THE PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS

HERE IS THE PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS: HERE ARE THEY THAT KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, AND THE FAITH OF JESUS (Revelation 14:12); See Rev. 12:17.

The Lord has ordained a special people to be a spiritual Israel for our time. In Deuteronomy 7:6, Moses records, speaking to the Israelites, "for thou art a holy [set apart] people unto the Lord thy God; the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people [treasure] unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth." [read to verse 11]

Why were the children of Israel special?

They would be the nation through whom Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Redeemer of mankind would come. Genesis 12:2,3 tells us, God speaking to Abraham, "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing; and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."

There are two characteristics that distinguish God's special people. Revelation 12:17 tell us "And the dragon was wroth [enraged] with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant [rest of her offspring] of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." [see Rev. 19:10]

In your searching for spiritual Israel, seek for a people who teachings have the same components that the physical Israelites have. These are all summarized in Revelation Chapter 1:

SALVATION (The Messiah, Jesus Christ, as the only way to the Father)
SCRIPTURES (God's inspired word to us and mirror of His character)
SPIRIT OF PROPHECY (God's guiding servants of reproof and instruction)
SECOND COMING (The eminent return of our Lord)
SABBATH (The day God sanctified as a memorial of His work during creation week)
SANCTUARY (The Jewish temple services that pointed to the Messiah)
STATE OF THE DEAD (What happens when a person dies)
SAINTS (The living servants of the Lord and their ministry on His behalf)

Since the Word of God is from the source of truth, it must be studied "precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:" (Isaiah 28:10). There is no contradiction in the Lord. Any seeming contradiction is in our misunderstanding. God's word make absolute sense. No prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation (see 2 Peter 1:19-21).