The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

looked upon as merely negativing everything in the midst of the multitude of names
claimed by the false church in this world. But at last, all the names worthy of being known
are permanently engraved upon the true Philadelphian overcomers. They have gone forth
to Him without the camp, in this life, but then, no more to go out, but fixed, established as
pillars in God's great temple, through which the whole testimony and character of God,
written as it were on these pillars, will be made known to the world.
One of the clearest, most edifying and soul-refreshing interpretations of this wonderful
promise to the overcomer is that given by Mr. Barnes, who wrote in 1851. It is
strengthening to the faith of the devout believer as he discovers how God, from time to
time, has unfolded His Word to various servants (who lived and wrote in the
Philadelphian period, particularly in its closing years), for the encouragement and
upbuilding of His people. While we do not find that they had the full, clear light of the
"morning," they had on some matters as clear a vision as those faithful ones who have
testified and are testifying outside of the various systems of the Laodicean period. This
was eminently true of this Philadelphian writer. We quote from his comment on these
words of Christ addressed to the Philadelphian overcomers:
"The promised reward of faithfulness here is, that he who was victorious would be
honored as if he were a pillar or column in the temple of God. Such a pillar or column was
partly for ornament and partly for support, and the idea here is, that in that temple he
would contribute to its beauty and the justness of its proportions, and would at the same
time be honored as if he were a pillar which was necessary for the support of the temple. It
is not uncommon in the New Testament to represent the Church as a temple, and
Christians as a part of it. (See 1 Cor. 3:16,17; 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16; 1 Pet. 2:5.)
"And he shall go no more out. He shall be permanent as a part of that spiritual temple. The
idea of 'going out' does not properly belong to a pillar, but the Speaker [Christ] here has in
His mind the man, though represented as a column. The description of some parts would
be applicable more directly to a pillar; in others more properly to a man. Compare John
6:37; 10:28,29; 1 John 2:19, for an illustration of the sentiment here. The main truth here is,
that if we reach heaven, our happiness will be secure forever. We shall have the most
absolute certainty that the welfare of the soul will no more be periled; that we shall never
be in danger of falling into temptation; that no artful foe shall ever have power to alienate
our affections from God; that we shall never die. Though we may change our place, and
may roam from world to world, till we shall have surveyed all the wonders of creation, yet
we shall never 'go out of the temple of God.' When we reach the heavenly world, our
conflicts will be over; our doubts at an end. As soon as we cross the threshold, we shall be
greeted with the assurance, 'he shall go no more out forever.' That is to be our eternal
abode, and whatever of joy or felicity or glory that bright world can furnish, is to be ours.
Happy moment when, emerging from a world of danger and of doubt, the soul shall settle
down into the calmness and peace of that state where there is the assurance of God
Himself that that world of bliss is to be its eternal abode.