PETER'S FIRST EPISTLE AS BEARING ON THE PRESENT MOMENT (5)
PETER’S FIRST EPISTLE AS BEARING ON THE PRESENT MOMENT (5)
JT It may be of advantage to be reminded that elderhood, or eldership, is in mind here, Peter himself saying that he was a fellow-elder, and besides that, a “witness of the sufferings of the Christ” and a “partaker of the glory” 1 Peter 5:1. Today the idea of eldership is seen largely in what are called care meetings, that is to say, meetings in the various localities where there are assemblies, in which matters are discussed frankly as the brethren are together, but with no assumption to be definite or final in the decisions reached. All matters for judgment or discipline are to be left for the assembly. It is noticed that in some parts of the world these care meetings have been used for decisions for final action; not intentionally, but perhaps through want of understanding as to the truth of the real position at the present time.
SMcC Do you mean that if a case comes up for deliberation in the care meeting, and it is felt at the time that it necessitates administrative action in the assembly, we must not accept that as conclusive but wait for the assembly meeting?
JT Quite so; that is what is understood generally, and evidently it is the right way.
Ques So that the care meeting would be deliberative rather than executive?
JT Very good.
ANW Would the deliberative part be at the gate, as we may say, and the final administrative action in the city itself?
JT Are you referring to the so-called subdivisions, by ‘at the gate’ and then to the whole assembly in the place?
ANW Yes.
JT The word ‘subdivision’ is not generally used in this part of the world so far as I know; we usually use the word ‘meeting’. Subdivision is really a negative thought.
AR In your ministry lately you have been speaking about the idea of an assembly in a place. Is that right?
JT It is just to avoid the negative side, that a meeting of the Lord’s people in which the breaking of bread takes place and all that is attendant upon it is not a negative idea; it is a positive idea.
Rem So that as we come together at the Supper we are on assembly ground; not partially so, although we may be only one of the meetings in the place.
JT That is illustrated in 1 Corinthians 11:20 where the apostle says, “When ye come therefore together into one place”; he does not speak of a subdivision though there was evidently more than one gathering in Corinth.
Rem That is the character of each gathering.
JT Just so.
ECT “With the assembly in their house” 1 Corinthians 16:19: I suppose that would be a case in point?
JT That is right, that would indicate that there was more than one and the word ‘assembly’ is used in this very section alluded to — the last chapter of 1 Corinthians.
Rem It is important to get the right term to replace the word ‘subdivision’.
JT That is why I spoke of it, because ‘subdivision’ is obviously a negative thought. It is not the whole thought. And the Scriptures warrant attaching the whole thought to a meeting in a brother’s house in a town where there may be other meetings.
JRH So you would suggest the word ‘meeting’?
JT Yes, because it is a question of the saints in their importance and dignity as of [p. 83] the assembly.
EAL I believe you said that the Washington Avenue meeting, for instance, has assembly character, but that the assembly of God is in New York.
JT Quite so; if you speak of the assembly of God fully in that sense, that would be all the brethren in all the meetings in the city of New York, or in the city of London, for instance.
SMcC It would be well to remember, I suppose, that the principle of elderhood stands in relation to the whole city rather than to a particular section of it.
JT The word ‘elder’ is used in connection with cities as well as assemblies. The importance of a city is sometimes stressed by the fact that the elder is for the city; but it is never just one elder, it is always in the plural, so far as I remember.
FNW In view of the stress you are laying on the character of each meeting in a city, is it in order for brethren to break bread in just one place out of several, when many brethren are away from the city for meetings like this?
JT Well, that is acceptable; but I think the meetings ought to be continued in the places where they are usually held, if it is possible.
Rem There is the thought of continuity in the position being held assemblywise.
WFW Why is eldership linked on with suffering here?
JT It is just to bring out the peculiar place the apostles had. They were witnesses of the sufferings of Christ, as he says here, “their fellow-elder and witness of the sufferings of the Christ” 1 Peter 5:1. I believe the Lord intended that the apostles should all have that distinction, that they should be witnesses of the sufferings of Christ.
AAT In what locality was Peter an elder?
JT It would be just in the sense that he had that distinction in testimony as attached to his [p. 84] experience as an apostle. I do not think he would be an elder locally in any other sense than that he had the distinction of eldership because of his experience in the Lord’s company as an apostle.
AAT It is not a universal thought, is it?
JT Well, it is quite universal if applied to an apostle. The apostle Peter had that distinction clearly.
