Second advent library

136 Lncrunn rx.hors that had rushed into his visible kingdom during Itime of prosperity that the church had experienced in itsEphesian state, or apostolic age, yetnow the time hadcome, when that candlestick must be removed, and thenext age of the church or candlestick be set up; and thesame means used by God to the silver wouldpurge puri? out the dross, so that the kirlf om would again becleansed of its worldly, hypocritic and false , professors.10, "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer."The tme child of God need not fear to sulfer forChrist's sake, for the sufferings of this present evil worldwill work out for us a far moreexceeding and eternalweight of "glory. Behold, the devil shall cast some ofyou into prison, that ye may be tried, and ye shall havetribulation ten da s." The devil in this verse means PaganRome. ltev. See xii. 9, 17, " And the great dragonwas cast out, that old called the devil." "Andthe was wroth wi sexent,draxgpn the woman, and went to makewar w' the remnant of her seed, which keep the cornmandmentsof God, and have the testimony of JesusChrist." How exactly was this pro hecy fulfilled in thedays of Nero; Dornitian, and other £oman emperors, andhow faithful has history been to record the ten persecutionsbetween the da s of John's prophecy and the emperorConstantine! lin these ten persecutions of the Romangovernment, in the text called ten days, we learn bythe history of those days the church suffered a great diminutionin numbers y apostasy and fear; yet thosethat remained steadfast made up in graces what they lostin numbers; and it wastruly a time of trial," for manywere cast into prison, and many suifered torture anddeath, rather than to offer sacrinces to their"Pagan gods.Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee acrown of life." Yes, my brethren, if we can believe thehistory of those days, many of the dear disciples of Christwere faithful unto death, and have long enjoyed thecrown of life promised in this prophecy.ll, " He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spiritsaith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not behurt of the second death." Here, then, we ind some ofthose characters who will have part in the first resurrec*