THE CONTINUANCE OF PROPHETIC MINISTRY
[p. 467] THE CONTINUANCE OF PROPHETIC MINISTRY
I have in mind to call attention to the continuance of the prophetic word. Prophecy is not a new thing; indeed, it is one of the oldest things, for Enoch prophesied before the deluge, and Abraham is called a prophet, Jehovah saying in relation to him, “Do my prophets no harm”, Psalm 105: 15. But they were not only prophets, they were praying men; they depended upon God in their service. However much ability a servant may have, the power is from God. The excellency of the power is to be of God, which is not simply by the gift, although the gift has power, but by dependence upon God. So that Jehovah said to Abimelech, of Abraham, “He is a prophet, and will pray for thee” (Genesis 20: 7); thus we see that prophecy and prayer go together. Abraham did pray for Abimelech and God answered his prayer.
Now, as I have said, the prophetic word is not new; brethren are having recourse to it in a little measure, but it is not new. It runs down through the Old Testament, also through the New, so that the assembly itself is said to be built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets; hence the greatness of the service of prophecy, and the importance of its continuance. The idea of its continuance is set forth in this chapter; it was said to John, “Thou must prophesy again” (verse 11). This was contingent, evidently, on right feelings in him; he felt the bitterness of the little book.
I want to speak, just briefly, about the little opened book in the hands of the mighty angel, who undoubtedly is Christ Himself coming in at the [p. 468] end of the dispensation, placing His right foot on the sea and His left foot on the earth. It is said that He was “clothed with a cloud, and the rainbow upon his head, and his countenance as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire” (verse 1). It undoubtedly alludes to a testimony to be rendered by Christ at the end of a long period, and having in mind this matter of prophecy. It shows how important the matter is, that there should be such an intervention of Christ in this remarkable form, the idea of prophecy being the end in mind. Pains are divinely taken that the mind of God should come in and should be continued.
So the Lord is seen, as I said, at the end of a period, for long centuries have elapsed since the testimony began at Pentecost, and the nations have asserted themselves; being set up of God to carry on for Him provisionally, they have asserted themselves and laid claim to all the earth, having divided it among themselves, whether by mutual partition, or as the spoil of war, and gradually the rights of God are excluded, as indeed they are in international matters. God is not taken into account to any great extent in peace treaties. It is a question of the power of the sword behind the peace-makers; war-makers turned into peace-makers for convenience sake. In international councils, God is left out; we can see it is not a question of the rights of God, but the rights of those who are victorious. This has gone on for centuries, and not only has the idea invaded the territorial earth, but has asserted itself in religious matters as well; for religious matters come into these peace covenants, and commerce, too; indeed, all that enters into the make-up of the world enters into such conferences.
Now the Lord Jesus appears here in this symbolic way, calmly and yet most powerfully assuring us that in the midst of all these things, God’s [p. 469] rights stand; that all is in God’s hands, asserted now through Christ, and that presently He will take possession of all in irresistible power. Not only that, but He is clothed with a cloud, and the rainbow on His head. He will not tear up divinely made covenants, but He will observe them fully. That is plainly intimated here. He is asserting divine rights and what goes with them morally, but engagements are being kept. There is the rainbow, which is the first sign God gave of a covenant, made with Noah. God will keep that covenant; whatever men may do, He is true to it. The rainbow is here seen on the head of Christ, the mighty Angel. What relief and assurance there is in that! And surely we should all be interested in matters which are transpiring today — we may call them international matters, but the ownership of the earth and its government are divine matters. The present ruling powers are ordained of God and will continue as provisional “until he come whose right it is; and I will give it to him”, God says (Ezekiel 21: 27). The saints, too, will have part with Christ in the government of the world. The apostle Paul says, “Do ye not then know that the saints shall judge the world? ... Do ye not know that we shall judge angels?” 1 Corinthians 6: 2, 3. Such is the great place that is ours! But it is a solemn thought that suffering goes with this, for “if we endure, we shall also reign together”, 2 Timothy 2: 12. The Lord would thus call us to His side; to be thoroughly with Him, in the fellowship expressed in His supper, and in the reproach and suffering involved in it: “if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him”, Romans 8: 17.
The position depicted here is in testimony; it is not literal. This testimony has already been rendered; the Lord has put in His claims through ministry; it has been asserted in this way during many years. The apostle’s ministry had the same testimony, but now it has been put in again. Whatever the nations may think or do, this stands; the testimony to it is seen here in this glorious Person with the rainbow on His head. He says, I am not going to trample on rights or engagements or covenants; I am here to establish the rights of God and men. That is Jesus! He died to do it! But this is not the side of His sacrificial death; it is His actual power to deal with the whole position; it is not arbitrary, but a question of right, and the rainbow means, as I said, that He recognises engagements entered into. Every engagement of God is yea and amen in Christ: the sense of that would come into our souls as we see Christ in this position. But it is a question of territory — the sea and the earth — and the Lord is putting Himself forward to assure us that He is in control, and would call us into this matter. And then our attention is called to “a little opened book”. For years brethren have been used to a prophetic outline, a prophetic map; it has been published and read by many, so that the prophetic truth has become known, at least in terms. The light thus furnished and received has through grace been of general help and has given character to the testimony.
But these prophetic subjects have been discussed by persons who can hardly be said to be genuinely in the fellowship of God’s Son; in this way the truth is apt to be brought down to the level of the human mind and thus its true spiritual and moral bearing becomes obscured. At the same time, the little book is “opened”. We may thank God that it is open; that this prophetic matter is still open, so that anyone can see it and scan it. Discredit would not be placed on that, for it places all under responsibility as to it, but at the same time, it is [p. 471] out of the scope of the human mind. The truth of God was never intended for the human mind by itself; “the things of God knows no one except the Spirit of God”, 1 Corinthians 2: 11.
