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The Church's Prophetic History
– C. A. Coates and A. Wellershaus

 
Introduction
CAC: The Mystery of Lawlessness and the Testimony of God
CAC: Paul's Voyage as Suggestive of Church History
AW:   The Last Two Chapters of Acts as a Picture of the Church
 





INTRODUCTION

The early years of 'the recovery' were marked by intensive prophetic inquiry.

  1. In The Mystery of Lawlessness and the Testimony of God Mr. C. A. Coates briefly traces the course of the public assembly in

    • "the history of christendom from the freshness of Pentecost through ages of decline and departure, to its certain future apostasy and fall".

  2. Paul's Voyage as Suggestive of Church History – as the title indicates – CAC applies the events of Acts 27 to church history, as in No. 1 above.

  3. The Last Two Chapters of Acts as a Picture of the Church – This article, translated from German, covers the same events as No. 2 from a slightly different perspective but with a similar application.

    • A.W. says "The Holy Scriptures conceal in the history of Paul’s journey to Rome, as the epistles to the seven churches in Revelations 2-3, the history of the vessel entrusted with God’s testimony down here. It is a prophetic representation of the history of the church".

G.A.R.

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THE  MYSTERY  OF  LAWLESNESS
AND  THE  TESTIMONY  OF  GOD
Acts 2: 42-47
Ministry of C. A. Coates 31: 290-302

C. A. Coates, 1862-1945

Many believers, instead of waiting for God's Son from heaven, are looking for revivals and the conversion of the world.

That our minds may be disabused of vain expectations in this direction, I desire to bring before you the fact that the prophetic future of the church, viewed as in responsibility upon earth,

In Acts 2: 42-47, we see the assembly as first formed on earth in the power of the Holy Spirit.

It is a great thing to see the house as originally set up, though the contemplation of it may constrain us to feel the present ruin as we have never felt it before.

But the assembly, viewed in its responsibility upon earth, has grievously failed to hold this ground, or to maintain this testimony.

In Acts 2 we find the saints gathered together in divine simplicity.

Let us now read Matthew 13: 33. Most of us are aware that this parable is often brought forward as teaching that the gospel will spread until the whole world shall be filled with the knowledge of God.

Then what do we learn from this parable? Certainly not the universal propagation and ultimate triumph of the gospel.

In Acts 2 the assembly's principles and practice were as far removed from those of the world as heaven is from earth.

But Satan, ever active in opposition to the work of God, soon found occasion to corrupt the saints from their simplicity.

Then when we come to the epistles what do we find?

  1. That one was written because the assemblies in Galatia were turning their backs upon Christ and going in for ritualism and law-keeping;

  2. that another was written because the assembly at Corinth was becoming a scene of licentiousness and sectarianism;

  3. that a third was written because the saints at Colosse were in danger of being drawn away by philosophy and vain deceit;

  4. in that to the Philippians, Paul had to say that all sought their own things, and not the things of Jesus Christ;

  5. and in that to Timothy he spoke of all in Asia having turned away from him.

Now turn a moment to 2 Thessalonians 2: 1-8. Some at Thessalonica were contending that the day of the Lord was then present.

And mark what follows!

Now turn for a moment to 2 Timothy 3: 1-5. The Holy Spirit gives here a prophetic picture of the last days.

Let us now pass on to Revelation 2 and 3. Under figure of addresses to seven Asian assemblies, we have seven stages of the church's history in view.

EPHESUS

In the address to Ephesus, the church in the apostolic age is contemplated.

SMYRNA

Then in the address to Smyrna, we get the Lord's word of encouragement to the church in persecution and distress.

PERGAMOS

Afterwards the church became worldly, and is viewed in the address to Pergamos as dwelling where Satan's throne was. Satan is the prince of this world.

THYATIRA

Then in Thyatira, popery is in view. Read verse 20; "the woman Jezebel".

SARDIS

Passing on to Sardis, Revealtion 3: 1-6, I have no doubt we see the Lord's mind as to Protestantism.

PHILADELPHIA

In Philadelphia we see a company of saints for whom the Lord has no word of censure.

The Son of God has brought a most blessed testimony into this world: the revelation of God in supreme grace and love – the Father.

It is well that we should bear in mind the character of holiness which pertains to Christ as the risen and glorified One.

He is "the holy, the true". There is in Him the complete setting forth of God.

The Lord says also to Philadelphia,

For such, and these are the characteristics of the whole company of saints on earth, viewed according to God,

Are we conscious of having received from God the light and joy of what He has established in Christ?

God would have every saint on earth to be a Philadelphian.

LAODICEA

Laodicea presents the final aspect of things before the Lord spues the whole corrupted profession of Christianity out of His mouth.

But where is Christ in all this man-exalting system? Where is the cross?

Yet still He stands at the door and knocks. There may be an aching and unsatisfied heart somewhere in that circle where self-complacency and pride predominate.

