Oh ye of little faith!

Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?

Luke 18:8 KJV

In the parable of the persistent widow of Luke 18:1-8 KJV, Jesus taught His disciples the importance of persistent prayer and enduring faith. This message was not only spoken to the disciples in His day, but it was spoken unto all generations and with more emphasis unto those followers of Him that shall be upon the earth when He comes.

Scripture teaches us that a woman in prophecy represents the Church, Jeremiah 6:2; Isaiah 51:16 KJV; Revelation 12:1 KJV, Ephesians 5:25-27,32, KJV, Isaiah 54:5-6 KJV, and therefore, symbolically, this widow represents the Church, living in the time of trouble and tribulation, who is constantly harassed and afflicted by the great adversary, Satan. Using his agents in these last days, he will be ‘wroth with the woman’ and will go out to ‘make war with the remnant of her seed, those who keep the Commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ.’, Revelation 12:17 KJV.

She is a widow, for in the time of trial and tribulation that is soon to befall God’s people, it will appear as if God has forsaken His people; it will appear as if He has left the marriage covenant and divorced His Bride. Satan will seek with all wrath to wipe those faithful Bible believing Christians off of the face of the earth, for they refuse to depart from the truth found in God’s Word and refuse to worship the beast and its image or receive his mark in their forehead or in their hand, Revelation 14:9 KJV; Revelation 13:15-17 KJV.

Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed:
neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame, for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth,
and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name…For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit…

For a small moment have I forsaken thee;
but with great mercies will I gather thee.
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment;
but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee,
saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

Isaiah 54:4-8 KJV

Christ desires nothing so much as to redeem His heritage from the dominion of Satan. But before we are delivered from Satan’s power without, we must be delivered from his power within. The Lord permits trials in order that we may be cleansed from earthliness, from selfishness, from harsh, unchristlike traits of character. He suffers the deep waters of affliction to go over our souls in order that we may know Him and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, in order that we may have deep heart longings to be cleansed from defilement, and may come forth from the trial purer, holier, happier. Often we enter the furnace of trial with our souls darkened with selfishness; but if patient under the crucial test, we shall come forth reflecting the divine character. When His purpose in the affliction is accomplished, “He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” Psalm 37:6.

Christ’s Object Lessons page 174

Many fear the time of trouble spoken of by the Prophets and by the Apostles which is to befall the world before the Coming of Christ, as a result this has lead to many false teachings in the Church today to calm those fears. But perfect love cast out all fear.

Let us take encouragement from the persistent widow, who, in the time of her affliction and in the time of grave trial, held fast and endured, persistently coming before the judge, exhibiting that unshakeable faith, until she was avenged. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith, holding on to Christ, coming before Him day in & day out, seeking deliverance from our adversary.

Yes a time of trouble such as never was is soon to come upon all who dwell upon the face of the earth, Daniel 12:1 KJV; Luke 21:31-32,35 KJV; Mark 13:19 KJV, but we have the countless promises in Scripture not to fear, for Christ will never leave us nor forsake us.

It is in a crisis that the true character is revealed. It is in the time of trouble that all of the ‘fair weather’ Christians shall be shaken out and the true believers shall remain.

When we walk through the fire, we shall not be burned, the flames shall not kindle upon us, Isaiah 43:2 KJV, for Christ shall be with us as our Great Protector, He will not cast off His people, neither will He forsake His inheritance, Psalm 94:14 KJV.

Therefore, let us have a faith that endures, let us pray without ceasing, let us fight the good fight and stay the course, for we have a crown to gain, whom the Lord Jesus Christ shall give to all those who endure unto the very end, James 1:12 KJV; 2 Timothy 4:7-8 KJV.

Here is the patience of the saints, here are those who keep the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, Revelation 14:12 KJV

Loud Cry Compendium