PATIENT, OBEDIENT, & FAITHFUL
The conclusion of the third angel’s message found in Revelation 14:12, 13 reveals a faithful people of God who refuse the mark of the beast, they refuse to worship the beast and his image. They stand firm to truth and worship the God of Heaven rather than the commandments and traditions of man.
Revelation 14:12 - “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
In Revelation 14:12, after God gives the urgent message of Babylon, the beast, its image, and the mark of the beast, He reminds us that He will have a faithful people who will go through the mark of the beast crisis. During the crisis it will appear that the whole world is under Satan’s banner. Like the fall of literal Babylon, Satan’s “Babylon” will completely fall at the end of time as prophesied. Right before the fall of literal Babylon King Belshazzar had a grand party according to Daniel chapter 5. During the peak of the party an armless hand mysteriously wrote cryptic words on the wall at the party. The music ceased and the party stopped. No one was able to read the writing on the wall. By suggestion, Daniel was called to interpret the cryptic message. Daniel told Belshazzar that the message was from God. This message revealed that Babylon would fall that night to the Medes and Persians. It happened as the prophecy foretold.
You can imagine Satan and his demons celebrating about what they were able to accomplish during the mark of the beast crisis and Satan saying in his hellish laugh, “The whole world is wondering after the beast! Who is like unto the beast, who is able to conquer us! Nobody, nobody, nobody!” But the celebration will be interrupted with the words of Revelation to remind Satan that he does not have everybody, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” These are they who have not received the mark of the beast, but have the mark of God. Satan’s Babylonian kingdom is doomed, it will come to an end. Jesus will soon set up His everlasting kingdom!
There are four main characteristics in Revelation 14:12 that Jesus reveals we must have to make it through the mark of the beast crisis:
PATIENCE
What is patience?
The Greek word for “patience” in Revelation 14:12 means “cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).” - Strong’s Greek Dictionary
There are three key things that develop patience:
1) Study, understand, and apply God’s Word in your life
2) Tribulations
3) Temperance (Self-control)
1) Study, understand, and apply God’s Word in your life
Luke 8:15 - “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”
Romans 15:4 - “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
James 1:3, 4
3 “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”
6 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”
James 5:11 says, “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” When Job’s faith was tested, he proclaimed in Job 23:10, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”
God’s people MUST go through tribulations in order to develop a patience that will cheerfully endure until the end. This is a witness that can inspire others to have faith in God and develop the same patience. Tribulations reveal real faith from a counterfeit faith. Revelation 12:17 says, “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.” This will be at its greatest intensity during the mark of the beast crisis as a major trial of your faith. This will be ALL out WAR against God’s people! Those who keep ALL of the commandments of God will experience the wrath of Satan, but you do not have to fear, God will give you the strength to endure. In the midst of the battle God’s people must stand up for TRUTH. God’s people will be a constant reminder to those who are in apostasy that they have compromised truth. This will incite the most bitter hatred and intense persecution against the people of God - like a dragon.
Jesus did not promise His true followers a life of ease, but He does promise, “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” - Matthew 28:20. Jesus was in the midst the fiery furnace with the three Hebrew young men when they refused to worship the image of the king of Babylon in Daniel chapter 3. He will also be in the midst of the trials and tribulations for those who refuse to worship the beast and its image. Like the faithful who were persecuted in the past they will declare, ⁸“We are troubled