come to the faith。 God desires the old and tried laborers to stand in their
place； doing their part to save men and women from being swept downward by
the mighty current of evil； He desires them to keep the armor on till He
bids them lay it down。
In the experience of the apostle John under persecution； there is a lesson
of wonderful strength and comfort for the Christian。 God does not prevent
the plottings of wicked men； but He causes their devices to work for good to
those who in trial and conflict maintain their faith and loyalty。 Often the
gospel laborer carries on his work amid storms of persecution； bitter
opposition； and unjust reproach。 At such times let him remember that the
experience to be gained in the furnace of trial and affliction is worth all
the pain it costs。 Thus God brings His children near to Him； that He may
show them their weakness and His strength。 He teaches them to lean on Him。
Thus He prepares them
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to meet emergencies； to fill positions of trust； and to accomplish the great
purpose for which their powers were given them。
In all ages God's appointed witnesses have exposed themselves to reproach
and persecution for the truth's sake。 Joseph was maligned and persecuted
because he preserved his virtue and integrity。 David； the chosen messenger
of God； was hunted like a beast of prey by his enemies。 Daniel was cast into
a den of lions because he was true to his allegiance to heaven。 Job was
deprived of his worldly possessions； and so afflicted in body that he was
abhorred by his relatives； and friends； yet he maintained his integrity。
Jeremiah could not be deterred from speaking the words that God had given
him to speak； and his testimony so enraged the king and princes that he was
cast into a loathsome pit。 Stephen was stoned because he preached Christ and
Him crucified。 Paul was imprisoned； beaten with rods； stoned； and finally
put to death because he was a faithful messenger for God to the Gentiles。
And John was banished to the Isle of Patmos 〃for the word of God； and for
the testimony of Jesus Christ。〃
These examples of human steadfastness bear witness to the faithfulness of
God's promisesof His abiding presence and sustaining grace。 They testify
to the power of faith to withstand the powers of the world。 It is the work
of faith to rest in God in the darkest hour； to feel； however sorely tried
and tempest…tossed； that our Father is at the helm。 The eye of faith alone
can look beyond the things
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of time to estimate aright the worth of the eternal riches。
Jesus does not present to His followers the hope of attaining earthly glory
and riches； of living a life free from trial。 Instead He calls upon them to
follow Him in the path of self…denial and reproach。 He who came to redeem
the world was opposed by the united forces of evil。 In an unpitying
confederacy； evil men and evil angels arrayed themselves against the Prince
of Peace。 His every word and act revealed divine compassion； and His
unlikeness to the world provoked the bitterest hostility。
So it will be with all who will live godly in Christ Jesus。 Persecution and
reproach await all who are imbued with the Spirit of Christ。 The character
of the persecution changes with the times； but the principlethe spirit
that underlies itis the same that has slain the chosen of the Lord ever
since the days of Abel。
In all ages Satan has persecuted the people of God。 He has tortured them and
put them to death； but in dying they became conquerors。 They bore witness to
the power of One mightier than Satan。 Wicked men may torture and kill the
body； but they cannot touch the life that is hid with Christ in God。 They
can incarcerate men and women in prison walls； but they cannot bind the
spirit。
Through trial and persecution the glorythe character of God is revealed
in His chosen ones。 The believers in Christ； hated and persecuted by the
world； are educated and disciplined in the school of Christ。 On earth they
walk in narrow paths； they are purified in the furnace of affliction。
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They follow Christ through sore conflicts； they endure self… denial and
experience bitter disappointments； but thus they learn the guilt and woe of
sin； and they look upon it with abhorrence。 Being partakers of Christ's
sufferings； they can look beyond the gloom to the glory； saying； 〃I reckon
that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with
the glory which shall be revealed in us。〃 Romans 8：18。
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Chapter 57
The Revelation
In the days of the apostles the Christian believers were filled with
earnestness and enthusiasm。 So untiringly did they labor for their Master
that in a comparatively short time； notwithstanding fierce opposition； the
gospel of the kingdom was sounded to all the inhabited parts of the earth。
The zeal manifested at this time by the followers of Jesus has been recorded
