The Christadelphian Bible Journal
Nov 2006 Volume 3 Number 29

The Apocalypse and Fellowship

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein.

This question is raised by dissensions in some quarters leading to division. An ecclesia tolerates wrong teaching: a few men of understanding cannot bear it, and retire. Those who remain think the matter unimportant, and are inclined to find fault with the others as sticklers. How stands the matter?

When a professed brother avows the belief that the visions of the Apocalypse have no application to the accomplished history of Europe but are of a future significance, he raises a question of more serious moment than may at first sight be apparent. A man confessing ignorance of the meaning of the Apocalypse is a man who might grow in knowledge, and therefore a man to be borne with and helped; but a man denying its meaning is a man to be antagonized on the following serious grounds: Over a dozen times, it is written in the Apocalypse: "He that hath ears, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Jesus says: "My sheep hear my voice." He identifies the Apocalypse with his voice in saying in it "I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify these things in the churches" (22:16).

Thus the Apocalypse is an important part of the Shepherd's voice which Jesus says the sheep will hear. He goes further than this. He says (22:19): "If any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life." On the other hand, he says (1:3): "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein." Among the "words of the book of this prophecy" is a heavy warning against participation with a system described under the symbol of a beast and his image (14:9-10): "If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark on his forehead or on his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation."

Now, if these things relate to institutions now current among men, which they undoubtedly do, as can be and has been many times shown), how serious is the doctrine which would say they do not relate to anything now upon earth, but to something in some future age with which we have nothing to do. Such a doctrine, where received, would prevent a man from: "...hearing what the Spirit saith unto the churches." It would prevent him from: "...keeping those things which are written in this book." And worse than all, it would practically cause him to: "...take away from the words of the book of this prophecy." - since to take away the meaning is to take away the words in making them of none effect. It is impossible, therefore, to agree with those who would make light of the subject, and it is impossible not to sympathize with faithful men who cannot remain in any community where such nullifying doctrines are tolerated.