In the book of Job we read about all the trials the enemy was allowed to put upon the man of God. There is a colloquial term in the German language known as “Job’s news,” which quite fittingly stands for “really bad news” one might receive. The enemy destroyed everything, until the man of God sat on just ashes. His family and everything around him was wiped out. His own wife said, “Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.” We cannot comprehend that such a God-fearing man had to go through so terrible trials. But then we think about our Redeemer, Who after His baptism, during which heaven opened and the Spirit of God came upon Him, was left to bear all the temptations that Satan presented to Him (Mt. 4:1-11; Lk. 4:1-13). He bore all the reproach and shame imaginable on this earth.

Had it been only about Job and not about the last part of the plan of Salvation with the Church as well, then these 42 chapters in the Bible would have been written in vain. We believe that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for true doctrine (2. Tim. 3:16-17). The story of Job tells us unlike any other in the Old Testament about the last phase of the Church, when the former and the latter rain shall fall at the same time (Joel 2:23; Zech. 10:1). This will happen shortly, just before the Return of Christ. The statement in Jas. 5:7-11 is addressed directly to us in this time: “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.” That is the matter at hand: to remain steadfast, to not look at what is visible, not at circumstances, but instead, as Abraham, hold on to the unwavering conviction that God will fulfil all that He promised (Rom. 4:18-22). We cannot look at ourselves or look upon others, cannot listen to slander (2. Cor. 6:8) or follow false prophets, but rather have to stay grounded in the Word of Truth and endure steadfastly until the Return of our Lord. The second half of Jas. 5:7 tells us, “Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.” In verse 11 we have the statement, “Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord …”

Job endured patiently during the time of his trials and, in spite of all the accusations, he confessed, “For I know that my redeemer liveth!” and “… shall I see God!” (Job 19:25-26). He already saw the Mediator, spoke about the atonement, and also said that we shall be returned to the days of our youth and that God will render unto man his righteousness (Job 33:23-28).

The example of Job is of great significance in the plan of Salvation. It shows us what God purposed right from the beginning in regard to His Own and what He will now bring to fulfilment. Even if the Lord allows certain things to happen, if Satan attacks the body and destroys everything around us, if the accuser and slanderer rises up against us, the soul of a child of God cannot be touched. Our coronation will be as it was with Job, right at the end. God answered and restored all things twofold.

In the book of Job we read about all the trials the enemy was allowed to put upon the man of God. There is a colloquial term in the German language known as “Job’s news,” which quite fittingly stands for “really bad news” one might receive. The enemy destroyed everything, until the man of God sat on just ashes. His family and everything around him was wiped out. His own wife said, “Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.” We cannot comprehend that such a God-fearing man had to go through so terrible trials. But then we think about our Redeemer, Who after His baptism, during which heaven opened and the Spirit of God came upon Him, was left to bear all the temptations that Satan presented to Him (Mt. 4:1-11; Lk. 4:1-13). He bore all the reproach and shame imaginable on this earth.

Had it been only about Job and not about the last part of the plan of Salvation with the Church as well, then these 42 chapters in the Bible would have been written in vain. We believe that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for true doctrine (2. Tim. 3:16-17). The story of Job tells us unlike any other in the Old Testament about the last phase of the Church, when the former and the latter rain shall fall at the same time (Joel 2:23; Zech. 10:1). This will happen shortly, just before the Return of Christ. The statement in Jas. 5:7-11 is addressed directly to us in this time: “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.” That is the matter at hand: to remain steadfast, to not look at what is visible, not at circumstances, but instead, as Abraham, hold on to the unwavering conviction that God will fulfil all that He promised (Rom. 4:18-22). We cannot look at ourselves or look upon others, cannot listen to slander (2. Cor. 6:8) or follow false prophets, but rather have to stay grounded in the Word of Truth and endure steadfastly until the Return of our Lord. The second half of Jas. 5:7 tells us, “Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.” In verse 11 we have the statement, “Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord …”

Job endured patiently during the time of his trials and, in spite of all the accusations, he confessed, “For I know that my redeemer liveth!” and “… shall I see God!” (Job 19:25-26). He already saw the Mediator, spoke about the atonement, and also said that we shall be returned to the days of our youth and that God will render unto man his righteousness (Job 33:23-28).

The example of Job is of great significance in the plan of Salvation. It shows us what God purposed right from the beginning in regard to His Own and what He will now bring to fulfilment. Even if the Lord allows certain things to happen, if Satan attacks the body and destroys everything around us, if the accuser and slanderer rises up against us, the soul of a child of God cannot be touched. Our coronation will be as it was with Job, right at the end. God answered and restored all things twofold.