Bible Study from September 17th, 2022

The Church of Laodicea

This week’s Lesson Sermon Subject: Matter

Click here to play the audio as you read:

Bible Study Questions and Readings

For three years Mrs. Eddy withdrew from the world to meditate and pray and search the Scriptures, and she enjoined all students of Christian Science to study the Scriptures and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures habitually. And we should value daily our study before everything else, for this study promotes the individualization of the Science of Life. The Scriptures, when understood in the light of the revelation of our textbook, become fundamental and very sacred to the student of Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy says, “the Bible was written in order that all peoples, in all ages, should have the same opportunity to become students of the Christ, Truth, and thus become God-endued with power (knowledge of divine law) and with “signs following.” (Miscellany, page 190:23-27)

From Addresses, by Martha Wilcox, page 339

Topic:“It is a blessed thing to study the scriptures” Matthew Henry Complete Bible Commentary, Rev. 1:3

Moderator: Thomas from NY

**Read page 85 of Revelation Interpreted,** by Rev. G. A. Kratzer, 2nd edition

Download or read “The Seven Churches”: From The Christian Science Journal, October 1917 by Caroline Getty

King James Bible: Bible.PlainfieldCS.com

Science and Health: Chapter 16 “Apocalypse” by Mary Baker Eddy

Revelation of Saint John An Open Book: by Irving Tomlinson

Download or read Study Notes on Revelation here: Compiled by Thomas

Questions:

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14.)

What is the lesson of the letter to the church of Laodicea? (Rev. 3:14-22; Tomlinson, pages 137-138)
What is the lesson of Vision One? (Rev. 4:1 – 5:10; Tomlinson, pages 139-149)
What is the lesson of Vision Two? (Rev. 5:11 – 8:1; Tomlinson, pages 150-166)

Notes from the Discussion

Realize for yourself and all each day, clear and strong, that the Christ, Truth, does not merely open “the windows of heaven” for us, or promise us heaven, but the knowledge of the Christ in Christian Science is heaven here and now. This knowledge of Truth, as it is taught in Science, is heaven’s open door for all.

— from Divinity Course and General Collectanea, (the “Blue Book”), by Mary Baker Eddy, page 47

Click here to play the Hymn: — “I need Thee every hour”, Hymn 137

It is impossible to enslave, mentally or socially, a bible-reading people. The principles of the bible are the groundwork of human freedom.

— from Horace Greeley

Metaphysical Science teaches us there is no other Life, substance, and intelligence but God. How much are you demonstrating of this statement? which to you hath the most actual substance, — wealth and fame, or Truth and Love? See to it, O Christian Scientists, ye who have named the name of Christ with a higher meaning, that you abide by your statements, and abound in Love and Truth, for unless you do this you are not demonstrating the Science of metaphysical healing. The immeasurable Life and Love will occupy your affections, come nearer your hearts and into your homes when you touch but the hem of Truth’s garment.

— from Christian Healing by Mary Baker Eddy, page 16 : 4-15

Mrs. Eddy refers to the Bible specifically over 600 times in her writings, and she incorporates hundreds of Scriptural quotations in her articles and books.

The following was found in one of Mrs. Eddy’s Bibles, penned by her on note paper.

Bible:

It is a book of laws to show the right and wrong.
It is a book of wisdom that condemns all folly.
It is a book of Truth that condemns all error.
It is a book of Life that shows the way from everlasting death.
It will puzzle the most skillful Anatomist and critic.
It exposes the subtle sophist, and drives diviners mad.
It is the best covenant that was ever agreed to, the best deed that was ever sealed.
It is a complete code of laws, a perfect body of divinity, an unequalled narrative.
Author — God

We must avoid the shoals of a sensual religion or philosophy that misguides reason and affection, and hold fast to the Principle of Christian Science as the Word that is God, Spirit, and Truth. This Word corrects the philosopher, confutes the astronomer, exposes the subtle sophist, and drives diviners mad. The Bible is the learned man’s masterpiece, the ignorant man’s dictionary, the wise man’s directory.

— from Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy, page 363

Amen is from a root meaning “to be firm, stable, sure, established, and trustworthy.” It is used in Isaiah 65:16 of God as “the God of truth,” literally, “the God of Amen.”

Because God is trustworthy, Isaiah can call him “the God of amen”; also in Revelation 3:14, the “amen” is explained with the words, “the Faithful and True Witness.”

— from Biblehub.com

The mental stages of crime, which seem to belong to the latter days, are strictly classified in metaphysics as some of the many features and forms of what is properly denominated, in extreme cases, moral idiocy. I visited in his cell the assassin of President Garfield, and found him in the mental state called moral idiocy. He had no sense of his crime; but regarded his act as one of simple justice, and himself as the victim. My few words touched him; he sank back in his chair, limp and pale; his flippancy had fled. The jailer thanked me, and said, “Other visitors have brought to him bouquets, but you have brought what will do him good.”

This mental disease at first shows itself in extreme sensitiveness; then, in a loss of self-knowledge and of self-condemnation, — a shocking inability to see one’s own faults, but an exaggerating sense of other people’s.

Unless this mental condition be overcome, it ends in a total loss of moral, intellectual, and spiritual discernment, and is characterized in this Scripture: “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” This state of mind is the exemplification of total depravity, and the result of sensuous mind in matter. Mind that is God is not in matter; and God’s presence gives spiritual light, wherein is no darkness.

— from Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy, page 112-113

“In reading all that, I had to make it simple for myself. It’s like happy is one who is faithful and loves to do the will of God, for in living the Commandments he increases his own spiritual discernment and thus sees what is wrong more readily and gets to enjoy the power and freedom that comes with doing God’s will. That to me makes it more simple for me and it makes me able to do the best I can to live it.”

— from the Roundtable

Rev. Tomlinson gave some very good references in his book on page 138, 140 (see quotes from his book below for a few samples). Referencing Revelation 3, verse 18, where it says, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed,…and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.”

Fire: “Rev. 4:5 — 7 lamps of fire burning, which are the 7 Spirits of God.”

White raiment: “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.” (II Cor. 5:2)

Eye salve: “EYES : Spiritual discernment, — not material but mental.” (By Mary Baker Eddy, page 586 of Science and Health)

That thou mayest see: Matt. 8:5 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”