So the Lord has the little open book in His hand; it is available for anyone to look at; it is not sealed like the one in chapter 5; it is open. There has been expository prophetic ministry, to open out the truth. But now the Lord is going to test everyone, and He takes up John, who is the most apt representative of the prophetic ministry; the disciple whom Jesus loved. He is called a bondman of God. That is one of the best titles we can get, in a moral sense. When people are asserting their titles, let them take account of this title, “bondman”. The “revelation ... which God gave to him, to shew to his bondmen ... sending by his angel, to his bondman John”, Revelation 1: 1. And John testified the word of God; the things which he saw.
John is thus a witness, a representative prophet, and he is taken up to show how prophetic ministry is to continue. It is not to continue in persons who take up the question of prophecy in a merely mental way, and make it a question of ordinary study. There are seminaries which use the publications of the ministry I have alluded to as textbooks, as other religious books are used for the instruction of students having clerical service in view. In this respect they are considered largely in a merely mental way, and the true moral and spiritual significance is lost, for it involves association with Christ, like the one hundred and forty-four thousand in Revelation 14, and consequent separation from the world. But here the Lord is testing John as to reality respecting this open book. Is it like a text-book to us all? Are not these prophetic matters real things? Are they not at our very doors? But are we ready for them?
It is said, “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: 2, 3. It is the lion character which is now brought before us; it is not the presentation of the Lamb. It is a question of the Lord asserting His rights and possessing power to secure and establish them. And then we are told that “when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their own voices”, referring to powers that He has in reserve, that He can call into action; overwhelming powers. Our David — our Lord — will presently come in and assert His rights with power that is irresistible. John says further, “And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write: and I heard a voice out of the heaven saying, Seal the things which the seven thunders have spoken, and write them not” (verse 4). As much as to say, there is something to be known, but it is not to be published just now. What is known is represented by this opened book, but what use are we making of this book? Is it real to us? Is it a matter of faith? And then we learn “that there should be no longer delay”, that a time is fixed for the accomplishment of divine purpose. So that if there is any unreality about us it is time to wake up, for the things in mind here are at our very doors; the very things that this little opened book contemplates have come nigh to us. Are we just regarding them as subjects for discussion, not involving conscience, not realising that suffering is entailed, if not in me, then in others? The Lord is looking for fuller response on our part to these things.
It says, “but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound the trumpet, the mystery of God also shall be completed, as he has made known the glad tidings to his own bondmen the prophets” (verse 7). These are the things [p. 473] that are known; anybody that is accustomed to read the prophetic books of ministry, circulated for the last hundred years or so, may be conversant with these matters; they have been declared to God’s bondmen the prophets.
In verse 8 it says, “And the voice which I heard out of heaven was again speaking with me, and saying, Go, take the little book which is opened in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the earth”. Notice this reference; three times it is said of this mighty Angel, that His right foot is on the sea and His left upon the earth. This is a fixed matter; whatever men may do or say, the sea and the earth belong to Christ, but the word to John is, “Go, take the little book which is opened ... And I went to the angel, saying to him to give me the little book. And he says to me, Take and eat it up: and it shall make thy belly bitter (the Lord mentions the bitterness first), but in thy mouth it shall be sweet as honey” (verse 9). This is a bitter matter; it is no mere matter for discussion, as you might discuss geometry; it is prophecy. It is the mind of God as to the future; as if it were happening now, or will happen tomorrow, or the day after. It is a real thing; it is at our very doors, as I said. There is a bitterness in it, but, thank God, sweetness too. But in the real believer it will cause sorrow, and that is what I want to take to myself and desire that we all may face it.
John says, “And I took the little book out of the hand of the angel, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth as honey, sweet”; the sweetness comes first here, because it is a question of the mind of God. The disclosure of the mind of God must cause enjoyment to a lover of God. And so John says, “it was in my mouth as honey, sweet; and when I had eaten it my belly was made bitter” (verse 10). The Lord spoke of the bitterness first, but [p. 474] the bitterness came last, actually; nevertheless it came. Now the point I want to stress is, where are we as to these matters? Are we dealing with them mentally, or do they really involve suffering or joy, or both? The carrying out of the divine mind must mean judgment to some, because of current conditions, but to many it means enjoyment and blessing, also. The point thus is to get, in a feeling way, into the current of what God presents, and if that be so, then the continuance of the prophetic word is ensured. So the last verse says, “Thou must prophesy again as to peoples and nations and tongues and many kings”; as much as to say that John was the type of man who was needed for this ministry; a man who could feel with God as to what His testimony and holy government require; who could assimilate them into his very being.
That John had been used is implied in the word addressed to him; but the fact that I was used yesterday is not proof that I will be used today or tomorrow. Not that God is not infinitely fair with those whom He uses, and will, if possible, continue to use them; but that I have been used will not in itself suffice; continued suitable condition is needed. Thus the little book must affect me, causing sweetness and bitterness; if such is the case God will say, You are the man I will use again. Every true servant wants to be used again and again every moment of his life here. This is no light matter; it is serious, for the end has drawn nigh, and it is folly not to be feeling as to it. The apostolic writers all warn us as to it. Peter says, “What ought ye to be in holy conversation and godliness ... ?” 2 Peter 3: 11. But, as I said, what I had in mind was that there should be such a condition among the saints as will ensure the continuance of the prophetic word.