Thrones and thorns

Everyone who dishonors the Son dishonors His Father. If we love the Father more than His only Begotten, then we dishonor both. They are one, and we must love them as equally holy, great, and loving—the one God of love. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD” (Deut. 6:4). It’s true that Jesus said, “My Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28). But in the economy of heaven, greatness isn’t treated like it is on this sinful planet. There, smallness is greatness.

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him.” (1Jn. 5:1). This was the message Jesus gave the religious leaders who He faced; and it was a message to Satan who was inspiring them with his same contempt for Christ. Theirs was no different than the contempt that Ishmael had for Isaac; and, therefore Ishmael could never honor him. Isaac was a living representation of Christ; therefore Satan hated him. The message of 1 John 5:1 was that it is impossible to glorify the Father while disdaining His only begotten, precious, divine Son.

“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (1Jn. 4:3). To diminish Christ was the work of the mystery of iniquity which John and Paul warned was already underway. To profess Christ in the flesh is not the same as confessing that truth. The devils profess and tremble; but, the Christian confesses Him from the heart.

Both Father and Son worked to save Their precious human race.

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation…. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2Cor. 5:19-21).

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee:

As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him.

And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.

I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.

And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.

I have manifested Thy Name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world: Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me; and they have kept Thy word.

Now they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee....

And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them....

That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.

And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one:

I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.

Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world.

O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee: but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent Me.

And I have declared unto them Thy Name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:1-7,10,21-26).

To disregard the exalted nature of Christ and to give Him less than His Father’s glory is to assist Satan’s work to usurp Christ’s throne and is to receive His Father’s wrath.

“For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:34-36). “He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18).

The names of Bible times held much significance, and still do. The name was a declaration, a confession from the depths of the soul, something never to be forgotten, the praise for a good reputation.

“I will publish the Name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.” (Deut. 32:3).

“And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magormissabib (afraid of all around).” (Jer. 20:3).

Giving a name came naturally from Adam and his children.

“And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, He said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.” (John 1:42).

“And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and He surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder.” (Mark 3:17).

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” (Rev. 2:17).

“And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.” (Gen. 2:19,20).

 “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.” (Gen. 3:20).

“And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.” (Gen. 4:25).

“And he [Lamech] called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.” (Gen. 5:29).

“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” (Gen. 12:2).

“And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the Name of the LORD.” (Gen. 12:7,8).

“As for Me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.” (Gen. 17:4,5).

“And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh.” (Gen. 22:14).

“And he builded an altar there, and called upon the Name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well.” (Gen. 26:25).

“And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim [Baal breaks] .” (2Sam. 5:20).

“And He said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob [deceiver, supplanter]. And He said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel [the man who wrestled with God and overcame sin]: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked Him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, Thy Name. And He said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after My Name? And He blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” (Gen. 32:27-30).

“And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and He called his name Israel.” (Gen. 35:9,10).

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jer. 15:16).

Like a seal, a name could also be transferred to a representative, as in the people called by the LORD’s name. Thus, the third commandment to represent Jehovah in spirit and in truth.

“Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain.” (Ex. 20:7).

“He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.” (Ps. 23:3).

“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose Name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Ex. 34:14).

“And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the Name of thy God: I am the LORD.” (Lev. 18:21).

“And I will set My face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile My sanctuary, and to profane My holy Name.” (Lev. 20:3).

“They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the Name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.” (Lev. 21:6).

“Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not My holy Name in those things which they hallow unto Me: I am the LORD…. Neither shall ye profane My holy Name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you.” (Lev. 22:2,32).

A name gives immediate distinction. It connects the face and character with a word—the name; and it just as immediately disallows the wrong face and character.

“Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the Name of God Almighty, but by My Name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.” (Ex. 6:1-3).

“An altar of earth thou shalt make unto Me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record My Name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.” (Ex. 20:24).

“And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in My sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, I beseech Thee, shew me Thy glory. And He said, I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the Name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.” (Ex. 33:17-19).

“And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the Name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.” (Ex. 34:5-8).

“The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

And they that know Thy Name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee.” (Ps. 9:9,10).

“Sing unto God, sing praises to His Name: extol Him that rideth upon the heavens by His Name JAH, and rejoice before Him.” (Ps. 68:4).

“Pour out Thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known Thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon Thy Name.” (Ps. 79:6).

“That men may know that Thou, whose Name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.” (Ps. 83:18).

“Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My Name.

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My salvation.” (Ps. 91:14-16).

“A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy Name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s....

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear Him.

For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.” (Ps. 103:1-5,8-14).

“The works of His hands are verity and judgment; all His commandments are sure.

They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

He sent redemption unto His people: He hath commanded His covenant for ever: holy and reverend is His Name.” (Ps. 111:7-9).

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the Name of the LORD.

Blessed be the Name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’s Name is to be praised.” (Ps. 113:1-3).

“And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon His Name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His Name is exalted.” (Isa. 12:4).

“Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the Name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea.” (Isa. 24:15).

“The Name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” (Prov. 18:10).

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6).

“O LORD, Thou art My God; I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy Name; for Thou hast done wonderful things; Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” (Isa. 25:1).

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.

Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

For He bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, He layeth it low; He layeth it low, even to the ground; He bringeth it even to the dust.

The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.

The way of the just is uprightness: Thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.

Yea, in the way of Thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for Thee; the desire of our soul is to Thy Name, and to the remembrance of Thee.

With my soul have I desired Thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek Thee early: for when Thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness...

LORD, Thou wilt ordain peace for us: for Thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

O LORD our God, other lords beside Thee have had dominion over us: but by Thee only will we make mention of Thy Name.” (Isa. 26:3-13).

