LORD, How Long...? Shall The Throne Of Iniquity Have Fellowship With Thee? Ps. 94:20 - 'Treasury Of David'

Psalms 94:3-4,20 'LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? [20]...Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?'

The throne of iniquity...which frameth mischief by a law. If there never had been such thrones in the world, there would not have been that mention made of them in the Scripture. But such there have been. That of Jeroboam was one, who would not suffer the people, according to the divine command, to go up to Jerusalem to worship God, who had there placed his name (1Kings 12:28-30); but spread, for them that went, nets upon Mizpah, and set snares upon Mount Tabor. (Ho 5:1) And such thrones there have been since, too many of them. Well saith the Psalmist, Shall they have fellowship with thee? No, no; God keeps his distance from them. Those that we call "stinking dunghills" are not so offensive to God as thrones of iniquity are, which shall neither be approved by him nor secured. Stay a while, Christians, and "in your patience possess ye your souls (Luke 21:19); "for the world shall see that in due time he will overturn them all (Psalms 94:23).

Samuel Slater, in "The Morning Exercises"; excerpted from Spurgeon's Treasury of David - Ps. 94
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See also: "O LORD, The Floods Have Lifted Up Their Voice...The LORD On High Is Mightier"; Spurgeon - Psalms 93

Luke 19:14 "We Will Not Have This Man To Reign Over Us" - Says The World, And It's Religionists Of Every Stripe

'WILL' NOT

[repost]  The Lord Jesus Christ, after having commanded the devils to come out of a man "which had devils long time" (Luke 8:27-29) - was then confronted by "the whole multitude of the country":

"Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him... Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked... Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him [the Lord Jesus] to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear." (Luke 8:30,33,37)

"The world beseeches Jesus to depart, desiring their own ease, which is more disturbed by the presence and power of God than by a legion of devils."

(J.N.D. - Footprints for Pilgrims)
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Although truth be told they are in fact utterly blinded to the reality of it [Rev. 3:17], what is most definitely true for the world - and it's 'religionists' of every stripe, is most definitely true also for apostate 'in toto' (near-entirely judaized) khristendumb - 2019 2026 [Matt. 13:33; 1Tim. 4:1] - whom also 'will not have this man [1 Tim. 2:5] to reign over them.."*

Be not one of the "whole multitude"... Come out of her, my people..." Rev. 18:4
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*Luke 19:12-14 'He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us'

'It's Just A Little Sin' - Watch Your Step Believer ~Ryle 1856

Let us beware of the beginnings of backsliding, however small. We never know what we may come to, if we once leave the king’s highway [Prov. 16:17]. The professing Christian who begins to say of any sin or evil habit, “it is but a little one,” is in imminent danger. He is sowing seeds in his heart, which will one day spring up and bear bitter fruit. It is a homely saying, that “if men take care of the pence the pounds will take care of themselves.” We may borrow a good spiritual lesson from the saying. The Christian who keeps his heart diligently in little things shall be kept from great falls. - J.C. Ryle [1816 – 1900]
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JAMES 1:14-16 'But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren'

The NT Has Three Manifestations Of Jesus Christ From Heaven - They Typify The Three Aspects of His Second Coming - A. C. Gaebelein [Pretrib]

