Patience of the Saints by William Mayhew Healey

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Apr 28, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 16.

"Patience of the Saints"

By William Mayhew Healey

THE CHURCH THAT MEETS THE LORD AT HIS COMING TO HAVE THIS GIFT By WILLIAM MAYHEW HEALEY

WHAT is the "patience of the saints," mentioned in Rev. 14:12, that the people of God will have at the coming of Christ? This is not merely the patience of saints, but it is the patience of the saints, that is, just such patience as was possessed by the saints in the ages past, and is possessed only by saints.

How Is Patience Developed?

Patience is a product of faith and hope, and is developed under trial. To obtain patience such as the former saints had, it would be necessary to pass through trials like theirs. That the people who are prepared for translation at the coming of Christ, will pass through special tests and trials, is plainly pointed out in the word of God.

Persecution Predicted

In Rev. 12:17 we read, "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." The woman is the symbol of the church. "I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman." Jer. 6:2.

The "remnant" must be the last of the church to be gathered out of the world. This "remnant" is the company of Rev. 14:12. They "keep the commandments of God." They also "have the testimony of Jesus Christ." That this remnant of the church is faithful is apparent from the statement that they "keep the commandments of God." Persecution always has developed and always will develop patience in those who, under it, remain true to God.

Terrible Struggle Described

In the fifth chapter of the book of James, we have a terrible struggle described as taking place in "the last days" (verse 3), between the "rich men" (verse 1) and the "laborers" (verse 4). In verses 6-8 he says: "Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. 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; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."

Three Parties in the Conflict

In this great conflict, so long foretold, and now well under way in all parts of the earth, there are three distinct parties,—the "rich" and the "laborers," who are opposing each other, and a third party, of whom nothing is said as to whether they are rich or poor, but it is said that they are "just," and though suffering even to being "condemned and killed," they do "not resist," but "patiently" wait the "coming of the Lord." In verse 10 of this chapter, our attention is called to the suffering of the prophets in the past, as an example of patience. "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience."

He Waited Seven Days

When the Lord had finished warning the world by His servant Noah, He sent him and his family into the ark, and shut the door, and there kept him waiting seven days before the Flood came. Those were days of trial for Noah's faith and patience, with a jeering mob outside, probably flinging stones at the ark, and sneering at Noah. Why should he be kept there waiting? His work was all done. Suppose after all no rain should come. How could he ever go out again and face the people? Many such queries might naturally arise, but Noah had learned to believe God and be patient.

Acquiring the Grace of Patience

The Lord promised Abraham a son, in whom all nations of the earth should be blessed. Abraham believed God; but as time rolled by, and there was no evidence of the fulfilment of the promise, he became impatient, and under the influence of Sarah, took Hagar to wife, not with any intent of committing sin, but because he had not yet developed patience to wait God's time.

When Moses thought to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, he lacked patience, slew an Egyptian taskmaster, and was obliged to spend forty years in Midian cultivating this grace. Think of this man, reared and educated at the very throne of Egypt, and heir to its kingdom, spending forty years as a common shepherd, to cultivate patience. With all this, he made one failure, on this point, that shut him out of the promised land.

When the prophet Elijah stood in the mount, he felt overwhelmed with loneliness. With all his labors, and the manifestations of God's power through him, there was not one soul to grasp his hand and give him a cheering word. All this was hard to bear, and yet God had seven thousand souls in Israel who had not bowed to Baal. But Elijah must learn the lesson of patience, and he learned it best alone with God, under human persecution.

Joseph was deserted by his brethren, and

for his faithfulness, was cast into Potiphar's prison. Job, suffering his many afflictions, was without a friend to encourage him. Those who visited him, professing to be friends, only censured him, and tried to point out some fault in him. Even his wife scoffed at his religion and his God.

All these instances and many more teach us that those who have risen to great prominence in the work of God in the past, were placed under great trials until they learned the lesson of patience; and the faithful souls who meet the Lord in peace at His coming, will have the same grace, obtained under similar trial.