ANW John writes two letters as “the elder”.
JT That is another illustration that it is universal in that sense, because the apostles have a distinction that no others have. John speaks of the apostles as having a fellowship: “That which we have seen and heard we report to you, that ye also may have fellowship with us”, that is, with the apostles; not simply with Christians but with those who had apostleship; “that ye also may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is indeed with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” 1 John 1:3. No other persons have that distinction.
JRH Does that underlie the use of the term ‘elder’ in his second and third epistles?
JT I would think so; it is a distinction attached to apostleship.
Ques So that other than with the apostles the thought of elders seems always to be in the plural. In Titus 1:5 it is “elders in each city”; and in Acts 14:23 it is “elders in each assembly”. Do you think the singular thought of elder was confined to the apostles?
JT Possibly that is so.
WL Is the suggestion here that there are elders in each local assembly? It says, “The elders which are among you” 1 Peter 5:1.
JT This, of course, is an allusion to apostolic days, showing that the thought of individuality of eldership is not so much in mind; it is usually in the plural in the assemblies. “And having chosen them elders in each assembly” Acts 14:23; the apostles did that — Paul and Barnabas.
AR Would the idea of elders in a locality being in the plural help to maintain unity in a locality?
JT It would. It should establish more power, more authority in the rule of the assembly.
WW Would Titus 1:5 bear that out? “For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou mightest go on to set right what remained unordered, and establish elders in each city”.
JT Very good.
Ques In view of the prominence that the care meeting has among us now, I mean in a right way, how does elderhood function?
JT It would be in general based on the brother’s experience I should think, and whatever ability God had given him for rule. You have in 1 Corinthians 12 persons that help, and then governments, persons with the ability to govern. Certain things are linked on with the word ‘gift’ and amongst them is the word ‘government’.
ANW When you say experience, you mean experience with God in assembly affairs?
JT Yes; but in the scripture I referred to there is more than that, because these things are connected with the idea of gift.
JLP Would that also come in in 1 Timothy 5:17, “Let the elders who take the lead among the saints well be esteemed worthy of double honour, specially those labouring in word and teaching”? I refer to the matter of gift being linked on with eldership.
JT So that if they have ability to minister the word they should have double honour, showing how careful God is for His servants that a certain honour should be attached to them. Therefore if a man who is able to exercise gift in the ministry of the word also exercises eldership in the assembly, he has a [p. 86] double office, you might say. And God is very liberal in distributing honours amongst His servants. The brethren are not always very liberal; not that the servants should seek it, but I do not think the brethren are just as liberal as they might be in those things. They are too commonplace in referring to persons whom God has distinguished.
Ques Is there help to be seen in Acts 20:28, “Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, wherein the Holy Spirit has set you as overseers, to shepherd the assembly of God”? Are they set up at the present day by the Holy Spirit?
JT Well, all these pristine or apostolic times have to be noted because there were marks in them that have not extended down to our times. We are in remnant times; we are in a day of small things and we must accept it, because God uses that word. We ought not to clothe the present time with the same distinction that attached to apostolic times.
WW Would it be right to say that if the features of an elder are there God will bring them to light?
JT Quite so.
AR Do you mean that in the apostles’ day things were more official?
JT They were more official because the word ‘apostles’ is used; and in Luke the word ‘apostles’ is used in regard to the Lord’s supper, because Luke would show there was distinction attached to the apostolic position that we do not get later.
Ques Is that why it is wise in public announcements or communications to avoid official terms where possible? For instance, if you announce an assembly meeting it is generally a meeting of assembly character rather than stating it formally. I think we have learned that from you.
JT I think that is perhaps quite right. I am never afraid of the word ‘assembly’ because the Lord cherishes the thought and the word. Even if it has [p. 87] just the character of the assembly, the Lord has in mind to distinguish it.
Rem I was just making the distinction between what belonged to the pristine, apostolic days and what becomes us in a broken position publicly; not that it should diminish the value of the assembly in our hearts privately.
BW In this matter of eldership, if the older brothers in a small locality are neglecting matters would it be out of place for younger brothers to exercise eldership?
JT It is a question of whether their youth is despisable. It says, “Let no one despise thy youth” 1 Timothy 4:12, but that is your matter. If you are a young man it is your matter to see that there is dignity and sobriety enough about you to preclude any despisal of your youth; because young people may have to do things that old people are better qualified for. But if so, they have to accept the fact, and they must see to their behaviour as in Timothy’s case.
