The trying experiences that came to God's people in the days of Esther were not peculiar to that age alone. The revelator, looking down the ages to the close of time, has declared, "The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Revelation 12:17. Some who today are living on the earth will see these words fulfilled. The same spirit that in ages past led men to persecute the true church, will in the future lead to the pursuance of a similar course toward those who maintain their loyalty to God. Even now preparations are being made for this last great conflict.

Guds folk gennemgik store prøvelser på Esters tid, men forfølgelsens tid er ikke forbi endnu. Åbenbaringens forfatter, som fik lov at se ind i fremtiden, har sagt: "Dragen vrededes på kvinden og gik bort for at føre krig mod de andre af hendes slægt, dem, der holder Guds bud og bevarer Jesu vidnesbyrd." Åb. 12,17. Disse ord vil gå i opfyldelse, mens nogle af de mennesker, der lever på jorden i dag, endnu er i live. Det samme had, som fik mennesker til at forfølge den sande menighed i fortiden, vil atter blive optændt imod dem, der tjener Gud. Der er allerede ved at blive truffet forberedelser til den sidste store kamp.