MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
God’s Saving Enmity
Part 23
CHRIST’S SCHOOL OF GREAT TRIBULATION ON EARTH
“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but WE GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS also; knowing that tribulation worketh PATIENCE; and patience, EXPERIENCE; and experience, HOPE.” Rom. 5:2-4. “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that WE MUST THROUGH MUCH TRIBULATION ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” Acts 14: 22, KJV.
“Through trials and persecution, the glory—CHARACTER—of God is revealed in His [real] chosen ones. The church of God, hated and persecuted by the world, are educated and disciplined in the school of Christ. They walk on narrow paths on earth; they are purified in the furnace of affliction.
“They follow Christ through sore conflicts; they endure self-denial, and experience bitter disappointments; but their painful experience teaches them the GUILT AND WOE OF SIN, AND THEY LOOK UPON IT [sin, the transgression of God’s law] WITH ABHORRENCE [and hatred].
“Being PARTAKERS of Christ’s sufferings, they are DESTINED to be partakers of His glory. In holy vision the prophet [John the beloved] saw the TRIUMPH of the people of God. He says:
‘I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them that had gotten the VICTORY. . . . stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sang the song of Moses the servant of God, and the SONG OF THE LAMB, saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou KING OF SAINTS.’ [Rev. 15:2, 3, KJV].
‘These are they which came out of GREAT TRIBULATION, and have washed their robes [of character] and made the white in the BLOOD OF THE LAMB [‘without spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish.’ Eph. 5: 27. Therefore are they before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple, and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” Rev. 7: 14, 15.” E. G. White, Mount of Blessing, pp. 50-1, Pacific Press Publishing Asso., 1943. (All emphasis and bracketed words added].
To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.