FEATURES OF THE TRUTH BEARING ON THE LAST DAYS (5)
[p. 72] FEATURES OF THE TRUTH BEARING ON THE LAST DAYS (5)
Revelation 1: 9 - 11; Revelation 10: 8 - 11; 2 Timothy 2: 1 - 6; Hebrews 13: 23 - 25
JT I thought we might consider John and Timothy at this time. We have thus far considered the truth in relation to persons: first in the Lord Himself, then in Paul, then in Peter, and now we shall do so in John and Timotheus. The thought is to speak mainly of John, one who was used of the Lord and served well indeed, a reserved servant as has often been noted, carrying us on to the end. Our enquiry is to consider how he is seen in relation to the authorities, those who are called formally “the powers that be”, who are ordained of God. He speaks of them as either apostate or about to be apostate, so that the whole system of rule ordained of God in the four empires culminates in the man of sin who is openly opposed to God and to Christ and to Christianity. This is an important side of our subject, a sub-division of it but a most important one, because it contemplates terrific dislocations on the earth as the ruling powers begin to take issue against God, and God takes issue with them. So that the struggle is terrific. The man of sin, the beast, and the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire, according to John’s point of view. This requires a change of view on our part, and it is intended, too, to influence us as having to do with the authorities, while we might say that in general they are in a favourable attitude towards the saints of God.
Hence John is seen in the passage read in Revelation 1 as the brother and companion of the saints: “I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of [p. 73] Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ” (verse 9). He is representing the ministry in a sense, yet he is a brother and companion of the saints in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus; so that the Lord would use him to help us as to how to be in the present situation triumphantly, as accepting the tribulation. It is a time of patience, but nevertheless the time of the kingdom of Jesus. There is one in it — John — who knew Jesus, and whom Jesus loved in a special way, who lay in His bosom. The ministry is showing itself in brotherly feelings and affections, but at the same time in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus. These three features are linked together peculiarly, as the note shows, by one article governing them.
JWD Is God dealing with the nations punitively today?
JT There would be a punitive element in it, I think; however, it is to bring out certain conditions in view of the final conflict. It is preliminary; that is, God is not openly punitive, because it is still the period of the Spirit and of the gospel and of the assembly, so that I think there is a certain modification; but at the same time these terrible throes that we are in and have been in more or less for a quarter of a century, point to what is final. I think John’s ministry is being used to help us in these circumstances in bringing about the brotherly side in the ministry. In the history of the assembly the ministry took on the lordly attitude in the earlier Episcopalian systems, including Rome; and to some extent in other systems it has taken on a lordly attitude; whereas John’s ministry brings in the brethren, and the ministers express brotherly feelings in suffering with all the saints. I think here it is preliminary. We shall not be here in the actual [p. 74] fulfilment of the throes, but we are sharing something of it, and the brotherly spirit is of great importance; the ministry is enhanced by it.
RWS Does the kingdom here link on with our first reading?
JT Yes, the kingdom in Jesus. You will notice it is first “the tribulation”, then “and kingdom and patience, in Jesus”. The word “tribulation” is a strong word. Tribulation may enter into the kingdom, but it is the kingdom in Jesus, and then patience going with that.
AEH Does a good family man make the best kingdom man in that sense? In John 21 Peter turns and sees the other disciple following, the one who leaned on Jesus’ breast at supper, as though that would enter into all the brotherliness that was attached to John, and make a good kingdom man of him and a good brother, helping him to be patient in the flood of apostasy coming in.
JT Yes. John is a good second. He is presented in Scripture as a good second; it is “Peter and John”. The earlier chapters in Acts say hardly anything about what John did and said, but he was there as adding to the position. As there the apostle was second; Peter was in the lead. The brotherly element clearly was there and the man that got the blessing in Acts 3 held them both, as if the ministry of authority must be held as well as the brotherly state.
AAT Verse 9 says “fellow-partaker”. Does that mean that others were in it?