“I am the LORD: that is My Name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images.” (Isa. 42:8).

“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.” (Isa. 43:1).

“For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is His Name.” (Isa. 48:2).

“For Mine own sake, even for Mine own sake, will I do it: for how should My Name be polluted? and I will not give My glory unto another.” (Isa. 48:11).

“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” (Isa. 55:12,13).

“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose Name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isa. 57:15).

“And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.” (Isa. 62:2).

“That led them by the right hand of Moses with His glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make Himself an everlasting Name?” (Isa. 63:12).

Jehovah gives Jesus the power to reign for Him.

“Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His Name whereby He shall be called, JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU.” (Jer. 23:5,6).

“And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the Man [Jesus] whose Name is The BRANCH; and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the LORD. Even He shall build the temple of the LORD; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a Priest upon His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” (Zech. 6:12,13).

“But Christ as a son over His own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” (Heb. 3:6).

“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and His rest shall be glorious.” (Isa. 11:10).

“In His Name shall the Gentiles trust.” (Matt. 12:21).

“And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” (Matt. 28:17-19).

“Now when He was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in His Name, when they saw the miracles which He did.” (John 2:23).

“He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18).

“Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” (Dan. 2:35).

“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” (John 5:22).

Jesus took to Himself the authority of His Father’s name, Jehovah.

“I am come in My Father’s Name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” (John 5:43).

“He that receiveth you receiveth Me, and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” (Matt. 10:40-42).

“And whoso shall receive one such little child in My Name receiveth Me.” (Matt. 18:5).

“For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.” (Matt. 23:39).

“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My Name’s sake.” (Matt. 24:9).

“And ye shall be hated of all men for My Name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matt. 10:22).

“And king Herod heard of Him [Jesus]; (for His Name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in Him.” (Mark 6:14).

“And John answered Him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy Name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in My Name, that can lightly speak evil of Me. For he that is not against us is on our part.” (Mark 9:38-40).

“And whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My Name, I will do it.” (John 14:13,14).

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My Name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.” (Mark 16:17).

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.” (John 1:12).

“For many shall come in My Name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” (Mark 13:6).

“Jesus saith unto him, I AM the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6).

No one knows Jehovah, the Father. If we bypass Jesus, by whom alone we can know Jehovah, and attempt to come to Jehovah without His designated Mediator, Jesus, then we will surely be deceived and will speak to a “God” who our fathers never knew. Such a “Jehovah” may be friendly and comforting, but “He” will lead us away from subjection to the “Law of God” (Rom. 8:7). It will only be a familiar spirit.

A name of rank held high honor. But, if we only give the Father the high honor when it’s time for Jesus to receive that honor, then we are balking at the purposes of Jehovah for honoring His Son. We are doing the same as Lucifer did before the great controversy began. We dethrone the high Son who is in the bosom of His Father. “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” (John 1:18).

This is the same as Satan did to Eve in the garden when he referred to the silent Elohim who Eve only knew distantly, instead of the LORD God who visited her and her husband often, who she knew intimately, and for whom her heart strings had grown more taught (Gen. 3:1). Setting Jesus aside is the same that the Jews did in Christ’s day; and their pretended reasoning was to give God true honor. It is the same that Catholicism and Islam do by exalting God (Allah) at the expense of His Son. Eve submitted to Satan’s sophistry; and, by accepting the craftily woven diminishing of her beloved LORD, she found herself without protection against the temptation to enthrone her own self in her heart higher than Him.

We thereby do the work of Satan, to exalt one who we believe to be God instead of exalting Christ, and to give him a throne higher than we give Christ. Satan loves to set Christ to the side and to slide into His exalted place as High Priest and Holy Spirit. Thus, he can eclipse Jehovah and take Jehovah’s people away from Him. Jesus, our faithful Prince and Saviour, escorts us to the presence of His Holy Father. But Satan, rather than be a veil into God’s presence, rather than lead us to God as His Son does so faithfully, by his tricky exaltation of Jehovah above Christ, diverts us away from Christ—even under a religious pretext—and thus keeps us from our only way to Jehovah.

Lucifer is the golden calf substitute and the scapegoat, both of which never saw pain and sorrow and death. He then teaches us that Jehovah never knew sorrow and pain and death; so we worship a golden calf. And they that worship it become like it; they all become as self-preserving and self-seeking as the satanic substitute for the Author of self-sacrificing love. It is with this substitute gospel which eschews self-sacrifice that Lucifer woos the whole world to himself. But, Christ was the goat that was sacrificed, who knew pain and death. He was the heifer that was burned to soot, whose hope and joy were brought to ashes under His Father’s hot displeasure because of His children’s sin problem.

“Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isa. 53:12).

“Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name:

That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:5-11).

The Name of the only begotten Son of God is a Name signifying self-sacrificing love and perfect self-denial. His Name elicits the conviction of holiness. In Christ’s Name God joyfully answers His children’s self-sacrificing prayers. He sanctifies them in the Name of His lowly and meek Son. In His Name God joyfully justifies them of all their past sin. They know no more condemnation.

The most flagrant rejection and subtle work to destroy God’s work for our redemption is to set His Son aside and to pretend to prefer Jehovah. This results in setting the Father aside. Both are destroyed. “It is written of the Son of man, that He must suffer many things, and be set at nought.” (Mark 9:12). At a time such as this when Jesus is conducting a special work of purification for His people in preparation for His soon return, setting Jesus aside is no different than holding God and His Name in contempt, and obstructing Christ’s work of special purification.

“And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” (Matt. 12:32).

“That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent Him.” (John 5:23).

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His Name.” (John 20:31).

“The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17).