Page 377 - That I May Know Him (1964)

Fear Not, Child of God, December 20
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right
hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I
am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore,
Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Revelation 1:17, 18.
John, exiled upon the Isle of Patmos, ... hears a voice saying, “I am
Alpha and Omega, the first and the last” (Revelation 1:11). At the sound of
the voice John falls down in astonishment as if dead. He is unable to bear
the sight of the divine glory. But a hand raises John up, and the voice he
remembers as the voice of his Master. He is strengthened and can endure
to talk with the Lord Jesus.
So will it be with the remnant people of God who are scattered—some
in the mountain fastnesses, some exiled, some pursued, some persecuted.
When the voice of God is heard and the brightness of the glory is revealed,
when the trial is over, the dross removed, they know they are in the presence
of One who has redeemed them by His own blood. Just what Christ was to
John in his exile He will be to His people who are made to feel the hand of
oppression for the faith and testimony of Jesus Christ.... These were driven
by the storm and tempest of persecution to the crevices of the rocks, but
were hiding in the Rock of Ages; and in the fastnesses of the mountains,
in the caves and dens of the earth, the Saviour reveals His presence and
His glory. Yet a little while, and He that is to come will come and will not
tarry. His eyes as a flame of fire penetrate into the fast-closed dungeons
and hunt out the hidden ones, for their names are written in the Lamb’s
book of life. These eyes of the Saviour are above us, around us, noting
every difficulty, discerning every danger; and there is no place where His
eyes cannot penetrate, no sorrows and sufferings of His people where the
sympathy of Christ does not reach....
The child of God will be terror-stricken at the first sight of the majesty
of Jesus Christ. He feels that he cannot live in His holy presence. But the
word comes to him as to John, “Fear not.” Jesus laid His right hand upon
John; He raised him up from his prostrate position. So will He do unto His
loyal, trusting ones.23 [361]
23Manuscript 56, 1886.
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