" and "this present evil world." Q830:T
At this particular time the
Adversary will get advantage of certain ones, will beguile them, get them to
wrest the Scriptures, and thus to deceive themselves. R2218:3
Destruction -- Of their spiritual interests. R2218:6
To their loss of present light at
least. R2218:3
Such as one who will conclude that
everything that he saw on coming out of Babylon was a delusion, and that he
will return to the "outer darkness" of Babylon. R4433:6
This is not parallel to the one of
which our Lord said, "Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a
miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against
us, is on our part." (Mark 9:39, 40) R4434:1
It is a serious thing to wrest the
Scriptures. R1778:2
Contrary to the Universalist
theory. R3083:2
Not eternal torment. R2598:1,
3167:2
2 Peter 3:17
Beloved -- Not the worldly, nor even the average nominal Christian;
but those who already had attained to "steadfastness." R2218:3
This counsel has a special fitness
to the Church in the last days, our days, and was evidently so designed by the
Spirit of God as is clear from verse 3. R3215:1, 2218:2
Know these things -- That all of the affairs, reforms, etc., of the present time
will avail nothing, the present institutions will pass away, and God is about
to establish his own Kingdom in his own way; and further, that just at this
particular time there will be a special sifting and testing of those who are in
the light. R2219:3
Which are to take place in the Day
of the Lord, "Day of Vengeance." R2218:2, 1148:4
Beware lest ye also -- Be cautious, careful and watchful against all the
deceptions and dangers that beset our way. R1670:6
In view of the false teachers who
would arise to pervert the truth. R3215:1
The steadfast ones, the saints,
living at that time, that is, right now. R2218:6
Give earnest heed to this counsel,
for we live in the "evil day." (Eph. 6:13) R2218:3, 2189:3
Be ever on the watch that we be
not caught in any snare of the Adversary. R1661:6*, 1670:6
We may insure ourselves against
falling into any of these traps of the Adversary. Chiefly by obedience to the
principles laid down in the Bible and illustrated in the life and character of
our Lord and his apostles. R2219:6
The Lord guided to the
presentation of the Vow for the very purpose of making it a trial and test
amongst those professing to be his disciples. R4326:3, 4328:1
Be on guard that whoever may
become the instrument of the Adversary, whether congenial to our natural tastes
or uncongenial, we may not be "carried away" but "To our Lord we
will be true." R2219:5
While the Lord promises grace
sufficient for every time of need, he never encourages any to rest supinely
upon his promises: the exhortations are always to activity, alertness and
indomitable energy and perseverance. R1670:3
"Mark them which cause
division amongst you; and avoid them." (Rom. 16:17) R4327:2, 3215:2
"Beware lest any man spoil
you through philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men, after the
rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Col. 2:6-8) R3215:3
Being led away -- Seduced. R2189:3
From the fixed statements of the
divine Word, through sympathy, or the influence of someone held in respect or
esteem. R2219:4
The danger to the steadfast will
be along some line which would sweep away their judgments from the fixed
statements of the divine Word, through personal preference or sympathy, or
through the influence of someone held in respect or esteem. R2219:4
There will be certain leaders of
thought whose conduct will tend to carry away others. "Deceiving and being
themselves deceived." (2 Tim. 3:13) R2219:5
A reprobate condition of mind is
sure to get into doctrinal darkness. R4327:4
Where the leading away is a
doctrinal deflection, it may, or it may not, lead to a wrong spirit. R4327:3
With the error -- The distinguishing characteristic is a lack of love.
R4326:2, 4327:3
Lovelessness is quickly followed
by antagonism to truths, to God and the brethren. R4327:3
From the truth into more or less
darkness and confusion. R2219:3
Wasting valuable time in
investigating the theories. R3215:3
While doctrinal errors are
dangerous, and should be avoided, it is still more serious a matter to lose the
spirit of love--the holy Spirit. R4327:3
We should always be on the alert
to render assistance whenever needed to convert a brother from error, but we
should do nothing that would tend to make us fall from our own steadfastness
into the error of the wicked. R1860:3
The difference between the strong
and steadfast Christian and a bigot is that the one is established in the
truth, while the other is established in error. R3215:3
Wicked -- Greek, athemos, unsettled, lawless. The word wicked is too
strong. R2218:6
The unsettled or lawless who do
not bow implicitly to the Lord's Word but wrest it to establish theories of
their own. R2219:4
Wicked one. R2189:3
The Apostle's language not only
points to the present time but seems to imply that there would be previous
fallings away or siftings, which he calls "the error of the
wicked"--literally, "the delusions of the unsettled or lawless."
