Revelation 7:16 “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun strike upon them, nor any heat.”

Comment: They experience hunger, thirst, and the sun scorching them. Not only do they go through the plagues of the tribulation, but also the privileges of a normal life are denied them because they refuse to join the world system.

Revelation 13:7-8 “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain.”

Comment: The beast uses his power to make war with the saints in every part of the world. The saints are overcome by the forces of the beast. The whole world worships the beast. Only the saints will have the knowledge and the willpower to refuse.

Revelation 13:10 “If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”

Comment: The message of the saints will be silenced. Those countries that believe in capital punishment will kill the saints. The other countries will put them in captivity. This experience will try the patience of the saints, since by simply joining the world system and worshiping Satan, they could be freed.

Revelation 14:12 “Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Comment: The patience of the saints will be tried as they keep God’s commandments. They realize the torment coming to them from the followers of the beast can in no way compare to God’s blessing to those who are faithful to Him. They will be willing to give up their lives before worshiping Satan.

Revelation 14:13 “And I heard the voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.”

Comment: When the saints are killed, they enter into God’s blessing.

Revelation 12:17 “And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus”

Comment: They experience Satan’s wrath as he seeks to destroy completely those who follow Jesus.

Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.”

Comment: The saints overcome Satan the same way all believers have, through the shed blood of Jesus and with their testimony of that to the world. The believers during the tribulation will be the ones who announce to mankind that by receiving the mark of the beast they will be condemned to hell for their rejection of Jesus. They overcome Satan by their testimony.

Matthew 24:13 “But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.”

Comment: The followers of God during the tribulation are told to endure to the end in order to be to be saved. They must not give in to the lawlessness and pressures that are against them on all sides. They also must endure the darkness that follows the tribulation. From the number of days mentioned in Daniel 12:11-12 “And from the time that the continual burnt-offering shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand and two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty day,” it would appear there will be 45 days of waiting.

 

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