Reposted from 2014 - for re-study and remember that the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ for his bride is in fact exactly 'what saith the scripture' - despite the now 2025 clamoring chorus of "anti-dispensationalists" on every side naysaying it - many of whom have probably never actually studied out 'what saith the scripture' on the topic, but are merely echoing out things they've heard from the many cawing fowls lodging in the branches of the 'aberrently-grown great mustard tree' - which is apostate Laodicea [Luke 13:18-19] -- echoing things like the fowl-doctrines of deluded judaized amillennial covenant-theology would-be 'kingdom-builders' for instance. Any of that persuasion this little study is all the more recommended to study out. Might as well know exactly what it is that you do in fact reject instead of just parroting the fowls because 'they sound like they know'. Caw caw. Learn the scriptures and learn them. [2 Tim. 2:15]:
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Stephen is considered to be the first martyr of the Christian Church. Most bible students are familiar with the biblical account in the book of Acts chapters 6-7 describing his being dragged before the Jewish council [Acts 6:11-12], resulting in his being stoned to death for his testimony against the rulers of his own nation of Israel with regard to the Lord Jesus Christ [Acts 7:59-60]. Before that terrible act was carried out though, heaven was opened to Stephen's view and he saw the Lord Jesus Christ in glory. This was the first of three manifestations of the glorified Christ recorded in the New Testament, as pointed out by A. C. Gaebelein in these few paragraphs excerpted from his commentary on the book of Acts (linked directly below), each one of the three foreshadowing a different aspect of his promised return: first, the rapture, second, the later revelation of Himself to the "remnant" of Israel during the tribulation, and third, the actual physical bodily return to the earth at the end of the tribulation:
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Excerpted from: THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES - An Exposition, by A.C. Gaebelein; 1912 (ch. 7) link

Acts 7:55-56 'But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God'

Stephen had been accused of speaking against Moses and against God, also against the temple and the law [Acts 6:12-14]. These accusations he is asked to answer. What he declared before the council shows plainly that the accusations are utterly false.

Indeed his whole testimony as he rapidly speaks of past history in his great and divinely arranged retrospect, is a most powerful testimony to the nation as well as against the nation. Every word was true. The entire testimony was unimpeachable. Stiffnecked and uncircumcised, resisting the Holy Ghost, persecuting the prophets who prophesied of Christ and the murderers of the Just One [Acts 7:51-53]! This was their condition. With this the testimony of Stephen is ended; more than that the testimony to the nation is now to be closed. No longer is the offer to be made to Jerusalem.

The arrows of the truth of God carried by the power of God’s Spirit had cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth [Acts 7:54]. In their madness they were dumb. They did not find words to give vent to their burning hatred which Satan had kindled in their stubborn, unbelieving hearts. All they could do in their frenzy was to gnash with their teeth.

In the midst of this wicked crowd, no longer the council but a murderous mob, stood Stephen. Three things are said of him. He was full of the Holy Ghost; He looked steadfastly into heaven seeing there the Glory of God, He saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God [Acts 7:55].

While we read in the Epistles that the Lord sat down, on the right hand of God, the attitude which tells of His finished work, we read here that He was seen standing. This is not a contradiction. We do not think it was because He was still waiting for Israel’s repentance, ready to come back. He was seen standing because He had arisen from His seat to welcome into His own presence the faithful martyr.

This is the first manifestation of the glorified Christ, which we have on record. There are three of them only. He appeared here to Stephen. Then (oh! marvelous Grace!) He appeared unto Saul, who consented unto Stephen’s death. Saul beheld Him in that Glory, brighter than the noon-day sun and heard His voice [Acts 9:3-5]. The last time the glorified Christ manifested Himself was to John in the island of Patmos.

These three appearings of the glorified Christ present to our view the three aspects of His Second Coming.

- First He comes to welcome His own into His presence. He will arise and come into the air to meet his beloved co-heirs there. This is represented by the first appearing to Stephen, standing to receive him. [1Thes. 4:16,17]

- Then Israel will behold Him, they who pierced Him will see Him [Zech. 12:10], like Saul of Tarsus beheld the Lord. [Acts 26:13-15].

- Then He will appear as John saw Him, the One who judges the earth in righteousness. [e.g. Rev. 19:11-16].

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see also: The Apostle Paul's Damascus Road Conversion A Perfect 'Type' Of The Jewish Remnant In The Tribulation - A.C. Gaebelein
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Heb. 9:28 'So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation'

The Only Hope For Planet Earth - The Return Of The Saviour Jesus Christ

[Repost from years back - because - it's the big picture]  The ONLY hope for this planet...the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Professing Christian, are you "looking for that blessed hope"?