JT That is the idea. We are all partaking of these three things, the tribulation and kingdom and patience. It is a mutual feeling that is stressed, that there is one brother; the idea of a brother is seen in John, “your brother”, not simply one of the brethren. God had given him a distinctive place which [p. 75] the brethren would readily recognize, but he was still one of them as a brother.
SMcC What you said as to the ministry is important, bearing on the present moment. The enemy is intent on impairing and hindering the ministry.
JT That is what we shall see, I think, how the devil comes into this book. He has the throne in this book. Satan has a certain place, not yet in the infernal regions; it is a certain historical and geographical position where Satan’s throne is (Revelation 2: 13). To those in Smyrna the Lord said, “The devil shall cast some of you into prison”. He is viewed in a military position. The devil had put into the heart of Judas to betray the Lord, and during supper he entered into him (John 13: 27). It was to get into the position militarily, to get as near to Christ as possible to attack Him. John was in the bosom of Jesus then. The Lord told Judas that what he did he should do quickly; the Lord is holding the reins even as to what Judas was to do. Judas was to do it quickly, yet Judas was possessed by the devil. Now John, according to the Lord’s own word, is telling us of the devil being in a certain place; he has a throne here on earth and he is casting some into prison. The agencies by which he is casting some into prison are clearly imperial; that is, they are the same persons or agencies that we are enjoined earlier to respect; but now they are in the devil’s hands, his throne being obviously in the very centre of the empire. That, I think, marks off the position in this book, and what is to meet it is this brotherly attitude, one person outstanding, a brother of all the rest, not simply one of them. He is in an outstanding place.
HGH Is there any authority in the term, “your brother”?
JT I think there is in a moral sense; just as John had moral authority to address the saints as a [p. 76] father and as the elder, calling them his children. He is parental peculiarly. Paul was too, but John is peculiarly that, and if he takes the place of a brother it is a distinctive place, not simply one of them; but on account of his moral qualities and experience and office he addresses them as “I John, your brother”.
ANW “I John” brings his personality before us.
JT That is important to bring out, “I John”. This book brings out his name, his personality, strikingly. What that would mean to suggest to us is, Do not forget the history of this person and what is involved in it, because it bears on the moment. When he says of himself in his gospel that he is the disciple whom Jesus loved, he is stressing more the love of Christ and that he knew Him; but now his personality is established, and it is important in the testimony to have a personality, one that is known and can be trusted. He has established his moral integrity.
WR Would the fact that he speaks of himself as a brother be a comfort to the young men in the camps who are suffering as the result of standing for the testimony? They can look back and see how this brother stood in difficult circumstances. He was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.
JT That is the idea, it is what impresses them. That will come out as to the younger men in Timotheus, but of course John as having love is the great disciple of love, of how love has become known.
RWS Are we entitled in our prayers to discriminate as to the nations today, praying for the prosperity of nations that favour the testimony, and praying against those that hinder?
JT That is good. We are supposed to know them. It is remarkable how the Lord, when He brought up the question of sonship with Peter, referred [p. 77] to the kings of the nations, as to how they did things and how they regarded their children and their sons. Peter knew and he could answer Him. It is remarkable the knowledge the disciples had of ordinary things. So in chapter 10 of Revelation the last verse says, “Thou must prophesy again as to peoples and nations and tongues and many kings”. That is, the fact that John is to prophesy about them implies that he would know them. It is remarkable how in these wars God has opened up the geography and history of nations to us, how familiar we have become with mundane affairs in that sense, so that the Spirit of God can refer to things spiritually in the book of Revelation and we understand. We are able to discern and to apply what is meant.
Rem This isle of Patmos is in the Mediterranean.
