The Anointing of the Spirit

The imagery of the first vision of the Apoca­lypse is drawn from that of Zechariah. Jesus is described as the High Priest of the heavenly sanctuary, ministering before the Father and at the same time through His Spirit to His church on earth, as symbolized by the seven lampstands of gold.

"Though the ministration was to be removed from the earthly to the heavenly temple ; though the sanc­tuary and our great high priest would be invisible to human sight, yet the disciples were to suffer no loss thereby. They would realize no break in their com­munion, and no diminution of power because of the Saviour's absence. While Jesus ministers in the sanc­tuary above, He is still by His Spirit the minister of the church on earth."—The Desire of Ages, p. 166.

Commenting on this apocalyptic vision the messenger of the Lord wrote:

"This figure illustrates the eternal vigilance of our Saviour. Christ is in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks walking from church to church, from con­gregation to congregation, from heart to heart. If the candlesticks were left to human beings they would soon flicker and go out, but God has not given His church into the hands of men. Christ is the Watchman of the house. He is the Warden faithful and true."—Watchman Magazine, May to, 1903. (See also Acts of the Apostles, p. 586.)

The Promised Spiritual Anointing

Jesus promised His disciples that the Holy Spirit would teach them "all things" and guide them "into all truth." (See John 54:26; 56:52, 13.) He said that when they would be brought before civil or religious tribunals to answer for their faith, they were not to worry, "for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say." (See Luke 12:11, 52.)

In 1 Corinthians 2 :9-56 the results of spir­itual anointing are beautifully set forth. The eye has not yet seen, nor has the ear heard, the wonderful truths and blessings the Lord has in store for His people, "but God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." It is stated that "the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God," and that "the Holy Ghost teacheth ; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." It is impossible for man in his natural sinful state to receive "the things of the Spirit of God : for they are foolishness unto him ; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

In the light of these statements we cannot expect unspiritual people to comprehend deeply spiritual truths, and we must therefore exercise patience when they, like Nicodemus of old, seem to have no idea as to what we are talking about. The new birth is still an enigma to those who have not been born again, and righteous­ness by faith sounds strange to formal, legalis­tic members.

"The only way in which we can gain a more per­fect apprehension of truth is by keeping the heart ten­der and subdued by the Spirit of Christ. The soul must be cleansed from vanity and pride, and vacated of all that has held it in possession, and Christ must be en­throned within. Human science is too limited to com­prehend the atonement. The plan of redemption is so far-reaching that philosophy cannot explain it. It will ever remain a mystery that the most profound reason­ing cannot fathom. The science of salvation cannot be explained ; but it can be known by experience."—The Desire of Ages, PP. 494, 495.

Anointing Needed by the Remnant

The remnant will in a special sense need the anointing of the Spirit, and to them it has been promised. The Laodicean message recorded in Revelation 3:14-22 is Christ's last appeal to His remnant people. It is "meat in due season" for the church in its present lukewarmness and self-complacency. The importance of this mes­sage and the necessity of preaching it to our people is emphasized in hundreds of statements in the Spirit of prophecy written throughout the prophetic ministry of God's servant.

In Early Writings, page 270, we are told that "the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans" will result in some rising "up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God's people." It is then stated that "the testimony of the True Witness has not been half heeded," and "the solemn testimony upon which the des­tiny of the church hangs has been lightly esteemed, if not entirely disregarded." The pur­pose of this message is to "work deep repent­ance," and the assurance is given that "all who truly receive it will obey it and be purified." Then follows a description of the latter rain.

This is the message "upon which the des­tiny of the church hangs," because all who re­ject it will be shaken out, and all who accept it will receive the latter rain during the loud cry. Those who study this message carefully and accept its counsel will have no difficulty in recognizing its importance, and will regulate their preaching accordingly.

Although the Laodicean message constitutes a terrible indictment, it is nevertheless a love message from- One who dearly loves His peo­ple. It is the rebuke of love. The people re­proved by Christ are "the apple of His eye" and "the supreme object of His regard," not a rejected people. The same great Physician, who so accurately diagnoses and frankly de­scribes the disease of His present-day church, also provides a complete remedy, which is an undeniable evidence of His love.

The Remedy for God's Church Today

The entire situation in modern Laodicea will speedily change when the members who seem unaware of their true spiritual state accept the counsel of Christ, and purchase with the price of surrender and submission the gold of faith, love, and truth, the robe of His righteousness, and the spiritual eyesalve. Although the anoint­ing is placed last it is in one sense first in im­portance, since the application of all the other parts to the remedy depends on its potency.

We are told that "where there is no vision, the people perish," and this applies with special force to spiritual vision, without which there is no hope of salvation. The anointing convinces us of the need of having the Spirit shed abroad the love of God in our hearts, and guide us into unknown truths, thereby increasing our faith. Our eyes are open to behold vast fields of hid­den treasure in the inexhaustible mine of truth, so that we no longer feel "rich, and increased with goods," and in need of nothing, when spir­itually, in God's sight, we are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" and desperately in need of all that the Merchant of divine blessings has to offer. It is also the eyesalve anointing that reveals to Laodicea her state of spiritual nakedness. While strutting about as if on dress parade, she is clothed in the filthy rags of her own righteousness, which is not sufficient covering in the presence of a holy God. Adam and Eve doubtless felt rather proud of their workmanship in making fig-leaf aprons, or girdles, to cover their nakedness until God entered the garden, and then they fled into hiding. A complete covering was pro­vided for them by the Lord through the death of the lamb, which was symbolic of the Lamb of God whose death has made available a beau­tiful character garment which is freely given to all who will accept it by faith.

The remedy for the Laodicean condition is beautifully summed up on page 233 of volume 5 of the Testimonies:

"Again and again has the voice from Heaven ad­dressed you. Will you obey this voice? Will you heed the counsel of the True Witness, to seek the gold tried in the fire, the white raiment, and the eye-salve? The gold is faith and love, the white raiment is the right­eousness of Christ, the eye-salve is that spiritual dis­cernment which will enable you to see the wiles of Satan and shun them, to detect sin and abhor it, to see truth and obey it."

God's remnant people living in these perilous times greatly need to have their eyes open to the multiplying deceptions of the enemy so as to avoid them. Thus will they be able to detect sin in all its modern alluring forms, and be given a divine hatred for that which is too often fondled and highly regarded. And thus will they accept and proclaim the truths that are now meat in due season for the church. We especially need to see ourselves as Christ sees us, so that we shall be willing to accept His counsel and repent.

Let us as leaders pray earnestly for this promised spiritual anointing that will bring all other blessings in its train, including a new en­dowment of faith, an infilling of love, a revela­tion of truth, and the imputed and imparted righteousness of Christ, the wedding garment that prepares the church for the return of the Bridegroom.