'For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ' Titus 2:12-13

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There are two things which constitute the joy of a Christian, which are his strength on the road, and the object constantly before his heart. First, present communion and fellowship with God the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. Secondly, the hope of the coming of the Lord. And these two cannot be separated without loss to our souls, for we cannot have all the profit without both of them.

If we are not looking for the coming of the Lord, there is nothing that can separate us in the same way from this present evil world [Gal. 1:4]; neither will Christ Himself be so much the object before the soul, nor yet shall we be able, in the same measure, to apprehend the mind and counsels of God about the world [John 3:19; 7:7], if there be not this waiting for His Son from heaven [Philip. 3:20].

For we cannot be really looking for God's Son from heaven, without at the same time seeing the world's utter rejection of Him, seeing that the world itself is going wrong, its wise men having no wisdom - all is going on to judgment, the principles of evil are loosening all bands [Psalms 2:2-3]....but if, through grace, the Christian is in present communion and fellowship with God, his soul stands steady, and is calm and happy before God, because there is a fund of blessing in Him which no circumstances can ever touch or change. The evil tidings are heard, the sorrow is seen, but the Christian's heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord, and this carries him far above every circumstance.

It is this which gives its character to the joy of the saint; so Christ Himself says, "I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:1-3)

John Nelson Darby (1800-1882)
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Not Wrath But Rapture For The Regenerate

Real Christians Are Nonconformists

'And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind...' Romans 12:2

As soon as the Lord gives to any man spiritual light, he proceeds to separate himself from the darkness around [John 8:12]. He secedes from a merely worldly religion of outward ceremonial [2 Tim. 2:20-21]; for nothing short of the gospel of Christ will now satisfy him [Gal. 6:14]. He withdraws himself from worldly society and frivolous amusements, and seeks the company of the saints.

The light gathers to itself, and the darkness to itself. As Christ went outside the camp, bearing his reproach [Heb. 13:13], so let us come out from the ungodly, and be a peculiar people [Titus 2:14].

Jesus was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners [Heb. 7:26]. As he was, so we are to be nonconformists to the world, dissenting from all sin, and distinguished from the rest of mankind by our likeness to our Master [Acts 11:26].   Spurgeon
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Titus 2:14 *Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

To Believers: "For Our Conversation Is In Heaven" Phil. 3:20

Christian! You do not need to borrow joy from the world!

O child of God, is not the joy of God enough for you?

Do you require . . .
-the pleasures of sin,
-the gaieties of the ballroom,
-the excitement of the theater,
-the music of the opera,
-the frivolities of the world's card-table,
-the stolen pleasures of the dance,
to make up for 'deficiencies' in what God has given you?

If He has not given enough joy, go tell Him, and He will give you more. But do not go to His enemies to borrow! Do not go to the world's haunts of vanity, where the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eye, and the pride of life are cherished!

Christian, be separate! Do not seek the joys of the world! Do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God [James 4:4]? If you have any sympathies with that world--if it contains attractions for you--if God, and the things of God, are not enough for you--there is something wrong!

Do not love the world! Do not seek its friendship! Seek the things above [Col. 3:1-3]! Beware of the fascinations of worldly company, and the spells of worldly gaiety. Do not be whirled away into the tossing current of mirthful society!

Be separate [Phil. 3:20]! That is your security, your strength, your influence. Let the world see that you are not of it--and that you do not need it!  Horatius Bonar 1808-1889
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...or do you?

