A Conquering Church by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Jan 14, 1904

A Conquering Church

By Editor

Editorial

A Conquering Church

In the first view of the church militant given to John in vision he saw “a white horse, and he that sat thereon had a bow; and there was given unto him a crown: and he came forth conquering, and to conquer.” At that time the church was few in numbers, and possessed practically none of those modern agencies now considered so essential to the success of gospel work, but it had a mighty faith in its invisible Head, and kept itself unspotted from the world. Under these conditions the Lord could work mightily to his own glory. There was a direct connection between Jesus on the throne of infinite power and his representatives on the earth. This experience is thus described: “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed.” The same Jesus sits in the same place of power to-day, and is just as willing now as then to work with his church, and to lead it from victory to victory. The same spirit of repentance for sin, of distrust of self and fleshly power, of humble dependence upon the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, will certainly bring to the church of the latter days the same experience that was found in the church of the early days. Is it not needed to-day? “Wherefore should the nations say, Where is now their God?” O for a return of those days when the word was spoken with convincing power, and when those who heard the pointed testimony of humble men “took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” When the church again takes the place of privilege which belongs to it, then it will again be a conquering church. May that day be hastened.