Revelation 14.12 comments, meanwhile, the saints stand passionately patient, keeping God’s commands, staying faithful to Jesus.

During hard times what should God’s people do? The same thing they have always done, for hard times have been part of the Church’s existence since its Founder was scorned, mocked and crucified. The Church is to always be working at winning men to God’s point of view through Jesus the Savior.

God has always been at work winning men to His point of view and even now continues that work through the imperfect means of His people, the Church. Yet most men love darkness rather than light. Resistance is and has always been high against the good, pure and right ways of the One True God.

As a result of this conflict, the Church suffers now but will be greatly rewarded for all eternity in the coming age. The pagan appears to win now, for a time, but will suffer eternally for their hate, disobedience and crimes against God’s people. While the Church loves, serves and testifies to Jesus as the only means men have for getting to heaven they can expect to suffer.

The Church is to suffer patiently with a zeal for the righteousness of God. This suffering is not passive but active in obedience to God staying faithful to testifying about He Who was, Who is and Who is to come again. Every word and every deed of the Church is to be a forward progression of establishing God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. This work is done through obedience to His commands and by our testimony of God’s work in the world through Jesus the Savior.

The harvest is plentiful, there is more room for a suffering Church, the workers are few. Blessed for all eternity is the person who is not ashamed of identifying with Jesus in this world.