I almost didn’t do it this morning . . . I started to “double up” on my reading in Revelation, reading two days of assigned passages . . . but then stopped . . . but then, for some reason, . . . I’ll take it as a prompting from the Teacher . . . decided to read Revelation 14 in addition to Revelation 13. And, had I not done that, I don’t think I would have noticed a phrase which, I think, is found only twice in the New Testament . . . here in Revelation . . . in these two chapters I read in one sitting . . . once in chapter 13 . . . once in chapter 14. A phrase, though I cannot fully imagine the implications of it, seems to have application for me . . . there being something in it that challenges me and encourages me when I consider “the patience of the saints.”

The context for this phrase is the period of the Great Tribulation. A period of time when believers in Christ will suffer intense persecution as “the beast” comes to power and determines to oppose God by making war against His people (13:7). It is also a time when God’s wrath is poured out on those who worship the beast and his image (14:9). It seems quite literally it is a time of hell on earth . . . and though they are sealed by the blood of the Lamb, you just know that this will be an extremely difficult time for believers . . . so hard that even a voice from heaven declares to the John, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'” . . . “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” (14:13)

It is then, in the context of this chaotic, tumultuous time, that John writes of “the patience of the saints” (13:10, 14:12). “Patience” is the NKJV rendering . . . here’s how it’s translated or paraphrased by others . . . “endurance” (NIV, ESV) . . . “perseverance” (NAS) . . . “endure persecution patiently” (NLT) . . . “passionately stand their ground” (MSG). The tribulation is the ultimate crucible to show forth the quality of faith . . . it is the hottest furnace under which patient endurance testifies loudly to the preserving grace of God . . . it is the blackest of backdrops against which stars of faithfulness shine the brightest for the glory of God. What will it be, to be a believer in that time?

I know, that there are believers in other parts of the world which today can identify to a large degree . . . they know first hand what it means to endure demonic-based physical opposition for their faith. I can try to imagine, what it’s like, but I really can’t relate. If I’ll take the time, I can read of their enduring struggle and add my voice to the those who cry out on their behalf for God’s sustaining grace to flow in abundance towards them . . . but, and I praise God for this, I really don’t know what it’s like for them to live out “the patience of the saints.”

Having said that . . . and not trying in the least to compare any of my struggles and battles to those who live under such intense persecution . . . there is a context in which I too am called to endurance and faith. My struggles might be minor in comparison, nevertheless, they’re my struggles . . . my potential sources of despair . . . my hard experiences — those I would just as soon avoid . . . and through them, I think I too am called to endure patiently, to obey the Father, and remain faithful to the One who has bought me with His own precious blood.

“The patience and faith of the saints”, seems to me, is a call for all believers . . . in all less than ideal circumstances . . . through all ages . . . to passionately stand their ground . . . to determine to faithfully remain steadfast, by the grace of God. And so, I hear the call this morning . . . and I desire to step up, by His grace . . . to practically model the patience of the saints . . . to remain true to the faith of Jesus . . . for the glory of God . . . amen!