Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
The command is to write the warning down before the people on a table and note it in a book, so that it will stand as a lasting witness for the time to come for ever and ever. What is to be put on that permanent record is that this is a rebellious people, lying children who will not hear the law of the Lord. They say to the seers, See not, and to the prophets, Prophesy not right things to us, but speak smooth things and prophesy deceits, and cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before them.
The same record adds that they despise God's word and trust in oppression and perverseness. Their iniquity is therefore like a breach swelling out in a high wall whose breaking comes suddenly in a moment, and like a potter's vessel broken to pieces so completely that not a shred is left to take fire from the hearth or water from the pit, bringing sudden destruction and utter ruin. Yet the record holds out alongside the judgment that in returning and rest they would be saved, and that in quietness and in confidence would be their strength.
The writing was ordered because the rebellion seen in ancient Israel would increase in after ages, so the rebuke belongs to the latter days and to future generations. It remains relevant to coming events, when destruction has gone forth upon cities and the day of the Lord is right upon the world. Those who followed voices that turn things upside down will themselves be turned where they cannot see, and will be as blind men.
It testifies against the professed people of God in later times who silence true messengers to avoid reproof. They despise messages that reprove backsliding and warn of false security, and seek to hush the admonitory voice in favor of words that foster pride and false peace. They seek to make of none effect the messages of reproof and warning sent to them, brace themselves against God's will and way, and will neither hear nor obey His voice. They put trust in men and make flesh their arm, exalt another doing a work not assigned, and trust and follow disobedient human guides who are not under heavenly control, are not obedient to warnings, and despise reproof.
In this setting it applies to leaders in Battle Creek who rejected reproof and treated God's messengers with hatred, showing they must repent while probation remains before it is too late to make wrongs right. The written word will be fulfilled upon men who claim to be teachers and counsellors at the heart of the work yet are not converted in heart and soul. They keep their old hereditary and cultivated characters, mingle their own spirit with their words and actions, pervert principle, and confederate together to do what was expressly forbidden, until justice and mercy and love for God and man fall in the streets and equity cannot enter.
Upon them comes the blindness of the chapter, with eyes greatly blinded so they cannot see. While under that blindness they greatly weaken the Lord's work and dishonor truth of heavenly origin, insulting God, abusing His honor, and misrepresenting Him by those called by His name. It stands as a warning that those who have had great light and disregard it are in a worse position than those without such advantages. Clinging to fleshly appetites such as meat eating and other harmful diet, and to uncleanness including Sodomitish impurity, they will not escape the wrath of God at the execution of the judgment but will fall with the wicked.
Not one particle of impurity will escape, with punishment in every case proportionate to the dishonor brought on God by putting Christ to open shame, unless they repent and forsake all uncleanness. Only those who fast and pray, put away sensuality, repent and forsake all uncleanness, and overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be saints and not sinners. They alone will be fit to become members of the royal family and to form God's kingdom in the earth made new, so church members need to fast and pray and strive earnestly to overcome in this way.
The command is to write the warning down before the people on a table and note it in a book, so that it will stand as a lasting witness for the time to come for ever and ever. What is to be put on that permanent record is that this is a rebellious people, lying children who will not hear the law of the Lord. They say to the seers, See not, and to the prophets, Prophesy not right things to us, but speak smooth things and prophesy deceits, and cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before them.
The same record adds that they despise God's word and trust in oppression and perverseness. Their iniquity is therefore like a breach swelling out in a high wall whose breaking comes suddenly in a moment, and like a potter's vessel broken to pieces so completely that not a shred is left to take fire from the hearth or water from the pit, bringing sudden destruction and utter ruin. Yet the record holds out alongside the judgment that in returning and rest they would be saved, and that in quietness and in confidence would be their strength.
The writing was ordered because the rebellion seen in ancient Israel would increase in after ages, so the rebuke belongs to the latter days and to future generations. It remains relevant to coming events, when destruction has gone forth upon cities and the day of the Lord is right upon the world. Those who followed voices that turn things upside down will themselves be turned where they cannot see, and will be as blind men.
It testifies against the professed people of God in later times who silence true messengers to avoid reproof. They despise messages that reprove backsliding and warn of false security, and seek to hush the admonitory voice in favor of words that foster pride and false peace. They seek to make of none effect the messages of reproof and warning sent to them, brace themselves against God's will and way, and will neither hear nor obey His voice. They put trust in men and make flesh their arm, exalt another doing a work not assigned, and trust and follow disobedient human guides who are not under heavenly control, are not obedient to warnings, and despise reproof.
In this setting it applies to leaders in Battle Creek who rejected reproof and treated God's messengers with hatred, showing they must repent while probation remains before it is too late to make wrongs right. The written word will be fulfilled upon men who claim to be teachers and counsellors at the heart of the work yet are not converted in heart and soul. They keep their old hereditary and cultivated characters, mingle their own spirit with their words and actions, pervert principle, and confederate together to do what was expressly forbidden, until justice and mercy and love for God and man fall in the streets and equity cannot enter.
Upon them comes the blindness of the chapter, with eyes greatly blinded so they cannot see. While under that blindness they greatly weaken the Lord's work and dishonor truth of heavenly origin, insulting God, abusing His honor, and misrepresenting Him by those called by His name. It stands as a warning that those who have had great light and disregard it are in a worse position than those without such advantages. Clinging to fleshly appetites such as meat eating and other harmful diet, and to uncleanness including Sodomitish impurity, they will not escape the wrath of God at the execution of the judgment but will fall with the wicked.
Not one particle of impurity will escape, with punishment in every case proportionate to the dishonor brought on God by putting Christ to open shame, unless they repent and forsake all uncleanness. Only those who fast and pray, put away sensuality, repent and forsake all uncleanness, and overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be saints and not sinners. They alone will be fit to become members of the royal family and to form God's kingdom in the earth made new, so church members need to fast and pray and strive earnestly to overcome in this way.