Rev. 18:4

Christian, Thy Calling Is A Holy Calling - Your Life To Be A Witness "Continually Ringing" In The Ears Of Unbelievers - William Gurnall; 1600's

1Pet 1:15 "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation"

Holiness has a mighty influence upon others. When this appears with power in the lives of Christians, it works mightily upon the spirits of men; it stops the mouths of the ungodly . . . . I am sure we have found, by woeful experience, that in these debauched times, when religion is so bespattered with frequent scandals, yes, a general looseness of professors, it is hard to get any to come into the net of the Gospel. . . . If they were but holy and exemplary, they would be as a repetition of the preacher’s sermon to the families and neighbors among whom they converse, and would keep the sound of his doctrine continually ringing in their ears. - Acts 1:8

William Gurnall [1617–1679]
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1Pet. 1:16 'Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy'

Believer, Evil Men Are Waxing Worse - But Continue Thou In The Things Which Thou Hast Learned; 2Tim. 3:13-14 [1600's]

2Timothy 3:13 'But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived'

Always look upon wicked men under those names and notions which the Scripture describes them, such as:

lions for their fierceness,   Ps. 22:13
bears for their cruelty,   Pr. 28:15
dragons for their hideousness,   Deut 32:33
dogs for their filthiness,   Phil. 3:2
wolves for their subtleness,   Ezek. 22:27
scorpions, vipers, thorns, briars,   Ezek. 2:6
thistles, brambles, stubble, dirt,   Malachi 4:1
chaff, dust, dross, smoke, scum.   Isa. 5:24

You may know well enough what is within them, by the apt names which the Holy Spirit has given them. By looking upon them under those names and notions that the Scripture sets them out by, may preserve the soul from frequenting their company and delighting in their society. Such monsters are wicked men—which should render their company to all who have tasted of the sweetness of divine love, a burden and not a delight. Thomas Brooks (1608-1680)
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Believer: 2Timothy 3:14 'But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of...'

Noah's Day Was Judged By Water, Next Time "All The Proud" Shall Be Burned Up - Saith The LORD; Malachi 4:1 [1600's]

Mal. 4:1 'For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch'

If the proud escape here, as sometimes they do, hereafter they shall not; for, "the proud man is an abomination to the Lord"; Pr 16:5. God cannot endure him; Ps 101:5. And what of that? Tu perdes superbos, Thou shalt destroy the proud.....

And if God spared not the angels, whom he placed in the highest heavens, but for their pride threw them down headlong to the nethermost hell [2Peter 2:4-5], how much less shall he spare the proud dust and ashes of the sons of men, but shall cast them from the height of their earthly altitude to the bottom of that infernal dungeon [Jer. 50:31-32]!

"Humility makes men angels; pride makes angels devils;" as that father said: I may well add, makes devils of men. 

So sure as God is just, pride shall not go unpunished [Isaiah 13:11].

Honourable and beloved, this vice is a close one; it will cleave fast to you; yea, so close that ye can hardly discern it from a piece of yourselves: this is it that aggravates the danger of it. For, as Aquinas notes well, some sins are more dangerous propter vehementiam impugnationis, "for the fury of their assault"; as the sin of anger: others for their correspondence to nature; as the sins of lust: other, propter latentiam sui, "for their close skulking" in our bosom; as the sin of pride. Oh, let us look seriously into the corners of our false hearts, even with the lanthorn of God's law, and find out this subtle devil; and never give peace to our souls till we have dispossessed him.

Down with your proud plumes, O ye glorious peacocks of the world: look upon your black legs, and your snake like head: be ashamed of your miserable infirmities: else, God will down with them and yourselves in a fearful vengeance [Isaiah 2:12,19]. There is not the holiest of us but is this way faulty: oh, let us be humbled by our repentance, that we may not be brought down to everlasting confusion: let us be cast down upon our knees, that we may not be cast down upon our faces. For God will make good his own word, one way; "A man's pride shall bring him low [Prov. 29:23]." Joseph Hall, 1574-1656
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Jer. 13:15 'Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken'

Andrew Miller (1810-1883) - The Cost Of Real Christianity

[reposted from years back] Andrew Miller was probably best known for his "Short Papers on Church History"
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John 6:53,66 'Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you...From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him'

