Quoting Revelation 14:9–10 without explaining how it supposedly refutes my argument doesn't constitute a refutation. In fact, if you actually read the passage
in context, it supports the very point I made.
Ahem... Please allow me to rant.
Note the biblical phrase the "Patience of the Saints" includes a great many things, all of which stem from the Spiritual root of the "true" Christian's endurance and faithfulness to the word in waiting upon the Lord in times when it is difficult. It does
"NOT" teach or illustrate the Christian's penchant for being patient or longsuffering with false teachers, or of pampering those who twist scripture for their own purposes, or of catering to, coddling or humoring the deceitful. That would be a serious mischaracterization of this word patience
in its context. Unfortunately, many people, like you, do not understand the true meaning of this phrase, nor its great illustration "first" of holding fast to the truth when those all around you are falling away. ...especially in our day.
Revelation 14:9-12
- "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
- The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
- And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
- Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
Here we see that
patience is equated with remaining obedient to God’s Word during this time of trial and great tribulation, rather than accepting and following the false doctrine of the false prophet and the beast— by
agreeing with it in the forehead (belief) and carrying out their will with the right hand (obedience). Here or herein is the patience (
longsuffering) of the saints. In other words, when the beast is persecuting those within the house of God to receive his seal, those few who can persevere or patiently endure without falling away (
2nd Thessalonians 2:3) or succumbing to that plagueof unfaithfulness, are the patient, the saints in view! Those who remain in obedience, so that (
unlike the church around them) they are not deceived by clever speech and smooth words hat they end up worshiping the beast, are a living testimony of this patience of the saints. They are the truly Spirit filled who guard God's word from loss in this time of loss.
But to listen to many church leaders today you would think this passage means we must "patiently" sit in our church under their false teaching and shower them with loving platitudes like "they'll understand it better by and by." Of course not!
Do Not Believe That! The faithful saints
will suffer through trials and tribulations, and that's where we get the word, "longsuffering." Because "by remaining faithful" in the face of great disdain, reviling, degradation of doctrine and apostasy, this is how the faith and patience of the elect of God is proved. Not patience defined as tolerating false teachings, abominable doctrines and false prophets, but patience in holding fast to sound doctrine and with longsuffering reproving with Scripture those who come into God's house with these false doctrines.
2nd Timothy 4:2-4
- "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
- For the time will come Here we see that patience is equated with remaining obedient to God’s Word during this time of trial and great tribulation, rather than accepting and following the false doctrine of the false prophet and the beast—agreeing with it in the forehead (belief) and carrying out their will with the right hand (obedience).
- And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."
Here is the patience of the saints!! In their longsuffering in persecution without being turned to unrighteousness.
Selah!
And when the time comes that these faithful saints are killed (
symbolically), God commands them to flee to the mountains as He pours out His judgment upon the unfaithful church all over the world that has become as a spiritual harlot. For all intents and purposes, this time of trouble is a
trial of faith that demonstrates what the patience of the saints truly is. Satan's ministers come among us appearing as the ministers of righteousness (
2nd Corinthians 11:13-15), and they deceive the simple/foolish within in the church with crafty words. Those naive of the truth are deceived but the elect with the Spirit of truth will be patiently / faithfully waiting upon the Lord. Even in the face of all the apologists and antagonists who think they do God a service by allowing offense of the word. It is our perseverance through the Spirit of Christ in waiting upon the Lord and not succumbing to these pressures of the world that will get us through this time of great tribulation.
And this brings us back to the point:
Revelation 14:9–12 has NOTHING to do with a physical object having magical power to damn someone's soul. The context is clearly about
worship, allegiance, belief, and obedience to the beast.
The
forehead represents what we believe and embrace; the
hand represents what we do and whose will we carry out. The mark is therefore
spiritual, not a magical tattoo, chip, implant, or other physical object.
The real warning is not,
“Be careful what you put on your body.” It is:
Do not believe the beast's lies, do not worship him, and do not obey his false doctrine unless you agree to sell and buy his doctrines.
The saints overcome by
keeping God's commandments and the faith of Jesus. That is the context of the “patience of the saints.”
The battle is for the mind, heart, worship, and obedience—not for the skin. Selah!
