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The True Church

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 16, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 62.

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The True Church

By A. N. Durrant

A. N. DURRANT
“Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the noon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?” Cant. 6: 10. It is the true church of God, with Jesus Christ, the “Captain of our salvation,” as her leader.
Yes, “terrible as an army with banners,” and going forth “conquering, and to conquer”—this is the picture drawn by inspiration. Of the early church it was said, “With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all;” “and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with boldness.” Acts 4: 33, 31. Then the word of the Lord, like a keen-edged sword, pierced through unbelief, even to the breaking down of the stronghold of Roman heathenism.
But what gave the church this great power?—The endowment of the Holy Spirit after they had prepared themselves for it. “They were all with one accord in one place.” They had put away all known sin and selfishness.
The church was powerful when she was pure, as symbolized by the “white horse.” Rev. 6: 2. But how soon the scene was changed! The heavenly anointed apostles had scarcely all died when apostasy came with its desolating and iniquitous working, ushering in the “world’s midnight.”
The apostate church is not the “comely and delicate woman” and “chaste virgin” (Jer. 6: 2; 2 Cor. 11: 2) that is to meet the return of her Lord without “spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Eph. 5: 27). But the third angel’s message is calling out the honest in heart, from the corruptions of this church, and is bringing together those who hold the “faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3; Rev. 14: 12; 12: 17), to stand, uncondemned, as the “glorious church” at the coming of the Lord.
Have we truly come out of Babylon by not partaking of her sins? If not, how can we as individual members of this church receive the fullness of the Spirit? How can we meet the Lord without spot or wrinkle? Do we long for the wonder-working power of apostolic days? Then let us “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor. 7: 1.
Grenada, British West Indies.