1841 William Miller Evidence from Scripture & History - A2Z.org

&alt not know what hour I will come upoa thee." The
judgment threatened in this verse, I will come upoa
thee," is undoubted1 a prophecy of the persecution of
the Walde-s and %llarda, by the Papal authority, and
through the inquisition, as an instrument, &out the close -
of the fourteenth centurg, when, for their departure from
the true doctrine of the gospel, and the commands of
God, they were persecuted and scattered among tdl
nations, SO that by the ~udgmenta of God, for their trimsgressions,
they were made instruments in the hands of
God of spreadin the knowledge of the gospel among
the nations, whi$ they ought to ham done in obedience
to his word, and for the love of souls. And these judgments
served the double purpose of punishment fir sin,
and opening a door for a more general display oF sdwatian.
4th verse, Thou hast a few names even in Sardis
which have not defiled their game&, and they shall
walk with me in white, for they are worlthy." There
were a few even in thle age of moral darkness who folaowed
Christ in his laws and ordinances, and they
receive the promise of justification before God, '' walk
with me in white."
5th verse, "He that overcomeeh, the same shall be
clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his
oame out of the book of lit% ; but I will confess his name
before my Father and before his angels." Whenever
the phrase, "he that overcometh," is used, it always implies,
I think, in the Scriptures, that the persons addressed
are, or will pass through a time of persecution; and in
this text the churcK in this age is shorn that those only
who can endure tribulation and persecution will be
acknowledged at the bar of God aq the children of faith.
And then this church is again Warned to hear and believe
what the Spirit saith to the churches.
6th verse, He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith to the churches."
I shall ww attempt to show to what age we may calculate
the Philadelphia church should answer, and when
this prophecy was fulfilled.
7th verae, "And to the tangel of the church in Phil*