Through trials and persecution, the glory--character--of God is revealed in His chosen ones. The church of God, hated and persecuted by the world, are educated and disciplined in the school of Christ. They walk in 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 with abhorrence. Being partakers of Christ's sufferings, they are destined to be partakers of His glory. In holy vision the prophet 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 sing 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." "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 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." Revelation 15:2, 3; 7:14, 15.

Gennem prøvelser og forfølgelse lægges Guds herlighed hans karakter for dagen hos hans udvalgte. Forfulgt og hadet af verden oplæres og opdrages Guds menighed i Kristi skole. De vandrer på trange stier i verden og lutres i trængslens ildovn. De følger Kristus gennem svære kampe, tåler selvfornægtelse og oplever bitre skuffelser; men deres smertelige erfaringer viser dem syndens brøde og ulykke, og de ser på den med afsky. Fordi de har del i Kristi lidelser, er de udset til at få del i hans herlighed. I et himmelsk syn så profeten Guds folks sejr. Han siger: »Og jeg så noget ligesom et glarhav, isprængt med ild. Og jeg så dem, som var gået sejrende ud af kampen ..... stå ved glarhavet med Guds harper i deres hænder. Og de sang Moses Guds tjeners, sang og Lammets sang: »Store og underfulde er dine gerninger, Herre vor Gud, du Almægtige! retfærdige og sande er dine veje, du folkenes konge!« »Det er dem, som kommer fra den store trængsel, og de har tvættet deres klæder og gjort dem hvide i Lammets blod. Derfor står de nu foran Guds trone og tjener ham dag og nat i hans tempel; og han som sidder på tronen, skal opslå sit telt over dem.« (Åb. 15,2-3; 7,14-15).