JT Yes, in the Aegean Sea. That is, it is in the centre of things geographically. How was John to prophesy again as to peoples and nations and tongues and many kings? How was he to be used of the Lord save as he understood these items: “peoples and nations and tongues and many kings”? Their histories are supposed to be known; they have a bearing on the testimony. We become interested when they involve the brethren. Now take Russia: little was known about this dark country, immense in territory and power; but a few brethren were there twenty-five years or so ago in St. Petersburg. Little or nothing was known about them, but presently they were attacked and one of them, an old brother often written about since, was carried away to the Caspian Sea. We followed him in the letters we read about him, and it brought out the hostility against the saints that was arising at that time and that we have followed since in relation to other powers. It is what is going on in central Europe, in the Balkan provinces and Greece, and we [p. 78] may say the whole of Europe is involved. That is why John, I think, is directed to get the little book which the angel has in his hand and to eat it, which he does. He says, “And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up”. The thought of eating is usually appropriation of a thing for a purpose; in this case it is that it should enter into the whole constitution of the person who is to be used in the ministry; and of course he must know what nations and peoples are involved. The prophecy is to affect the Lord’s people. John ate the little book, and it was sweet in his mouth because it involved the word of God, as revelation always does. It is always sweet, but the consequence, what it speaks of, causes bitterness to those who love the saints because of what they have to endure.
HGH It says, “The voice which I heard out of the heaven was again speaking with me”, not, to me. Does that mean John was in accord with what the voice was saying?
JT Yes. He says in chapter 1, “I turned back to see the voice which spoke with me” (verse 12). This is a similar expression; but in chapter 1 John regards the voice as a person. He turned to see the voice, but he really turned to see the Person: “I saw seven golden lamps, and in the midst of the seven lamps one like the Son of man, clothed with a garment reaching to the feet” (verse 12, 13). The point is that you see “the Son of man”. But before the Son of man is mentioned, that of which He is in the midst is spoken of, that is, the seven golden lamps. They are seen first. The Lord Jesus is going to have to say to them in a special way. They do not represent the powers that be, they represent the assembly with which the Lord is immediately going to be occupied. Chapter 10 alludes to Him as coming out to occupy Himself with the sea and the land, the literal earth and sea, and that brings in the great conflict that [p. 79] is depicted in the remaining part of the book. The Lord comes out and puts His right foot upon the sea, and His left foot on the earth, and He roars as a lion roars. There is “the little book”, and that is what John is to appropriate and assimilate so as to know what is going to happen and how it is going to affect the people of God; and that causes him to feel things keenly.
JWD Do you mean that when we are thinking in our prayers and interests as to the governments of this world, we are thinking of them in relation to what is in the assembly, so that our conflict and exercises give us spiritual power? We have no interest in Greece or in the Balkans, for instance, outside of our concern for general mankind, but we have a very great interest in Sweden.
JT That is, in the countries in which the saints are; and there are some in all nominal Christian countries. The little book assimilated by the prophet makes him understand. Of course those of us who have travelled into these countries have first-hand knowledge of them, at least to some extent, but most of us have not travelled. But the little book would acquaint us with them. From the divine point of view it is not a big book; God does not intend us to be much engrossed with it. It is a brief account, but it is enough, and it qualifies us to minister because we know the consequences negatively or positively. The negative consequences here are bitter, and we need to know what to minister accordingly. So I do not think what we call our ministry meetings, involving the prophetic ministry, can be rightly entered into or understood aside from the knowledge of this little book. We know what the brethren are, we know where the brethren are, we have our little book as to locations of meetings in different countries; it is indeed little, but it is essential, so that you have a right understanding of what is current in all [p. 80] of these countries, whether God is working or not and what He is saying about them.
Ques Would that be helped by the reading of letters wherever possible?
JT Yes. Sometimes we get excellent accounts of things. We read them in our prayer meetings and I believe they should be circulated as much as possible in so far as they indicate what God is doing.
SMcC How does this knowledge affect the meeting for ministry? We generally think of it as affecting just the prayer meeting, enlarging us in our scope of outlook in prayer.