SMcC Joseph would be a striking example, would he not, of a young man who fled youthful lusts but was marked by wise administrative ability in things, God making him a father as it is said. Is it not an unusual case?
JT Very good, “to … teach his elders wisdom” Psalm 105:22.
SMcC I thought it was seen in a young man like Joseph as based on moral lines and fleeing evil.
WL In that way would the thought of faithful men obtain today?
JT I think so. The word ‘faithful’ may be applied if the man is faithful.
Ques As to the working of the gift of government in connection with the meetings, how is it to be used if a visiting brother is in a locality who might be marked by that gift? Are the brethren entitled to make use of [p. 88] him?
JT I should think so if it is gift that is usable universally. Eldership is never regarded as a gift exactly, but government is. It is spoken of in 1 Corinthians 12.
JRH Would you not be free to make use of such a gift, even when he is outside of the locality, on the line of seeking help as to principles?
JT Quite so.
AR A visiting brother would give light, not tell them what to do.
JT Yes, it is just to give them light. If God has given him ability, let him use it; use it, of course, with skill.
Ques You were speaking about young men and their behaviour as pertaining to eldership. Paul says to Timothy, “Rebuke not an elder sharply” 1 Timothy 5:1. Is that an indication for the younger ones as to how to behave in their localities toward older brothers?
JT Just so; it says a certain man is to be treated with double honour, showing that God is liberal with His distinctions which He grants to His servants.
RBP Does Elihu in the book of Job give us a good lead as to how to move in relation to those who are older?
JT Elihu is a very good lead; he waited for his elders and let them speak first, which is a good point. What we have just said is very important, that God is liberal with His distinctions to those who serve Him and the younger brethren ought to bear that in mind and not be commonplace in the way they speak of the servants of God and their services.
WWM In regard to younger men, would you say a word as to the responsible element? The Lord speaks to the angel of the assembly in Revelation 2 and 3: how would that correspond with eldership?
JT Of course, we should first have to decide what the word ‘angel’ there means, whether it is [p. 89] simply representation in a brother or in certain brethren as an element, or whether it is an actual angel. I think it is rather the former, as representative of God in a locality, whom the Lord addresses in relation to the assembly. If it is a group of brethren that might be in mind we have to respect them peculiarly because they are representative of God in the assembly in that sense. The seven assemblies all have those words addressed to them and we must regard them in their significance.
AR It is a poor thing in a locality to see the young brothers together apart from the old brothers, do you not think?
JT It is better that they should mingle as much as possible because they are dependent on each other.
Ques Do you think that eldership develops through the acceptance of responsibility?
JT Very likely. You will notice in the meetings that if a young man has a sense of responsibility it will soon show itself in what he does and says, and brethren begin to respect him.
Rem He soon gains experience on that line.
EAL Referring to the remark, “Rebuke not an elder sharply, but exhort him as a father” 1 Timothy 5:1, one would normally look at a father with affection. Would that help us?
JT Just so; that is, your mind runs back to Abraham for he is the common father of all of us, so that you get some idea of fatherhood in him. He is representative of God as Father.
FW Would you say that 1 Corinthians 6: 2 suggests dignity and ability? “Do ye not then know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy of the smallest judgments?”
JT Very good; therefore if you have such a case let the brethren come together and decide what [p. 90] is right and wrong in the matter, and let it not drag along and defile the whole assembly; because that is what happens if a matter is left, and you may have division in the end.
Ques Is it in order in a case like that to pick out certain brethren who may be specially qualified to deal with the matter?
JT I should say so; if documentary evidence is needed let them examine the documents and arrive at the truth in an honest and open way, so that it carries the confidence of all; because the local assembly is not alone, the whole district is involved.
Rem So that it is an essential feature of any matter that facts should be established.
JT Exactly.
Rem One recalls what was done at Newcastle some years ago, in which I think you had some part, when certain brothers regarded as competent to examine business transactions were asked to make a report.
JT Quite so, why should they not? We should have confidence in brothers like that, not simply that they are able in a general sense, but they are able in a moral sense and trustworthy.
Rem As carrying the general confidence of the brethren.
JT Quite so.
AR On that occasion all that was done was just to give light, not to say what to do.
JT Just so, to establish the facts. We are to follow righteousness, and that word ‘righteousness’ covers all such things. We are to pursue it, it says.
SJH Would you say what is involved in binding on humility in verse 5? It seems to apply to both the younger and the elder, “all of you bind on humility towards one another” 1 Peter 5:5.