"You may speak of religion in a general way, of preachers, of churches, of missions, of societies for doing good, and still be popular; but speak of the Lord Himself, of His precious blood, of the full assurance of salvation, of oneness with Him in heaven, of separation from the world, and you will greatly reduce the number of your friends." - Andrew Miller
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From the first century, to the 1800's, to 2012 2022, as far as the world's opposition to the Lord Jesus Christ goes [and his name is not "yeshua"*], nothing has changed. It has never been the 'many'. It has always been the 'few'. Press on believer.
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*Highly recommended: Classic sermon by William Dell (1607-1669) - A DISCOURSE, TOUCHING THAT OFFENCE WHICH THE WORLD TAKES AGAINST CHRIST Preached at Cambridge, about the year 1647

A Warning To Worldly Minded 'Professing Christians' - Remember Lot's Wife

WILLIAM BRIDGE, M.A. (1600?-1674)

A Warning To Apostates: "Remember Lot's wife." LUKE xvii. 32.

(excerpted)

"If you would not look back in declining times, be sure of this, that you do not run a share or a part in the vessel that God is about to destroy. Where my grief is, there is my finger; where my love is, there is my eye. If I have a share and a part in the vessel that God is about to destroy, I shall look after the vessel, what becomes thereof. Why now, Babylon, that art to be destroyed, Babylon is not to repent; Babylon that art to be destroyed, Babylon is not to be reformed. Wash dirt an hundred times, and you cannot make clean the dirt; Babylon is not to be reformed, but to be destroyed. Take heed therefore of running a part or a share in the boat or vessel that God hath laid out for destruction; for if you have a part and a share there, you will look back. But..."

Read full: Lot's Wife
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A searching, timeless message from days long past. Well worth taking the time to carefully read and meditate upon this powerful exhortation.

Psalms 66:7 He ruleth by his power forever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.

Proverbs 16:4 'The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil'

"Every one of you will be to the glory of God. You will be made to glorify him in one way or another. You will either do it willingly or unwillingly. You must form a step to his throne. Ah, brethren! I believe each of you will yet be a beacon or a monument - either a beacon of wrath or a monument of mercy, "He hath made all things for himself; even the wicked for the day of evil". [Pr. 16:4]

Yes, wicked man, you would rob God of his glory if you could, but you cannot. If you come to Christ, you will show forth his glory* in saving you; but if you do not, God will show forth his power* in destroying a vessel of his wrath" (*Rom. 9:22-23).  Robert Murray M'Cheyne
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Selah!  [orginally posted 2013] "Robert Murray McCheyne (1813-1843) was a Scottish preacher of the Gospel who died 'in the thirtieth year of his age and seventh of his ministry'". M'Cheyne proclaimed always the sovereign electing grace of God. Learn more about RMM: here

Press On Through The Darkness Believer -- Psalms 17:5

Ps. 17:5 'Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not'

In evil times prayer is peculiarly needful, and wise men resort to it at once. Plato said to one of his disciples, "When men speak ill of thee, live so that no one will believe them;" good enough advice, but he did not tell us how to carry it out. We have a precept here incorporated in an example; if we would be preserved, we must cry to the Preserver, and enlist divine support upon our side.

"Hold up my goings" - as a careful driver holds up his horse when going down hill. We have all sorts of paces, both fast and slow, and the road is never long of one sort, but with God to hold up our goings, nothing in the pace or in the road can cast down. He who has been down once and cut his knees badly, even to the bone, had need redouble his zeal when using this prayer; and all of us, since we are so weak on our legs through Adam's fall, had need use it every hour of the day.