JT Do you not think that what is said here in verse 11 helps in that? After John tells us that the little book was bitter in his belly he is told, “Thou must prophesy again as to peoples and nations and tongues and many kings”. He is qualified to prophesy as appropriating the little book, and it is pretty clear the little book relates to Europe where the enemy is particularly situated and where the work of God throughout the history of Christendom has been mainly carried on. It is only within comparatively recent times that it has extended out to these western countries, but even then it is still in the main in Europe.
AEH The prophetic word then would illuminate the saints as to the elements that exist in these nations and peoples, and as to whether they are favourable or opposed to the testimony and Christ.
JT Yes, that is the way I would look at it. We had a sorrowful experience some years back with China. We thought we knew; many of us thought we knew what was there, but really we failed to grasp what was there. What we thought was a work of God was not really such. I only bring that forward as illustrative of what is in mind. The prophet here is to assimilate the little book first and then to prophesy in regard of all the things [p. 81] in mind.
AEH We might not have been led astray if we had understood what was in the little book.
JT Just so; because the little book would at any rate tell us that China must be left for a later day. I do not think the little book gives any account of Asia; I think that is left. What God has been mainly engaged in throughout this dispensation is Europe, that is quite obvious. Eastern Asia is more populous, but it is left for another day. I think the little book has to do with the areas in which God has been working, which Paul indicates in going to Philippi.
AEH What is said of Paul as to the Spirit of Jesus forbidding him would be like a concise chapter in the little book.
JT Yes, the Spirit of Jesus. That involves the word we get here: “the tribulation and kingdom and patience, in Jesus”. That would include Europe undoubtedly. Patmos was not in the east; John was in Europe.
SMcC It has been generally thought and expressed that the meeting for ministry is directly bearing on local conditions. Do you think that is right altogether?
JT I think it should bear more widely than that. I think the outlook of a prophet should be universal as to where the saints are. That is John’s outlook. He refers to the saints, the seven assemblies including all who form the assembly. He was their brother. It is John the prophet we are dealing with here, not John the apostle. In Revelation the point in John is not the assertion of apostolic authority, but of prophetic authority, moral authority through one used by God as with Him, as seen here. He is in Patmos and he is there because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. The bearing is clearly the seven lamps. Where are they? You say they are in Asia. But they are in the province of Asia, which is very near to Europe. Now Mohammedanism has taken [p. 82] all that territory away from Christianity; it is neither Christianity nor Judaism nor heathenism. It represents apostate power. Mohammedanism has taken all that territory away, so that Christianity now is practically out of Asia altogether and out of Africa. It is in Europe and the outgoings of Europe. You might say I am dealing with mere history and geography, but it is a question of how Scripture deals with these matters, and the effect of the little book on the prophet. What is the little book dealing with? Is it dealing with the East, or is it dealing with Europe? It is clearly dealing with Europe. That is where the work has been all these centuries, and we are to understand it. That is what one would like to get clear.
JWD If we understood the territory governed by the little book, we would understand what was brought out by the Old Testament prophets; God used them to prophesy against the nations adverse to the testimony.
JT As you look at the Old Testament, Jeremiah was directed to prophesy about all the kingdoms around him, and he himself travelled as far as the Euphrates. Very few would do that, but he did it, and according to this scripture John too would travel long distances. He was directed to “prophesy again as to peoples and nations and tongues and many kings”. But in the first chapter it is a question of his brotherly relations with the saints.
SWP Does that help us to understand the insular conditions of Patmos? The enemy would isolate things. The thought of the brother brings in the much wider geographical position you are speaking of.
JT Just so — the seven assemblies.
ANW Would you take the reference to the many gates of the heavenly city as the opposite to [p. 83] isolation?
JT Yes. The whole of Latin America is divided into independent nations. This dominion is in effect an independent nation. In the British family of nations each is practically independent. We have to understand all these things in order to minister the mind of God in the different countries. In this dominion there has been a peculiar kind of antipathy to the conscience of Christians. We have to think of that. It is not so in Australia, New Zealand, or even the United States. What is the reason for it? The brethren here have to suffer from it.