JT I think we understand the meaning of the word ‘humility’. “Binding” means it does not fall [p. 91] off quickly; a thing is there to stay if it is bound on.
Rem Put on permanently.
JT Just so, it does not come off at once.
Ques Is it in contrast to the young man who had the cloth lightly thrown about him? He soon lost that.
JT It was snatched off him. So it says, “Likewise ye younger, be subject to the elder, and all of you bind on humility towards one another; for God sets himself against the proud, but to the humble gives grace. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in the due time” 1 Peter 5:5. That is a word for us surely, especially for the young.
It was remarked earlier that, while we have the 1 Peter 5 especially in mind, we might also refer to the first chapter of the second epistle beginning at verse 12. What is in mind in 2 Peter is to bring out the thought of sonship, to see how Peter, as about to put off his tabernacle, would have the Lord to be known in His sonship.
SMcC I think you remarked this morning that you felt there was something in that connection that we had not laid hold of. Had you any special feature in regard to sonship in mind?
JT Well, I think it is a beautiful reference that Peter makes here. He says. “For we have not made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, following cleverly imagined fables, but having been eyewitnesses” — we have already alluded to witnesses in the first epistle — “eyewitnesses of his majesty” 2 Peter 1:16. I think that is a magnificent expression — “eyewitnesses of his majesty”: not simply of His sufferings, because Peter alludes to that too in the first letter; but now it is His majesty, and how this is to remain in the minds of the brethren in view of Peter putting off his tabernacle. This matter of sonship really came up within our own time; and [p. 92] the Lord would put it upon us to have the dignity of Christ, the majesty of Christ, as the apostles — those in authority — have left it to us; so that the dignity and majesty of Christ should be amongst us.
Ques It says of Solomon, “And Jehovah magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him royal majesty such as had not been on any king before him in Israel” 1 Chronicles 29:25. Is that typical of what we have here?
JT Very good.
WFW Is the sonship referred to here linked on with the Lord’s manhood?
JT Clearly; that is the point in it. The John 1 bears on all this matter of sonship; and I might remark here that sonship in John does not apply to the christian, to ourselves; in his gospel the terms ‘brethren’ and ‘disciples’ are usually applied to the saints, but sonship is applied to Christ. He is the beloved Son, the only begotten Son; and we should have all these beautiful terms in our minds in view of the continuance of the testimony despite the departure from amongst us of those whom God has used much in it, that the younger men and women may be clearly set up in the thought of Christ’s sonship and dignity.
RWS In the presence of all the glory of the world and the abrupt way it is to be finished according to this epistle, this glorious presentation stabilises the soul, does it not?
JT That is what I thought. So it would be well to look at 2 Peter 1:12, “Wherefore I will be careful to put you always in mind of these things, although knowing them and established in the present truth”. That is another expression to keep in our minds, “the present truth”. He goes on, “But I account it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up” 1 Peter 1:13. Many of us have reached the time [p. 93] when we feel we are near to the end of our lives in testimony here, and we shall very likely be missed. So that it is a great thing to all be established in what is available in the Scriptures, the Spirit of God being with us always to make things real and to establish us in the truth. “Knowing that the putting off of my tabernacle is speedily to take place, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has manifested to me” 2 Peter 1:14, showing how intimately the Lord knew and acted amongst His own, His apostles, so that He had manifested to Peter that he was to be martyred. It is remarkable. The Lord as it were distinguished Peter by telling him that he would have to put off his tabernacle: He says to him, “When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst where thou desiredst; but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and bring thee where thou dost not desire” John 21:18. That is what the Lord had in mind. Peter when he was young was wayward perhaps, but now he is old and he is going to put off his tabernacle. Well, who are the young people to take his place? That is the point.
CAM Would you say it is worthy of note that Peter speaks of this, the exceeding glory of sonship, at the close of his life? Would it be right to connect it with the fact that the apostle Paul’s ministry had also come into his life?
JT It is noticeable in the last chapter how lovingly and honourably Peter mentions his beloved brother Paul, which is another thing to be remembered, that the brethren should be united. Those who are leading or distinguished amongst us should be of one mind and able to think of each other in love. That is another thing to be kept before us I am sure.
WW What would be the bearing of “the present truth”? 2 Peter 1:12.
JT “The present truth” was what Peter was speaking of, and I suppose it would be what Paul brought out about the assembly, He refers to “our beloved brother Paul” 2 Peter 3:15, and he speaks of his writings, because Paul is writing Scripture too.