R2218:6
"Siftings" specially
affect those in the light of present truth; yet in a more general way and along
different lines slightly different siftings are in progress with the nominal
church as a whole. R2219:4
Each denomination is being shaken,
and the theories of Evolution, Spiritism, Christian Science, Theosophy and
Moralism are making great inroads upon all who have named the name of Christ.
R2219:4
Unsettled, lacking the knowledge
of the divine Word and plan, the whole nominal church is gradually losing its
faith in the Bible, under the lead of its most able ministers, who are of the
opinion that their "Higher Criticism" is superior to the Scripture
presentations. R2219:4
Own stedfastness -- Present steadfastness. R3215:1
This implies that they had become
rooted and grounded and built up, both in knowledge and the love of God.
R2218:3
The not settled ones would first
be shaken out, and subsequently there would come a still more insidious trial
which would test even the "steadfast." R2218:6
The Adversary has more subtle
delusions before us than any of those in the past; and the fully consecrated
may need to be more than ever on guard against "the wiles of the
devil." (Eph. 6:11) R2219:3
We are not to render bitter words
for bitter words, slander for slander, nor reviling for reviling. R4327:2
2 Peter 3:18
Grow -- In this age and land, this becomes more than ever our duty.
R1030:1*
The aged Apostle Peter's
solicitude for the growth and development of the Church was increasing. He
counsels all to faithfulness and growth. R3215:1
"Unto a full grown man, unto
the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Eph. 4:13)
R1043:6*, 21:5*
In grace -- Grow in favor with the Lord through an intimate personal
acquaintance and fellowship of spirit with him. R3215:4, 1043:6*
Give all diligence to the study of
the divine oracle, that we may be fortified in faith and works accordingly.
R4808:6
Implying a personal faith in and
dependence upon all the promises, intimate communion in our daily life of
prayer, and observation of God's will and obedience to it. R3215:4
The full and blessed understanding
of this is best appreciated by those who from day to day walk with God in
faith, obedience and love. R3215:4
In order "to come unto the
knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2:4) R780:1
We grow in grace as we grow in
knowledge. R5656:1, 3215:4
It is the life work of the Christian.
R118:2*
Add the graces of character.
OV356:2
A sense of divine acceptance and
favor is given us in increasing measure in fulfillment of the blessed promise
of John 14:23. R3215:4
Knowledge -- Greek, gnosis. R2037:2
Each step of knowledge brings a
corresponding step of duty and obedience, and each step of duty and obedience
taken will be followed by a further step in knowledge. E239
If we have this witness of the
Spirit of growth, both in grace and in knowledge, let us rejoice therein, and
let us follow on in the same pathway until it shall bring us to that which is
perfect, both in knowledge and in grace. E239
The faithful ones will grow in
both grace and knowledge; and the holy Spirit, through its begetting, will
enable such to know (appreciate) the deep things of God, the things freely
given such by God, the knowledge of God resulting from our experience in the
school of Christ. R2037:2
The more thorough our knowledge of
the Lord and the more intimate our acquaintance with him, the more secure we
are in our own steadfastness. R3215:3
If we love and obey the Lord and
desire to grow in his favor, his written Word is our daily meditation and
study. Thus we grow in knowledge. R3215:5
By putting on more and more of the
armor of God until we realize its glorious completeness in the full discernment
of the divine plan of the ages. R3215:5
Even those established in the
faith will be continually charmed and cheered with newly discovered lines of
harmony and beauty in the divine drawings of the plan. R3215:5
We are in danger of being
extremists on this as on almost all other Bible themes--some making too much
and others too little of the importance of the knowledge of theory or correct
theology. R49:3*
As pupils we may ever study the
master workmanship of the divine Architect. R3215:5
Jesus Christ -- Who is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)
R3215:3
The development of Jesus as a new
creature was his first obligation--as it is our first consideration. SM638:T