CAM Linking our prophetic meetings and our prayers would suggest the situation with Mordecai: he and Esther were operating in a comparatively small area but the area they affected was immense.
JT One hundred and twenty-seven provinces! That was a question of subdivision of provinces; but these provinces have to be understood. The Jews were scattered throughout them. We are to know current conditions, what the brethren have to deal with or suffer from.
HGH So we should be helped in our ministry meetings by the closer personal contact we have with our brethren universally.
JT It does greatly help. Some have had the advantage of visiting the brethren in many countries; we know something of their actual conditions. But if we listen to letters, and enquire, we shall get to know what is happening. Take Paul’s work at Corinth: Aquila and Priscilla were there. Why were they there? Because the emperor had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. They were suffering from that edict. So the brethren are scattered about and are affected by certain conditions, and we are to know these conditions, and if we write articles for publication we are to bear these things in mind.
Rem You made a remark recently about Puteoli; it says in Acts 28: 13, 14, “We came the next [p. 84] day to Puteoli: where we found brethren”.
JT It is on the way to Rome. It is important. Why should that place be mentioned? We hear today of the greatest events current all around there; but what is most important the saints are there; there is a little meeting a short distance away, in Castellamare. Some of us saw them. There is another little meeting north towards Novi, not far from Genoa, not far from Milan. Our brethren are suffering in all these places, and some down in Rome, too; and in Toulon I suppose the brethren are suffering. Why should we not understand that and minister or pray accordingly?
AEH We need a great deal of moral discernment in a moment like this. Military movements may in the main be favourable to the saints and yet cause them much suffering.
JT That is the whole point, and suffering will cause us bitterness; in thinking of what the brethren are enduring there will be bitterness in our souls.
ASB It appears there is to be not only the reading but the eating of the book, as though our feelings and our whole constitution are to be affected by it.
JT I think the Lord is intending, by what is taking place, to make us sober and feeling in regard to what is happening to the brethren everywhere. It is having its effect in more knowledge as to what our brethren are suffering.
SWP Does the hand of the angel in any way limit the bitterness of the book? I was thinking of it providentially.
JT The Lord is seen in the first part of the chapter: “And I saw another strong angel coming down out of the heaven”. We must remember that this is not in the church period strictly, but the preliminaries of it are in the church period. The book of Revelation is divided into three parts, the third [p. 85] part beginning in the fourth chapter. This that we have read in chapter 10 enters into the final period but the preliminaries leading up to it are earlier. So we have this angel coming down out of heaven, “clothed with a cloud, and the rainbow upon his head, and his countenance as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire, and having in his hand a little opened book. And he set his right foot on the sea, and the left upon the earth, and cried with a loud voice as a lion roars”, Revelation 10: 1 - 3. Now this is Christ. We are to discern this. It is only Christ who would answer to this.. He is Jehovah really; He is God, because it is a question of the covenant entered into with Noah. He is dealing on a wide basis, what happened from Noah down to the present time — “all the days of the earth”. There is a covenant with man and the Lord is coming in connection with that covenant. He is a covenant Keeper. The current political leaders in Europe are covenant breakers. He is not that; He is going to fulfil His covenant with men. He has wonderful power, and He has this little book; and the point is that John is to get it and eat it so as to make him suitable to prophesy.
FKC Do you think that Genesis 10 gives a clue to the beginnings of the nations, and especially in regard to the little book?
