REVELATION 14:12......(The previouse verse should have been labeled #11)
#12 is actually.........
"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
Now, I am going to say something very controversial here at this point. Realize that I may be wrong. What YOU need to do is read the literal words of the Scripture, do the homework and come to YOUR conclusion.
the literal words in question are....."here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
Now, Perhaps those who are called saints from the Old Test. in this verse are in view.. However the CONTEXT does not allow that to be the case.
Mabe it is just the Jews. Again we know that by this time a great number of GENTILES have been saved.
What ever the case is we see clearly that It is said they keep God's commandments. What does that mean?????
1. This may be a reference to the Ten Commandments that God gave specifically to Israel.
2. To be saved one must keep all the commandments.
3. Those saved accepted Jesus as the Christ and they KEPT THE COMMANDMENTS of God and refuse the MARK..
When He gave Israel the Ten Commandments, He said, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you [the Israelites] out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery" (Exodus 20:2).
Now, it seems to me, and this is very difficult for me to say as I am a GRACE person but it seems to me that in this 3 and 1/2 year GREAT Tribulation, the gospel has changed. Because of that I lean to #3 above.
1. One must by faith accept Christ and
2. then keep the commandments of God.
3. Refuse the Mark of the Beast.
I would encourage those following along to remember that In each era or dispensation, or time frame, God has engaged people in a different ways, but He has always commanded them to believe in Him.
Recall that God walked with Adam in the garden, and God spoke directly to Abraham. God spoke to many people in many different ways but most recently has spoken through His Son.
In the time frame God saved people with a BOAT!
Abraham believed in the Person he knew as Yahweh and who later came to earth as a man named Jesus.
God then worked with and commanded that His people follow the Law of Moses.
Then God again changed His plan so that faith in Jesus the Christ was the only way to God
In the latter days of the tribulation, people will still be commanded to believe in Jesus, and those called saints (or holy ones) will obey by having faith or belief in Jesus PLUS....... here are they that keep the commandments of God and REFUSE the Mark!.
John notes that here is the patience or perseverance of the saints, referencing the saints’ steadfastness in refraining from worshiping the Antichrist and taking his Mark.