Of the church [of the Laodiceans] IN LAODICEA.—It is significant that in the first epoch of the Church there were Nicolaitanes (_nikon ton laon_), “vanquishers of the people,” a clergy class who succeeded in pulling the wool over the eyes of the common people; but that the last age of the Church is Laodicean (_laos dike_), “justice for the people.” We find we get along much better without the clergy than we did with them. The Laodicean period of the Church extends from the fall of 1874 to the spring of 1918, three and one‐half years of preparation, and forty years of Harvest. “The parallels affected merely the nominal Jewish House _there_ and the nominal Christian House _here_. Both were rejected because of failure to be in the right condition of heart for the truths that were due to them—both rejected for destruction. The Jewish System was a Church‐ State affair, paralleled here by the great Church‐State systems of Europe, whose destruction began in 1914. Let us remember, however, that the three and a half years of Jesus’ ministry were more a time of preparation of the Apostles to be the instruments for the harvesting and a sharpening preparation of the Sickle of Truth for the later work, which _began_ at Pentecost. Prior to Pentecost, there was _no _‘garner’ into which to gather the wheat.” “Jewish And Christian Parallels “Jewish‐Nominal Church Christian‐Nominal Church A. D. 29‐33 A. D. 1874‐1878 “They knew not the time of their visitation.” “A. D. 33‐36 A. D. 1878‐1881 The Most Holy anointed, Divine favor prolonged for three and a half years to complete the 70 weeks of favor promised to Israel, their rejection being deferred. “A. D. 36‐73 A. D. 1881‐1918 Because of the overspreading of abominations, He shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, or _utter destruction_—until all that God has predetermined shall be accomplished.—Dan. 9:24‐27.—Z. ’16‐264. See pages 594, 595. The foregoing is Pastor Russell’s last expression on the subject of chronology; and we believe that it was designed to be of great value to the Lord’s people at this hour. “The Apostles, the Prophets and the angels all desired and sought earnestly to know what _time_ the Spirit of God indicated through the Prophets. And this interest on the part of His children is ever pleasing to God. He called the inquiring Daniel greatly beloved, and answered his inquiry so far as was consistent with His Plan. Such inquiry should not be regarded as an improper prying into the secrets of God. God would have us quickly discern the Truth as it becomes _due_.” (B. 17.) “Let none, then, of the truly consecrated under‐value these prophetic time‐evidences, which were designed to guide our words and deeds in the early dawn of the Millennial Day. These prophetic time‐proofs were largely God’s means of drawing the attention of the writer more carefully to other features of the Divine Plan.”—B. 31.