JT Quite so, the nations begin there; not only the Roman Empire but all the nations are in mind. The sea is invaded by the devil and it has hindered the brethren from moving about. The Lord puts His right foot on the sea; that means He has His rights in the sea, in the meantime we may expect Him to show that He is thinking of the brethren and that the way across the seas is to be opened again. That is one thing that we might count on. But John is the person in mind in this chapter, that is, the immediate working out of the thing is in the minister, a prophet — one who can take up the mind of God [p. 86] and knows how to apply it. He has some conception of what God thinks of the nations from the days of Noah. God is working on a wide scale; there are many things that He has to work out that we know nothing of. But the little book will help us, especially if we are to be used in prophecy. We shall know how to speak of this and that nation; the prophet has to do with the Lord’s people in all these settings.
Ques Why do the prophets lament as to certain nations that persecuted Israel?
JT They were the nations surrounding Israel. I believe that God was feeling indignation in regard to them. It is remarkable how they are addressed by the prophets. Today it is the nations surrounding the assembly, what they are and how they are persecuting us; the prophetic ministry is bearing on this. You know where the saints are and what is affecting them there.
SMcC You have a remarkable chapter in Isaiah 20 — it bears on what you are saying. It says that Tartan “fought against Ashdod and took it”, and “at that time spoke Jehovah by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy sandal from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. And Jehovah said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years, a sign and a wonder concerning Egypt and concerning Ethiopia, so shall the king of Assyria lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt” (verses 1 - 4). God makes Isaiah a sign concerning Ethiopia and Egypt.
JT Well, in a reading like this we can only touch the fringe of all this, but it opens up something for the brethren to look into. The Lord is saying that He needs us, and He needs to have us [p. 87] understand the conditions in which His people are, and if we are ministering, not to overlook these needs. He will deal with these nations punitively presently, but in the meantime He will deal with them through the prophetic ministry.
FL What is the spiritual thought of the book being sweet in his mouth?
JT I think it is the initial thought of the word of God. The Christian always values the word of God, even such a passage as Revelation 20 which tells us about the lake of fire, for God Himself ignites the lake of fire. Anything God does has to be sweet. But when you see the consequences on the saints you begin to be sober. Even the Lord Jesus Himself wept when He saw Jerusalem because of what was coming on it.
SJH How would this find expression in a ministry meeting?
JT Take any of the prophets, whether those we call the major or the minor — we must not think that the Scripture is of less import in the minor, so-called, than in the major; Malachi is no less important than Isaiah — take Amos: he gives the list of nations and he speaks to each one of them, “For three transgressions... and for four”, showing that God is not overlooking what is happening. And so none of these nations that are acting against His people today will be omitted; God will deal punitively with them all. God is looking on what is happening, but the real issue is the saints and the gospel and the assembly.
AEH I suppose prophetic ministry of this kind would help us to get deliverance from nationalistic feelings and give us assembly feelings?
JT That is our business — with the saints. If we have any prophetic ability we have it to use in the midst, the gifts are set in the assembly. The ministry of the prophets bears on the whole assembly.
[p. 88] JRH In his Collected Writings Mr. Darby has much to say in relation to the nations of the present world; and do you not find that there is much in the way of moral results affected by considering them?
JT Certainly. The first meetings they had in Dublin over a hundred years ago were on prophecy. That was to open up the prophetic field in connection with the testimony, how a saint is to regard it. Mr. Darby has commented on Europe and on the nations generally. It is not that we are to be occupied with the nations in themselves, but rather with the saints in them, and what we have to think of in ministering in regard of them.
TNW Would you think the Lord may have some means of giving the prophets in Germany an understanding of the little book at the present time?
JT Just so. What a history Germany has had, especially in regard to the Reformation! How the heart thrills at what God did in that country three or four hundred years ago! And then you think of what the devil is doing there now. But still, God has His portion there yet, and a large bit of property too, and so we are not unconcerned about that.
ANW All this would help us to hold the eastern nations in reserve.
JT God has that territory reserved and when He starts He will do things there quickly; the angel will preach the everlasting gospel, and the healing of the nations will all be done quickly. But this is the time of the long-suffering of God, waiting in patience on the western nations, not willing that any should perish.
