HOW WE ARE TO BE REGULATED IN THE LAST DAYS

^[p. 148] HOW WE ARE TO BE REGULATED IN THE LAST DAYS

2 Timothy 3: 1 - 17; 2 Timothy 4: 1 - 8

AFR We get in the end of the second chapter a company that were calling on the Lord out of a pure heart, and then in this third chapter instruction as to the last days and perilous times. I suppose we are in the last days and perilous times, are we not?

JT It is a very important matter to note how we are to be regulated. The Spirit clearly outlines the conditions which should arise, in the early verses, and depicting the general state of things. He gives us the character of the opposition. It is opposition in the way of imitation. But think of the character of the vessel in whom the light has come to the gentiles; the kind of vessel, which is very important, the apostle Paul, his doctrine and manner of life. Both things should be connected.

Rem He mentions several things besides doctrine and manner of life.

JT Yes, he says, “Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience ...”. I think we do well to consider Paul, because he is distinctly the vessel of our light. In taking up Paul, the Lord brought in the vessel through whom our light came in. So therefore, it is of great importance to consider the vessel and the circumstances of his conversion and call. He was converted by heavenly light, and it was alluded to in that peculiar way; it was a light from above, a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun; and as to the extraordinary character of the vessel, he was a vessel without an equal in Scripture — I mean, among the servants of the Lord; so that we have his light and character as guidance; and therefore in our day, if there is to be teaching or ^[p. 149] service, Paul is the test. His manner of life must answer to every sphere, so that you want to know all about a man, if he has anything to say in the things of God. We have to take account of a man’s manner of life and what he endures. I am sure there was never a more simple man than Paul; he was the essence of simplicity. We want to have luminous bodies.

Ques Can you tell us how that is brought about in the saints?

JT I think you value the treasure. If we only appreciated the light that has come to us at such a cost! Paul always took account of the treasure. A man has his priestly sphere, but if he goes into the sanctuary, he should shine, should be luminous. If a man is a levite, he should shine. It is not simply what he says, but what he is. The Lord took up the Levitical service in Luke 4, “All ... wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth”. “The eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him”. In the Lord’s sphere, everything was infinitely perfect, everything was in its place. A man should shine in every sphere, his family sphere and his business sphere.

AFR What is the character of the difficult times? You said something about imitation.

JT He gives a list of the kind of people that have to be met. You have an outline of the kind of things we find about us. It is not only that Satan brings in corruption, but the bottom of it all is resistance to the truth. It makes it extremely difficult when men do not come out into the open. Therefore the importance of our being in the good of life, because that is the only thing to meet that kind of opposition. These difficult times come in after we have had the mention of a company that call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. It is a question of the man of God here. He was entrusted with the truth.

^[p. 150] How is he to get through, and carry it through with him? You do not want to get through just with your own skin, but to carry every divine thought with you. This chapter and the next one show how it is possible. Paul shows that it was possible; that is to say, he carried the truth, and a crown was awaiting him — he had been faithful. If we regarded the truth more as a treasure, we should stand more for it. What is it that we are contending for? Well now, Timothy knew Paul’s life and Paul’s doctrine. What is Paul’s doctrine? If we are to shine in our light we must have Paul’s doctrine. It was a light from heaven and a voice from heaven. So that the truth is attached to heaven. The point in the light from heaven is that it was not the light of Jerusalem. When Isaac was offered, the angel speaks out of heaven; that is to say, that man is the object of heaven. Then we have the genealogy of Rebecca, and she is taken into Sarah’s tent. But the Spirit of God is careful to give us her genealogy.

Ques Is it that in the midst of difficult days, the saints are to look out for men of Paul’s kind?

JT That is it. There is something about a heavenly man that is inimitable. We have a freewoman in heaven for our mother, Jerusalem above, and God for our Father. I think it is very striking, the Spirit immediately gives us Rebecca’s genealogy. Isaac is really Paul’s text in the Old Testament, because Isaac is the heavenly man. Luke gives us the first record of Paul’s conversion, Paul, the second and third. Paul’s record was that it was first, a great light from heaven, and second, a light above the brightness of the sun. It was in order to show that Jerusalem had been set aside that the light came out from heaven.

Rem Paul was Timothy’s father.

JT He had no one like Timothy, no man ^[p. 151] likeminded.

Rem Would it be a continuation of the apostle?

