THE THREE ANGELS’ MESSAGES

15. WHAT IS THE PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS?

REVELATION 13:10He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Why should the saints exercise patience?Four reasons:1. The beast2. The image to the beast3. The mark of the beast4. The crisis which the beast will trigger

• What is the patience if the saints?

REVELATION 14:12Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

• Patience of the saints: Will to endure• Patience of the saints: Will to persevere• Patience of the saints: Will to suffer long

• Patience of the saints: God is in control though matter the outcome

• Patience of the saints: God is our avenger• Patience of the saints: Suffer with Christ

BIBLE EVIDENCE: PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS

LUKE 18:1-3, 5-8

And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

SYMBOLISMS & REPRESENTATIONSApplication: LUKE 18:1-3, 5-8

1. The Judge: Jesus ChristELLEN G. WHITE, Christ object lessons, “Shall Not

God Avenge His Own?”--p.164• Parables: Symbols & representations of Christ2. The adversary: Devil 1 PETER 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

3. The forsaken widow: Church or elect of God. [LUKE 18: 7]

WIDOW/CHURCH NEEDS PATIENCE: GREAT TRIBULATION

MATTHEW 24: 21-22-24For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. …But for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not. For there shall arise false Christ's, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

REVELATION 13:13And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,...

HOW SOON WILL DELIVERANCE OF SAINTS COME?

LUKE 21:1-3 [The widow’s mite] & 4-9 [Tribulation]

- Accost/assault/capture/persecute/imprisoned

- Betrayal by parents: Family & friends

- They will: Hate/kill you…Christ name

ISAIAH 54:6-8

For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth,…For a small moment have I forsaken thee; …In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

ISAIAH 54:10For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

• Is this similar to what’s going to happen in the end-time?

DANIEL 11 & 12 mentions the saints will:1. A time of trouble similar to Jacob’s2. Have the assurance of forgiveness of past sins3. Will have Michael stand up for his people4. Have patience while going through tribulations

PATIENCE OF JOB: ADVERSARY• Did Job loose everything he had?• Did Job loose his servants, children, health, and his

wife?• Did Job loose his friends?• Did Job cry out to God for justice? • Was there a delay? Does Job give up? [Patience]• Does Job keep on persisting like the widow?

“...Though you slay me, yet will I trust you.”“I know that my redeemer liveth...”

• Does God answer Job at the end of his torment?• Does God restore or double all his possessions?

[JOB 42:10]

JOB’S NINE P’S

1. Possession [Cattle & property]

2. Position or status [Bill Gates]

3. Partner

4. Psyche

5. Physical body

6. Protection

7. Profession

8. Posterity

9. Peasants

WHO WAS JOB’S ADVERSARY?JOB 41:1

Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord [which] thou lettest down?

• Who is leviathan?

ISAIAH 27:1In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that [is] in the sea.

• Did Job give up his patience?

SAINTS: TESTED LIKE JOB & THE THREE HEBREW BOYS

• Hebrew Boys: Golden image in place of the true God

• Did Nebuchadnezzar imposed a nationwide law against worshipping the true God?

• So too, the sea beast will urge the land beast to impose a worldwide law forbidding saints

• Could God have delivered those three boys before they were thrown into the furnace?

• Was their faith severely tested?

• Did these tests and experiences strengthened their faith?

WAS THERE A DELAY?

DANIEL 3:28 [Delay: 20-28]

Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed [be] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

EARTH’S COMING CRISIS FOR GOD’S ELECT

Who is going to bring on this crisis?- The beast [Sea], his mark, and his number…- The beast [Land] or the image to the beast- False prophet (s)

MATTHEW 24:21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

- Hebrew boys: Seven times - God’s Elect: Seven last plagues

CANAANITE WOMAN: SYMBOL MATTHEW 15:22-28

And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. …Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast [it] to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

WAS THERE A DELAY IN THE CANAANITE’S WOMAN’S REQUEST?

MATTHEW 15:28Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt….

LUKE 18:7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

PSALMS 22:1, 2 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

MY GOD, MY GOD…” GOD IS SILENTMATTHEW 26:39, 42, 44

And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt]. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

MATTHEW 27:46

…Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? …My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

DID JESUS HAVE FAITH IN HIS FATHER?

HEBREWS 5:7, 8Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;...

MATTHEW 28:2And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

HOW WILL THE SAINTS OF GOD LEARN PATIENCE?

ISAIAH 48:10

Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

JOB 23:10

But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

ELLEN G. WHITE, THE GREAT CONTROVERSY, pp. 618, 619, 630-631

Jacob was driven almost to despair; but he knew that without help from Heaven he must perish. He had sincerely repented of his great sin, and he appealed to the mercy of God. He would not be turned from his purpose, but held fast the Angel, and urged his petition with earnest, agonizing cries, until he prevailed. As Satan influenced Esau to march against Jacob, so he will stir up the wicked to destroy God's people in the time of trouble. He numbers the world as his subjects; but the little company who keep the commandments of God are resisting his supremacy….

…As Satan accuses the people of God on account of their sins, the Lord permits him to try them to the uttermost. Their confidence in God, their faith and firmness, will be severely tested. Their faith does not fail because their prayers are not immediately answered. Though suffering the keenest anxiety, terror, and distress, they do not cease their intercessions. Day and night they cry unto God for deliverance. Yet they cease not their earnest intercession. But they must wait yet a little longer. The very delay, so painful to them, is the best answer to their petitions. As they endeavor to wait trustingly for the Lord to work, they are led to exercise faith, hope, and patience, which have been too little exercised during their religious experience. Yet for the elect's sake, the time of trouble will be shortened.