The Patience of the Saints.
By J. H. W.
REV. 14 : 12, the closing verse of the third angel’s message, says, “Here is the patience of the saints.” By reference to chap. 13 : 11-17 we find there will be persecution raised against those who refuse to worship the beast and his image. The third message threatens with the wrath of God all who do worship the beast and his image. So we see that the world will be divided into two classes before the Lord comes on the white cloud to reap the harvest of the earth: one class worship the beast and his image, and they will be caused to drink of the wine of the wrath of God, or suffer the seven last plagues. The other class keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. They are kept from evil in the day of wrath,—they will stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. They who worship the beast and his image persecute those who keep the commandments of God. They deprive them of the privileges of citizenship; just what they now avow to be their intention when they secure the Religious Amendment to the Constitution. This persecution will call for the exercise of patience. Hence this declaration of the message, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” The same is again brought to view in Rev. 12 : 17. “The remnant” is composed of those who stand for the truth of God in the last days; who are prepared to meet the Lord at his appearing. And war is made against the remnant, because they keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. There is no mistaking the time of the fulfillment of this prophecy. The apostle Paul says, “Tribulation worketh patience.” As we are endeavoring to develop the characters of the remnant, and preparing to meet the Lord when he appears, we should not only consider this expression of the apostle with care, but with equal care examine ourselves in the light of it. Many complain of their trials as being greater than they can bear, and often say their patience is worn out or exhausted by so much trouble. This is not Christian experience according to the words of Paul. Does tribulation destroy patience? No; it “worketh patience;” it strengthens and perfects it. If tribulation or trial renders us more fretful, more selfish, more irritable and impatient, we may rest assured that our experience is that of the worldling, not of the Christian. This proposition is so plain that we need not deceive ourselves. The decision is plainly written, and by inspiration; “Tribulation worketh patience.” In harmony with Rev. 14 : 9-14, many scriptures connect patience with the near coming of the Lord. This gives us an idea that the tribulations or war upon the saints will be specially bitter and malignant. In Rev. 3 : 10, 11, the Son of God says: “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Here they are exhorted to hold fast that which they have, and this is doubtless the word of his patience which they have kept. There is an “hour of temptation” coming on all the world; a fearful hour, from which the faithful will be kept. And they are assured that their Deliverer will “come quickly.” There is no In Heb. 9 : 28 it is said Christ will come unto salvation unto them that look for him. Chap. 10 : 25 says we should be more diligent in our duty as we see the day approaching. Verses 36, 37 say, “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” James, in a striking manner, connects patience with the hope of the Lord’s coming. “Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; establish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” Thus do different writers in Scripture point out the connection of patience with the expectation of the Lord’s coming. Of the importance of this grace James testifies when he says, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Not that patience will make any one perfect without other graces of the Spirit, but no grace is perfect without patience. It should be inwrought into every action and every thought. When patience tempers and perfects the other graces in the character of a saint, then, indeed, is he “wanting nothing.” While the Scriptures point out the special necessity of patience in the last days because the saints will suffer persecution, and show that it is the perfection of Christian character, there are reasons why it is difficult to maintain our patience in these times. This is a restless age. Everybody is in haste; steam and electricity are alone sufficient to meet the demands of the hour. The whole race have become nervous, and subject to unhallowed influences. The world seems to be well prepared for the last and greatest deception of the enemy as manifested in Spiritualism. Mediums are easily developed, and there are multitudes ready to be “led captive by Satan at his will.” There is no lack of reasons for this State of things. The habits of the people are so contrary to law and reason that a constant nervous irritation is kept up. The apostle Peter, in giving the order in which the graces are to be added in the formation of Christian character, places temperance before patience. This is evidently just, for an intemperate person can hardly be a patient one. But intemperance is the all-prevailing sin of the age. Eating and drinking at all hours, and of articles the most pernicious and irritating, has become common. And professed Christians, who ought to set an example to the world as being temperate in all things, are foremost in violating the law of their being. Late suppers of indigestible things are even carried into the houses consecrated to the worship of God. Children, from their very infancy, are pampered with highly-spiced food, or fed on alcoholic drinks till their whole system is inflamed and their nerves strained to the highest pitch, and when the result is manifested in irritability and fretfulness, they are quieted with stupefying drugs as opium, in the form of paregoric or soothing syrups. Thus are their tastes early formed for stimulants, and habits contracted, to overcome which they have no sufficient moral force. Now, in view of the fact that patience is so strongly enjoined, so imperatively necessary in the last days, and also that temperance is the only sure foundation for patience, every one can see that Christian temperance becomes one of the most important subjects claiming our attention at the present time. Reform in habits,—known as health reform—becomes indispensable—to “the remnant.” Without it patience will never “have her perfect work.” An impressive admonition to those who are watching for the coming of the Lord, was given by Jesus himself: “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” Luke 21 : 34. “Here is the patience of the saints.” Who will be embraced in this number when Jesus comes? Who is striving to perfect this grace, and to lay its foundation strong and sure in Christian temperance? Reader, where do you stand on this matter?
J. H. W.