JT Yes, as his son. Paul sent him to Corinth; he could not go himself because he would have to exercise authority. This simple son of his could rightly represent him. I believe it is of all importance for us to take account of Paul’s doctrine, and the manner of man he was. There is something peculiarly dignified about a heavenly man. He is free. There are certain laws which govern men here, and they very often enter into our Christian exercises. Now a heavenly man is free of all that. He is different. There is something about him that is different. We seem to have two things in 2 Timothy 3. We have first, Paul’s doctrine and manner of life, and second, persecutions to endure; and thus we have the whole body of Christians; and the point in that is that we should be perfect, that there should be no want at all. Thus Christianity contemplates how God carries this out in the man of God. Now the man of God is the man for the crisis. He is not simply negative. He always knows what to do. He pursues a positive line. It is a continual crisis now. You are constantly on the alert. It is constant conflict, and the man of God is prepared for it. I think, perhaps, a most remarkable illustration of a man of God is Moses. The first great crisis in the history of the people was when they made the golden calf, and Moses comes into view. Before ever he went into the camp, he pleaded for the people. That is what he was for the people with God, and when he comes into the camp, we see what he was for God with the people. If a man is free from all earthly influences, that is really deliverance. Now you are here to stand for God. It is very beautiful to see how Moses pleaded with God for the people before he went into the camp, and then stood for God in the midst of the people. You could not have a much worse crisis than that. All the people were ^[p. 152] under the influence of idolatry. So in chapter 2 of this epistle, the man of God comes out. You do not consider for anybody but yourself if it is a question of idolatry. You come out, and God will take care of the people. You stand by the principles. The meeting was composed of those that were in the camp; they came out of it. If you put Christ where Moses was, you have the answer. He had the law in His heart. That is one great mark of the man of God. And he loves the saints. It seems to me the apostle was quite free to commit truth to a man like this. But then, in chapter 4 you have the work brought out for the servant. We are not to let our hands hang down. In the difficult days, work is to go on. In spite of the difficult days, he says, “I charge thee therefore ... preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine”. There is work set out for Timothy. I think we ought to bear in mind that no circumstances in this world can interfere with assembly principles. The Father does not come into view in this epistle; it is more the Lord. In this our day it is, if you find anything to do, do it. You hear a great deal about the Lord’s guidance; I would not object to this, but the word is, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might”, Ecclesiastes 9: 10. If you find anything to do, do it. You are doing the work because it is to be done. It is a very remarkable thing that in Acts 6, where the apostles put certain things aside, and said, ‘We will not do that’, the men they set apart to do it, the Spirit of God brought forward. I refer to Philip and Stephen. Peter and the others said, ‘We cannot do that’, but the Spirit of God takes up these two men, and they are the most important men in the testimony. If you refuse to do any work that is to be done, the Lord will take up somebody else instead of you. The apostle Paul never refused ^[p. 153] anything. The work must be done, and the man of God will do it. We must not say, ‘This work is for me, and this work is for you’. It is more that the work has to be done.

Ques What is the crown of righteousness?

JT It is the answer in glory to your having been a righteous man here. What a righteous life Paul’s was! The Lord could take him up, and it was a matter of simple righteousness for him to pursue that course.

Ques Does not the expression “a man of God” come out in reference to the last time?

JT I think he shines in a crisis. The idea is much more prominent in the end of this epistle than in the beginning. The Lord said to Philadelphia, “Hold fast ... that no man take thy crown”. I have no doubt that Philadelphia’s crown was Christ Himself. Philadelphia loves Christ, and she is to hold fast everything that refers to Christ. For the assembly’s crown, the assembly looks on to the appearing of the Lord. A crown is what you cherish, what you prize most. It would be well worth while to consider things in that light. As we sometimes sing, ‘Heavenly light makes all things bright’. John said that he heard the Bridegroom’s voice, and his joy was complete, but Paul brought in the bride. He not only heard the Bridegroom’s voice, but he satisfied the Bridegroom’s heart: “I have espoused you to one man, ... a chaste virgin”, 2 Corinthians 11: 2. Ephesians is the great end of Paul’s ministry. I think we have to take account that Rebecca was only in Sarah’s tent provisionally. The assembly is here provisionally following up Sarah’s position. I do think we ought to live in the light of heaven, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee”. Israel has its light, and is to shine in it. Now we have our own peculiar light, and it is for us to shine in it.