RITUALISM and RATIONALISM

It is instructive to observe that the course of apostasy divides itself into two great streams.

Every professed Christian is either on the line that man in the flesh can be something for God,

Sardis may be regarded as an intermediate state, but practically Protestantism as we see it today partakes of the character of either Thyatira or Laodicea.

GOD'S MIND KNOWN TO PHILADELPHIA

What gives peculiar and distinctive character to Philadelphia is that God's mind is known there. It is composed of those who stand in the true grace and blessing of christianity.

THE APOSTASY AFTER THE RAPTURE

As to the course of the apostasy after the rapture of the church my remarks must necessarily be brief.

So far as real Christians are concerned, the effect of seeing this should be to separate us more distinctly from the course of things which tends to apostasy.

May we be found keeping the word of Christ, and not denying His name, and keeping the word of His patience!

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PAUL'S  VOYAGE
  AS  SUGGESTIVE  OF  CHURCH  HISTORY
Acts 27: 1-44
Ministry of C. A. Coates 31: 373-78

In verses 2 and 3 of this chapter we get a hint of the happy conditions which were found in the assembly

Then in verses 4-7 "the winds were contrary". The prince of the power of the air raised every kind of opposition.

In verse 8 they came to Fair Havens. This was the place God intended for them, and where they should have stayed. It answers to

Paul counsels them in verse 10. This very much corresponds with what we have in Acts 20: 17-35.

But soon the storm broke, and there was no power to stand against it.

Certain efforts were made in verses 16 and 17 which had their correspondence in church councils and the formulation of creeds, which helped to preserve things a little as to outward forms.

Then on the third day

Then for many days "neither sun nor stars" appeared.

Then after "a long while" Paul speaks again.

In verse 27, "the sailors supposed that some land neared them", and they take soundings.

Then in verse 30 there is another movement. The sailors wish to flee out of the ship and to go off in a boat, but Paul will not suffer this to be done, though it was ostensibly to serve a good purpose.

To go off in a boat suggests to my mind a giving up of the truth of the assembly.

In verse 33, "while it was drawing on to daylight, Paul exhorted them all to partake of food".

Then verse 35 is strikingly suggestive. In connection with Paul's voice being heard the breaking of bread comes in.

"He gave thanks to God before all".

Then "having satisfied themselves with food, they lightened the ship, casting out the wheat into the sea".

Verse 41 is close to the end. Two powerful forces of evil meet with destructive effect.

Chapter 28: 1-10 is suggestive of the time to come when those who show favour and kindness to the people of God will come into blessing. Matthew 25: 31-46.

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THE LAST TWO CHAPTERS OF ACTS AS A
PICTURE OF THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
Acts 27 and 28
Alfred Wellerhaus (1897-1968)
Translated from German

It is remarkable, that the book of Acts, which relates the mighty deeds of the apostles and of other men, should end with Paul in a shipwreck and imprisoned in Rome,

“But when it been determined that we sail to Italy, they delivered up Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion, by name Julius, of Augustus’ company”, Acts 27: 1.

The first ship they boarded was at Adramyttium and about to navigate by the places along Asia – verse 2.

“Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us”, verse 2.

In verse 3, the ship is said to arrive at Sidon. Sidon had once fallen to the tribe of Asher – meaning “happy, blessed” – Joshua 19: 28, which alas never took possession of it.

In verse 4, we find the ship sailing under the lee of Cyprus because the winds were contrary.

In verse 5, the ship sailed under contrary winds over the waters of Cilicia and Pamphylia and came to Myra in Lycia.

In verse 6, Julius the centurion found a ship of Alexandria, and brought Paul and the Christians aboard.

In verse 7, the worldly ship attempted to land in Cnidus.

In verse 8, the ship landed on Crete in a port called Fair Havens, near to which was the city of Lasea. Crete is given by some to mean “locking”.

Alas, the Alexandrian ship owner deemed this port on Crete, the haven of repentance and self-judgment, to be ill adapted to winter in. Verse 12.

It says in verse 9, that the fast was already past.

In verse 13, the south wind was blowing gently, alluding to the toleration and recognition of Christianity under Emperor Constantine in AD 313.

In verse 18, they threw the cargo overboard.

There followed in verse 20 a long dark night, during which neither son nor stars appeared.

When in the end all hope of the ship being saved was taken away – verse 20 – when all the reforming councils of the 15th century had brought no result,

When day came they ran the ship aground. Verses 39-41.

When the ship ran aground, many believers saw the time had come to leave the ship. They swam to the island called Melita. Chapter 28: 1.

In verses 7-10, Paul cured some from fever and dysentery.

In verse 11, the journey continued and they boarded an Alexandrian ship, which had wintered in the island.

When Paul arrived in Rome he had a discussion with those who were chief of the Jews – verses 16-29 – corresponding to the majority of today’s Christian leaders.

In verses 30, 31, Paul remained in his own hired lodging in Rome.

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