SMcC In regard to this thought of sonship to which you have drawn our attention, and His majesty, have we to bear in mind that while we all have part in the assembly in sonship, yet there is what is unique to Christ in relation to His sonship?
JT He is unique always, and therefore John carefully avoids applying sonship to ourselves, whereas he stresses it as applied to Christ: “the only-begotten Son”, “His only-begotten Son”; we get these terms in John, also “My beloved Son” here and in the synoptic gospels, and “the Son of his love” in Colossians 1:13, and they show what sonship is in Christ.
SMcC Would there be a similar thought in John 17? In verse 22 there is what we share with Him, but in verse 24 there is what is unique to Him, “that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me” John 17:24.
JT Very good.
AR You have pointed out that in John’s gospel we are spoken of as children. There is only one Man in John’s gospel referred to as Son.
JT It is very instructive to every one of us, brothers and sisters, and especially sisters because they do not follow things as they might. I only refer to that because it is to their own advantage that the sisters as well as the brothers should take note of what is said in the ministry, and have it in their souls. So John’s gospel stresses sonship in Christ.
ECT I was thinking of John 9: would it help the young people and all of us to see the position the man was in when this truth was made known to [p. 95] him? He made confession and then as a result he is in the outside place; and the light comes to him in that position.
JT Just so; in John 9 the Lord asked the man whether he believed on the Son of God.
WFW Peter touches on the idea of being regulated by the word in contrast to “cleverly imagined fables”2 Peter 1:16. Would that fit in with what we have been having?
JT It is remarkable that the word ‘cleverly’ is used, showing how, in the system we have already alluded to, cleverness and learning and skill have such a place; and they are turned to account to stress the idea of fables, things that are not true. Such things are being stressed in that system.
Ques May I ask about the Father’s voice?
JT “For we have not made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, following cleverly imagined fables, but having been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory” — we have already alluded to the use and the non-use of the article in Peter’s epistles and it is very remarkable. Notice the non-use of the article here: it is ‘God Father’, as if that would stress the idea. “He received from God [the] Father honour and glory, such a voice being uttered to him by the excellent glory: This is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight; and this voice we heard uttered from heaven, being with him on the holy mountain” 2 Peter 1:16 - 18. Wonderful! “The holy mountain” refers to the mount of transfiguration. Peter, James and John were, it would seem, the only ones taken up there; Peter therefore had a leading place in the matter and he heard this voice, and speaks of “the excellent glory”. He heard the voice and was an eyewitness too; he was an eyewitness of the glory.
[p. 96] Rem In John 17:6 where the Lord’s sonship is referred to in such a glorious way the Lord refers to His own as men, “the men whom thou gavest me”. Would that link on with Paul’s thought of the full-grown man in connection with the knowledge of the Son of God? John also uses the word “these”, and it is put in the emphatic type† as well as the words “thou” and “me”, suggesting the dignity of the position which would so elevate us and yet give to Christ His proper place.
JT Then, too, another thing that comes out in John 17 is eternal life. Some one commented in our meetings that it is everlasting life. Well, it is everlasting life, but it is more than that, and therefore the article is put into it in John 17:3 “this is the eternal life, that they should know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent”. You get the true thought of eternal life there.
Ques Is that in view of the apostles being left in the sphere of testimony where death was?
JT I suppose so. It is in keeping with John that “the eternal life” was there and the Lord wanted it to be known; “this is the eternal life, that they should know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent” John 17:3. So that the Father there is alluded to as the only true God, but in John’s epistle the Son is the true God, showing that the interchange of title and terms or designations may pass on from one divine Person to Another. And that brings out the greatness and glory of the divine names and Persons, especially in regard to the Spirit who has now come to such distinction amongst the brethren. I hope He will come into more, too, than He has already. What we are saying now is not only to stress Paul but to stress John because John and Peter have a distinct place of their own.
†This remark refers to earlier editions of the New Translation – ED.
JWW Would Peter’s message in this chapter be to emphasise the Father’s delight in the Son? We have not the word “hear Him” here as we have in the gospel by Matthew.
JT Perhaps that is so.
ANW Can you explain why Peter appears in so much better light in his letter than he does in the record of the transfiguration in Matthew or the other gospels?
JT I think God is honouring him. He is about to put off his tabernacle and I think God is honouring him. The Lord had told him about it and now it is about to happen and I think the Lord is going to distinguish Peter as he is just going to die; because he was undoubtedly martyred.
