Jesus told us that “in the world you will have tribulation”. (John 16:33) He also told us that as this age draws to a close, the tribulations would grow worse. (Matthew 24) Do not say, “It can never happen here.” The Church in Western nations are not exempt.
In the opening lines of the Book of Revelation, the apostle John identified himself as “your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus” – linking perseverance with both tribulation and the kingdom. As the apostle Paul said, it is in this way that “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)
Tribulation serves as a preparation which God ordained for His Church. It is a way through which God will form a people – the Church (the Ekklesia) – who will embrace the kingdom of heaven as the Man Jesus of Nazareth did, when He walked this earth. Like Jesus, we can have courage in overcoming and peace in tribulation. We can learn to have the kingdom’s “righteousness, peace and joy” in the midst of the tribulation.
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