Rejection and tribulation break the bondages of involvement with the world—and even with the Lord's people—until we learn to walk with God alone.

Joseph had to be separated from his own people for a season that he might serve as God's witness, king, deliverer, and eternal servant.

Moral enticement tests our determination to worship the Lord. Many believers in Christ are worshiping demons and do not realize it. Sin is of the devil. When we yield to enticement we are yielding to the will of Satan. God's deliverers and sons must make a final decision, determining that they will worship and serve only the God of Heaven, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Imprisonment gives us the humble, meek, obedient attitude of the servant. God loves a meek and quiet spirit. Many would-be deliverers are going through the world attempting to be great in the Kingdom of God. How the high hills do leap! But God is in none of it. A meek and quiet spirit that is obedient to God is worth more than gold in God's sight. Let us make ourselves of no reputation, patiently performing those undesirable chores in unchanging faithfulness and diligence. Our day of rejoicing and elevation will come.

The witnesses are being prepared today and the means of preparation are strenuous indeed. They stretch us to the breaking point. It is true also that the reward is great. It is a great honor and privilege to bear the fullness of the latter-rain witness. The Lord's witnesses of the last days will be issued power never before assigned to man.

To bear witness in the scriptural sense is to portray the Nature, attitude, and will of God. Bearing witness is distinct from ministry. Gifts and ministries are given by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of building the Body of Christ. The Divine witness, which always is formed by the Holy Spirit, is for the purpose of portraying God's Person, way, will, and eternal purpose, not only to the Church but also to the nations of the earth.

There is an abundance of ministry in our day (in some countries) but scarcely any witness. The ministry is filled with sin and self-seeking. Therefore there is little true and faithful witness of God. The world of today needs true prophets—holy and separated people who can bear witness of God's Person, ways, will, and eternal purpose in Christ.

Elijah and Elisha are scriptural examples of true prophets, true witnesses. The double-portion witness of Revelation, Chapter 11 indeed will reveal to the Church and to the world the true Person, ways, and will of God.

Because of the self-love of the last days, the Divine witness must be destructive. Only destruction will be able to portray accurately the mounting wrath of Almighty God. Only exceedingly severe afflictions will suffice to produce the necessary repentance. Even with these plagues, multitudes of earth's peoples will rage at God as did Pharaoh. They will not repent although "Egypt" lies in ruins about them.

And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, . . . . (Revelation 11:18)

To be continued.