WWM Would the feelings that Abraham had as to his brother Lot be right feelings for us to have? He was thinking only of his brother in the conflict against Sodom and Gomorrah, not of the rest of the matter.
[p. 89] JT That was all his concern in that war, and it was a great war. He was concerned about his brother.
RA What would you say about the angel “having in his hand a little opened book”?
JT It is over against the sealed book in chapter 5, it is open history. It does not unfold anything about the mystery of God but it is simply to instruct the prophet as to what he is to deal with, as Jeremiah was instructed. The positive side would be a large book; John would say that “not even the world itself would contain the books” on the positive side of the glory of Christ.
TK What are we to learn from the writer to the Hebrews as he finishes his epistle saying, “They from Italy salute you”, Hebrews 13:24?
JT That fits into what we are remarking. We must remember what kind of people Italians are. Italy at the time; he had just referred to Timothy, and he goes on to say, “They from Italy salute you”. Paul is representing what was there. How much the prophets said of such nations as Assyria, Greece, Egypt, Spain! The Spirit of God goes to the trouble of mentioning those nations.
WR Paul did not speak very well about the Cretans!
JT It is a characteristic trait that they were liars. You have to beware of such.
CAM It is remarkable that Timothy and Italy are connected. That should be a great help to us in the immediate days to come.
JT If we follow it up in Revelation 2 and 3 we shall see something of Italy. That is where Satan’s throne is; that is where the great persecutions began; it is where Antipas was murdered.
Now in regard to John’s position in the book of Revelation, what we are saying is merely introductory [p. 90] to this matter, as to whether the brethren can take on this thought of John the beloved, the disciple whom Jesus loved. Here he is in the isle of Patmos, and he is speaking of being “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day”. The Spirit of God is making much of that, keeping that before us; this expression is used only here. The same is true of the expression, “the Lord’s supper”; it is the same idea as to the Lord. The apostle has that in mind and surely the Lord has blessed it to us. Then he is “fellow-partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and patience, in Jesus”; this is the brother that we are going to learn from in this book. The Lord tells him in the end of the first chapter the order in which he is to write the book. We are to follow that and to see where chapter 10 belongs and how far we have the idea of it already. But certainly this matter of the sea, to which the Lord asserts His rights, ought to enter into our prayers so that we might again visit our brethren overseas. The sea tends to isolation.
CAM The great opening up of Paul’s ministry seems to be connected with navigation out from Troas.
JT That is another point that comes into this, and the prominence of the Mediterranean, what his experience was right round to Rome.
RWS The sea is put first in chapter 10.
JT It shows the importance of the seas ultimately; but the importance in the meantime is that the brethren live across them, and we want to get to them and they want to get to us, and we can appeal to the Lord about that. Now as regards Timothy, the simple thought is to suggest that he is a younger brother and has been in prison, limited in some way. This is the second letter to him, written when Paul is about to die, to suffer martyrdom; and he is the one who is in mind to carry on after Paul, the great minister, is removed.
[p. 91] Therefore it would seem to be an appropriate suggestion in regard to the ability the Lord is giving to many of middle-age — but still to be regarded perhaps as young — in following on to relieve those that are older. How are they to do in assuming the lead? This question of soldiership comes up in verse 3 of chapter 2, which is not without significance, because soldiership is so prominent now among the nations, and it is affecting the saints, tending to damage them. We need therefore to see how Timotheus’ soldiership is to be regarded. We are all to be good soldiers, the young men especially, of Jesus Christ; that is, He has a kingdom, and if it were of this world His servants would fight with swords and other weapons like that. But it is not of this world, and Paul is therefore dealing here with the conduct of soldiers of Jesus Christ, of which Timothy was one, and a good one!
ANW Timothy is to take his share in suffering.
JT It links on with the tribulation and kingdom and patience, that each is to take his share; it is not now to be one man outstanding, like Paul, but a good many younger men who are to join in and carry on when he is gone. They are to know how to be good soldiers, good ones, and to take their share in suffering. Others are sharing, it is an extensive matter. Each one is to take his share in suffering.