by the pen of inspiration for the encouragement of believers in every age。
Of the church at Ephesus； which the Lord Jesus used as a symbol of the
entire Christian church in the apostolic age； the faithful and true Witness
declared：
〃I know thy works； and thy labor； and thy patience； and how thou canst not
bear them which are evil： and thou hast tried them which say they are
apostles； and are not； and hast found them liars： and hast borne； and hast
patience； and for My name's sake hast labored； and hast not fainted。〃
Revelation 2：2； 3。
At the first the experience of the church at Ephesus was marked with
childlike simplicity and fervor。 The
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believers sought earnestly to obey every word of God； and their lives
revealed an earnest； sincere love for Christ。 They rejoiced to do the will
of God because the Saviour was in their hearts as an abiding presence。
Filled with love for their Redeemer； their highest aim was to win souls to
Him。 They did not think of hoarding the precious treasure of the grace of
Christ。 They felt the importance of their calling； and； weighted with the
message； 〃On earth peace； good will toward men；〃 they burned with desire to
carry the glad tidings of salvation to earth's remotest bounds。 And the
world took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus。 Sinful men；
repentant； pardoned； cleansed； and sanctified； were brought into partnership
with God through His Son。
The members of the church were united in sentiment and action。 Love for
Christ was the golden chain that bound them together。 They followed on to
know the Lord more and still more perfectly； and in their lives were
revealed the joy and peace of Christ。 They visited the fatherless and widows
in their affliction； and kept themselves unspotted from the world； realizing
that a failure to do this would be a contradiction of their profession and a
denial of their Redeemer。
In every city the work was carried forward。 Souls were converted； who in
their turn felt that they must tell of the inestimable treasure they had
received。 They could not rest till the light which had illumined their minds
was shining upon others。 Multitudes of unbelievers were made
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acquainted with the reasons of the Christian's hope。 Warm； inspired personal
appeals were made to the erring； to the outcast； and to those who； while
professing to know the truth； were lovers of pleasure more than lovers of
God。
But after a time the zeal of the believers began to wane； and their love for
God and for one another grew less。 Coldness crept into the church。 Some
forgot the wonderful manner in which they had received the truth。 One by one
the old standard…bearers fell at their post。 Some of the younger workers；
who might have shared the burdens of these pioneers； and thus have been
prepared for wise leadership； had become weary of oft…repeated truths。 In
their desire for something novel and startling they attempted to introduce
new phases of doctrine； more pleasing to many minds； but not in harmony with
the fundamental principles of the gospel。 In their self…confidence and
spiritual blindness they failed to discern that these sophistries would
cause many to question the experiences of the past； and would thus lead to
confusion and unbelief。
As these false doctrines were urged； differences sprang up； and the eyes of
many were turned from beholding Jesus as the Author and Finisher of their
faith。 The discussion of unimportant points of doctrine； and the
contemplation of pleasing fables of man's invention； occupied time that
should have been spent in proclaiming the gospel。 The masses that might have
been convicted and converted by a faithful presentation of the truth were
left unwarned。 Piety was rapidly waning； and Satan seemed about to gain the
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ascendancy over those who claimed to be followers of Christ。
It was at this critical time in the history of the church that John was
sentenced to banishment。 Never had his voice been needed by the church as
now。 Nearly all his former associates in the ministry had suffered
martyrdom。 The remnant of believers was facing fierce opposition。 To all
outward appearance the day was not far distant when the enemies of the
church of Christ would triumph。
But the Lord's hand was moving unseen in the darkness。 In the providence of
God； John was placed where Christ could give him a wonderful revelation of
Himself and of divine truth for the enlightenment of the churches。
In exiling John； the enemies of truth had hoped to silence forever the voice
of God's faithful witness； but on Patmos the disciple received a message；
the influence of which was to continue to strengthen the church till the end
of time。 Though not released from the responsibility of their wrong act；
those who banished John became instruments in the hands of God to carry out
Heaven's purpose； and the very effort to extinguish the light placed the
truth in bold relief。
It was on the Sabbath that