"In thy paths." We cannot keep from evil without keeping to good. If the bushel be not full of wheat, it may soon be once more full of chaff. In all the appointed ordinances and duties of our most holy faith, may the Lord enable us to run through his upholding grace! "That my footsteps slip not." Grace alone can hold up our goings in the paths of truth. [Eph. 2:8-9]

(Spurgeon; Treasury of David; Psalms 17)
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Maranatha

Spurgeon, Luther On Sovereign Election

"... and I will go as far as Martin Luther, in that strong assertion of his, where he says, 'If any man doth ascribe of salvation, even the very least, to the free will of man, he knoweth nothing of grace, and he hath not learnt Jesus Christ aright.' It may seem a harsh sentiment; but he who in his soul believes that man does of his own free will turn to God, cannot have been taught of God, for that is one of the first principles taught us when God begins with us, that we have neither will nor power, but that He gives both [John 1:12-13; Eph. 2:1]; that He is 'Alpha and Omega' in the salvation of men."

Charles H. Spurgeon from the sermon 'Free Will A Slave' (1855) referring to Luther's book 'The Bondage of the Will'
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2Tim 1:9 'Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began'

Professing Christian: Faith And Sin Cannot Coexist - Thomas Watson (1620-1686)

'Faith, if it hath not works, is dead' (James 2:17)

Faith is a heavenly plant, which will not grow in an impure soil.

He who before was under the power of some debasing corruption--as soon as faith is wrought, there is a sacred virtue coming from Christ, for the enervating and weakening of that sin [Rom. 6:6]. The woman who did but touch the hem of Christ's garment, felt virtue coming out of Him. The touch of faith has a healing power! Faith casts the devil out of the castle of the heart.

This is "the faith of God's elect" [Titus 1:1].

You who say you believe--has your faith removed the mountain of sin, and cast it into the sea [Matt. 17:20]? What! a believer--and yet a worldling! Shame! Either leave your sins--or leave your profession [John 8:34]! Faith and the love of sin can no more exist together, than light and darkness [1John 1:5,9]!

Thomas Watson, 1620-1686
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Heb. 3:13 'But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin'
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Matthew 11:12: "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force" - Thomas Watson

Few True Believers - Thomas Watson 1681

Romans 13:11 - 'Professing Christians' Awake .. Asahel Nettleton (1783-1844)

Professing Christians, Awake!

"Now it is high time to awake out of sleep” (Rom. 13:11)

The language of this text is borrowed from natural sleep, in which a person is in a great measure unaware of what is happening around him but life remains in the body. This condition is applied to Christians who have grown insensitive to divine things--they sleep, but life remains in their souls. In particular, the exhortation is for those who find themselves in a state of spiritual slumber to shake off their drowsiness and awake to spiritual realities.

Signs of Spiritual Slumber

1. Sleeping Christians allow personal ease to compete with spiritual duty.

Religion is the great business of the Christian’s life. It imposes on him many responsibilities that are in painful opposition to his fleshly desires. However, to neglect spiritual duties for the sake of personal comfort is to indulge in spiritual slothfulness. Great care must be taken to fight this natural tendency toward laziness with regard to spiritual things. For this reason, the Scripture instructs Christians to encourage one another daily “lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13).

Avoiding reproach is a common way Christians shirk their godly purpose in the world. It is easy to live quietly as long as you will not disturb your fellow sinner with a reminder of his sin. Ignoring the sinful behavior of others requires no effort, and thousands of professing Christians resign themselves to rest in a state of passivity. Whole churches often shut their mouths in silence in the name of charity or goodwill, but in so doing they actually display an awful indifference to the souls of men.

2. Sleeping Christians are no longer deeply affected by divine things.

In this frame of mind, it is no wonder that Christians regularly attend the house of God but soon forget the instruction they receive. Although they once saw the glory of God in the face of Christ, now they walk in darkness. Where once they were stirred by a deep sense of the worth of souls and could weep over perishing sinners, now they can endure the sight of transgressors almost without emotion.