AEH I suppose there would be a difference between the idea of a good soldier and of an athlete in the games. Both ideas are here.
JT They are used as figures. First, “And the things thou hast heard of me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, such as shall be competent to instruct others also”. Then, “Take thy share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one going as a soldier entangles himself with the affairs of life, that he may please [p. 92] him who has enlisted him as a soldier”. That is a figure, of course, so that the Christian soldier is thinking of pleasing Jesus, the One who has enlisted him. “And if also any one contend in the games, he is not crowned unless he contend lawfully. The husbandman must labour before partaking of the fruits”. That is, we have the soldier and the athlete and the farmer; these are the figures used. But it is not a question of my being an athlete or a soldier literally, it is what these things mean in a spiritual sense. In the final thought, that of a husbandman, he is, according to the other rendering, to be “first partaker of the fruits”; he is to keep some for himself. If you are going to be on the platform all the time, you must have some yourself first.
CAM What would you say about the armies in Revelation 19 following the Lord on white horses, clad in white, pure, fine linen? Would they be the saints trained in this way now?
JT I would think so. - They are persons who can go forth and do anything. Abraham had three hundred and eighteen trained servants; it does not say soldiers, they would be trained for anything. And I suppose we are being trained now for whatever the Lord has for us to do, now or later. Training is important.
ASB The apostle says at the end of 2 Timothy, “I have combated the good combat” — the soldier aspect; “I have finished the race” — the athletic side.
JT He uses these figures frequently, showing what a wide knowledge he had of things. This matter of Timothy is, I believe, an urgent one, because the Lord is doing much in providing ability for service both here on this continent and in Australasia and the British Isles. Men are coming forward that are able to serve, and the whole responsibility will be on them shortly, so that the thing is to prepare. These figures that the apostle uses are to be studied; and [p. 93] then the fact is to be noted that this brother was a prisoner, where and why we are not told. The matter of importance is that he was a prisoner, that he had the experience of imprisonment even though it might be unjustly inflicted; but he had the experience and the time came when he was set at liberty. That is exactly the position now. Many are imprisoned at the present time, but the time will come when they will be set at liberty. They are worthy. The apostle says, “With whom, if he should come soon, I will see you”. Paul intended to come with him; he was a worthy young man and the greatest minister would gladly come with him.
CAM Would it be that these great prophetic matters emphasize the Spirit of Jesus? It is not that we are occupied with events, figuring how they are going to result, but the very suffering in prison, etc., stresses the Spirit of Jesus.
JT I think so. The greatest servants are ready to join with these younger men, the lesser ones; that is, those who have lesser experience, perhaps. Paul says, “With whom, if he should come soon, I will see you”. That is the merging, I think, of the elder servant with the younger man.
AEH Would it work out too in a spiritual way, that as Timothy comes along Paul would be seen? The ministry is one, is it not?
JT Yes, it is. This epistle is to bring out how Paul is to be represented in Timotheus; so that if he come, Paul says, I will come. He sent Timothy to Corinth to represent him there before he went himself. They would well understand Paul’s spirit by the presence of Timothy.
ASB Do you think the apostle has that in mind in chapter 3?- He says in verse 10, “But thou hast been thoroughly acquainted with my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings”, and then localities are [p. 94] named in which he had suffered. Then he says, “But thou, abide in those things which thou hast learned”.
JT That is helpful. The very localities in which the experiences were learned are mentioned.
AAT Then it is all right to ask God to stop the war as soon as possible so that the young men may be set at liberty?
JT That is one of the most urgent causes you can set forth. There are so many in bondage and meetings are suffering consequently. Then there is the matter of the liberty of the seas, that we should be able to visit the brethren overseas, and they to visit us. These are urgent matters and I believe God would listen to us on these lines.