DECEMBER 11TH, 1912

DECEMBER 11TH, 1912

Mr. J. Stewart.

My Dear Brother, — I must ask you to pardon my long delay in answering yours of November 2nd, I have been greatly pressed for time.

^[p. 111] I judge you quite understand my thought as to Romans 7 and 8. It is that in the former we have the covenant, in principle, in the Lord’s body given in death for us; the result is that we are married to Him as raised from the dead. Chapter 8 is His power — by which we are supported. He supports us in the wilderness out of it. “Right hand” is expressive of power. The Lord holds the seven stars (to which you refer) in His right hand. I have no doubt this refers to how He upheld the early church, or those responsible in it. It was by the Spirit, of course.

As to the candlestick, the early church was this, and owned as such, but the expression is not used after Ephesus. I have no doubt, however, that the public body was recognised as such up till Thyatira. Here there is the formal acknowledgement of a remnant, and this implies that the “many” were given up. There had been, as it were, the trial of jealousy and the woman was found guilty. She is definitely judged (Revelation 2: 22, 23) and a remnant formally owned. We can, I think, easily see that what is thus judged cannot be owned as the candlestick. Henceforth it is a remnant, and this means that that of which it was a remnant had failed, and so something else must now come in to maintain the testimony — that is, the public kingdom (chapter 2: 27 - 29). In Sardis the Lord simply has the stars. It does say He holds them in His right hand. But He has the seven Spirits of God — the seven lamps are not now seen. The seven Spirits are the perfection of power — His “right hand”, as we may say — but this power is in view of another order of things now (compare chapter 4: 5). There is still light on earth, thank God (Philadelphia), but this is not the candlestick.

I have been hearing of Mrs. Stewart’s affliction in the severe illness of her sister, Mrs. Thornton. I understand that Mrs. Thornton is having a victorious end, and I thank God for this. By this time she may be with the Lord and this will be a happy release for her. I trust the circumstances may be blessed to her husband.

Affectionately yours in Christ,

James Taylor.

PS — The understanding of Revelation is largely the forming of a spiritual judgment of the facts presented.