Ques Do you not think it shows that perhaps at the time of an experience we may not gain so much as we do subsequently when we have the knowledge that comes of reflection, and the effect of further discipline and God’s formation in the soul? Peter does not seem to have done so very well at the time, but he does very well here. Is not that the case many times?
JT It is great comfort that, while sometimes we do well and sometimes we do not, the Lord takes every opportunity to make much of it when we do do well; and Peter did well many times. It is said of him, “first … Peter”. Matthew alone says that of him.
WL Would you say he had come into the gain of “the present truth”? 2 Peter 1:12.
JT I would say that; probably in that phrase he is alluding to some of Paul’s writings.
JWD It is put as if the excellent glory speaks, “such a voice being uttered to him by the excellent glory”. 2 Peter 1:17.
JT It is one of Peter’s ways to use good adjectives. He uses the word ‘precious’ in a peculiar way [p. 98] and several other adjectives that remain with you, and this “excellent glory” is one of them. It is one of the finest phrases you can use.
Ques Would you tell us if there is any connection between that verse and Psalm 16:3, “To the saints that are on the earth, and to the excellent thou hast said, In them is all my delight”?
JT That is the Lord’s own voice, it is the Messiah speaking so that it fits in here, showing that Peter had learned from the Lord undoubtedly the meaning of the word ‘excellent’.
RWS Cannot we now pray to God to give us, as it were, a double blessing? Peter was going to put off his tabernacle in the light of this glory; but is not the Lord helping us to see the glory and at the same time maintaining in life those brothers who are serving us? Is it not right to ask for that?
JT Quite so.
Ques Do you think Paul in saying “we had the sentence of death in ourselves” 2 Corinthians 1:9 would show how he had arrived at this matter and was serving in the light of it? Whereas Peter would serve with the knowledge in his soul that he was to be martyred; also that he was to glorify God in his death.
JT I think heaven must have a special place for martyrs, because martyrdom acquired such a place in Stephen’s history, the apostle Paul himself saying, “thy martyr Stephen” Acts 22:20. That is how Paul refers to him in speaking to the Lord. Well then the question is what place martyrdom has in the places of distinction that heaven has, for it has such.
ANW The crown of life is the martyr’s reward, is it not?
JT Quite so. Peter was intended by Herod to be put to death quite early in the history of the assembly, but the Lord saved him. He was saved to further serve the saints; that is the position. So with the apostle Paul himself; he says he desired to [p. 99] depart to be with Christ which is far better, but the Lord decided that he should stay longer to serve the saints. That is a great matter with those of us who are older, that we wish to stay here to serve the saints; and heaven knows that and makes a record of it. So I think that the martyrs must have a great place in heaven; the annals of martyrdom must have a great place in heaven, what God thinks of those who laid their lives down for Christ. We hardly know anything about that, I must confess, but still there it is. So Peter here alludes to his own death, “as also our Lord Jesus Christ has manifested to me” 2 Peter 1:14, showing that Peter’s martyrdom had a great place in His mind.
AR So that if we want a brother to stay, heaven honours that. It is a question of the will of God.
JT The brethren want the servants to stay, of course, but I am speaking now of what heaven thinks of that and of what is going on in all this wonderful dispensation; what things are happening and how heaven has been recording them; so that nothing is omitted there in the annals of heaven. Peter must have a great place from the way he speaks here.
Rem There is an interjection in connection with the Old Testament saints in Hebrews 11:38: it says, “of whom the world was not worthy”, as if Scripture would call special attention to that.
JT Just so; and then we are told of the kind of deaths and the experiences they were put to. One hardly knows anything about it. What history there has been in the assembly from the beginning until now, and how heaven regards it! We should aspire to have our places there.
JRK In Acts 15:26 it refers to “men who have given up their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Would that make it possible for us to come into it at the present [p. 100] time?
JT Very good, they gave up their lives. The Lord takes much note of what they did and what they suffered.
WW Would Revelation 6:9 bear that out? “And when it opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony”.
JT They were sealed beneath the altar; they had offered up their lives to death for the Lord’s sake. Therefore they are seen beneath the altar.
JK Paul speaks of the time of his release being at hand and of what the Lord had laid up for him. Would that be a further evidence of the appreciation of heaven?
JT Quite so; “The time of my release is come”, he says 2 Timothy 4:6. And then another thing for us to take to heart is the matter of those who love His appearing. Certain rewards are given to those who love His appearing. It is very near now, and do we love it?