A.T. Pierson 'Another Gospel': It's The Religion Of Laodicea - But "Some Believers..Will Not Relinquish Their Faith" [1900]

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Gal. 1:8

Quoted from: "Another Gospel: Which Is Not Another" Gal. 1:6-12 (A.T. Pierson; written 1900):

"There is a conflict ahead, and it is alike irrepressible and irreconcilable, and may as well be recognized as such. There are some believers that cannot and will not relinquish their faith in the eternal verities and certainties of the Word of God, in which they have been instructed. They know of whom they have learned them, and that Teacher is God Himself. Moreover, it has pleased God to reveal Christ in them, as well as to them, and they have the witness in themselves that the Word of God is an inspired and infallible guide in doctrine and duty. It has proved itself the Word of God, and all its utterances true, “as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times,” that is, proven by the seven-fold test of varied earthly or human experience (Psalms 12:6)."


Crossless Christianity [full text]: Another Gospel by A.T. Pierson

also Audio-vid w/scrolling text: Another Gospel; ATP 1900 [complete]

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True Religion - Octavius Winslow [1808-1878]: Narrow Is The Way, Which Leadeth Unto Life, And Few... That Find It

Fellow pilgrims, the heavenly way we travel is more or less a lonely way. We have, at most, but few companions. It is a "little flock," and only here and there we meet a traveler, who, like ourselves, is journeying towards heaven. As the way is narrow, trying and humiliating to the flesh, there are only a few, under the drawings of the Spirit, who find it [Matthew 7:14].

If, indeed, true religion consisted in a 'mere profession' then there are many on the way to heaven. If the marks of discipleship were merely an orthodox creed, excited feelings, or denominational zeal, then there are many who 'find the way.' But true pilgrims are those with broken hearts; those who are poor in spirit; those who mourn for sin; those who know the music of the Shepherd's voice; those who follow the Lamb; those who delight in the throne of grace; and those who love the place of the cross [Gal. 6:14].

(from "Solitude Sweetened" by Octavius Winslow; 1808-1878)
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'Mere professors' shall be themselves professed unto one day:

Matthew 7:22-23 'Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity'

'THE KINGDOM' Not The Hope Of The Body Of Christ: BEFORE The Day Dawns, The Bright And Morning Star Appears Rev. 22:16

The Hope Of The Christian Is Christ Himself

The teaching of the book of Revelation, above all, is, that the Lord is coming back, and that He is coming back for His people first [1 Thes. 8-10], and then to set the earth right. I know that the general thought abroad is, that when the Lord comes back, the next time, it is for the purpose of judging the world. There is no doubt He will judge [Malachi 4:1]. There is no doubt that the return of the Lord Jesus to deal with the earth is perfectly certain [Rev. 19:11]; but...that is not the Christian hope...the Christian hope relates to heaven [Eph. 2:5-6].

I repeat, then, that the hope of the Christian is not the earth being set right,—although, thank God, it will be set right,—but the hope of the Christian is Christ Himself [Titus 2:13], and Christ as coming for His blood bought people [Acts 20:28]. Why have we the Lord presenting Himself to us as the “Bright and Morning Star” in Rev. xxii. 16? Every person understands what the morning star is. It is not daylight. You never saw a man wakened up in the morning by the morning star. You must get up early to see the morning star. What wakes people up in the morning is the sunlight,—-it is daylight. What you have in this passage is that the hope of the Christian is Christ, now known in heaven as the Saviour, and as the One who is coming back for His own people, and the manner of our going up to be with Him is most blessed [1Thes. 4:16-17,18]. The Morning Star is Christ for the watching Christian [Phil. 3:20], while the world is buried in slumber.

What is the way in which the Lord Jesus Christ comes? "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" [1 Cor. 15:51-52]. Will the world see, or be aware of that coming? I do not think so. The coming of the Saviour, as the Bridegroom, is for the bride, it is for the saved — His own beloved people.

Excerpted from 'Behold, The Bridegroom' (1895) by W.T.P. Wolston, widely known bible expositor among the 'Plymouth Brethren' of the 19th and early 20th century
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see: At The Last Trump [solved]
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Rev. 22:16 'I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star'  [link]