Q. 378, Vol. 2-This was misprinted, and hence not answered. I wanted to know how overcomers are found in Laodicea? Why do they not move into Philadelphia, as both go on together?
A. With reference to Q. 378, it is quite true that there are overcomers in Philadelphia, but I fail to find any in Laodicea. In Thyatira there is a remnant who of course are overcomers; in Sardis again a remnant who are overcomers; in Philadelphia no remnant, but all are overcomers; in Laodicea no remnant and no overcomers, but "If any man"; our Lord outside the church, the door shut against Him, He says, " If any man," &c. Till our Lord rises from His seat at the right hand of the Father, and judgment begins, the little but mighty word " if" keeps the door of grace open for " any man " to repent and be saved. I do not know a more expressive word in the New Testament.
Q. Job 14:1414If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. (Job 14:14). Is not Job anticipating in this and the next verse the time concerning which he speaks so confidently in chapter 19? “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand in the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself." It seems to me that he speaks with certainty in his own mind of that “trump of God” which shall call from their graves all the sleeping saints. “Thou shalt call and I will answer thee." The ground of his confidence being his assurance that God will have a desire to the work of His own hands, His own being begotten of Him.