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The Revelation of Jesus Christ
I refer especially to the efforts of many in professing Christendom toward the union of all churches, regardless of creed-Unitarian or Trinitarian; Catholic or Protestant; or thodox or apostate. Priding themselves on their broad-mind edness so-called, they rob Christ of His deity and trample under foot the atoning blood of Calvary's cross. Some would unite Christians and Jews in one vast religious organization, regardless of their• respective attitudes toward Jesus, the eternal Son of God. Not long ago I received a questionnaire, asking what doctrines I would give up for the sake of such a union. How easily we might be led astray, deceived by a false "brother hood," but for the prophecy God gave to John, saying these things would surely come to pass in the closing days of this dispensation of grace! Truly God wants a real union of all born-again souls, but that union can be realized only on the basis of the shed blood of Calvary's Lamb. Any other union is an abomination to our Holy God. Now we are ready to consider these seven messages in detail. Let us read again the words sent to the church at Ephesus, as recorded in 2: 1-7. THE MESSAGE TO EPHESUS-THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH 2: 1-7 To Ephesus, whose name means "desired," our Lord sent His first message. And to this church He addressed Him self as the One "that holdest the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks" ( 2: I ). No wonder the apostolic church was pleasing to the Lord! Conscious of His keeping power and mighty presence, these first Christians received more commendation than re buke from their Great High Priest. Let us see the things for which He commended them: "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience" ( 2 :2). Similar words are found in verse three: "Thou ... hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted." If you could have gone to the church at Ephesus, my friends, you would have found that it was a working church, that it was an organization in
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