Page 62 - The Mark of the Beast

The End of Suffering

ith so much attention upon the working of the disciple’s cross in the Scriptures it
Wwould seem that God is opposed to pleasure, and intent upon making all of His
children suffer while in the flesh. It is true that God does not want His children to give
themselves over to a pursuit of pleasure, as is revealed in Paul’s words to Timothy.

I Timothy 5:6
Whereas she who lives in pleasure and self-gratification [giving herself up to luxury
and self-indulgence] is dead even while she [still] lives.
(Amplified Bible)

However, pleasures in themselves are not evil. In one of David’s Messianic Psalms we
read:

Psalms 16:11
In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures
forevermore.

There is a place for pleasure and a place for suffering. There is a time and a season for
all things as the author of Ecclesiastes states in a beautiful poetic form.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event
under heaven -- A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to
uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a
time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to
dance. A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a
time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to
keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A
time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; A time for
war and a time for peace.

God has not chosen one thing over another. He has not chosen suffering over pleasure.
Rather, He has an appointed time and place for all things. I am convinced that in God’s plan
of the ages that there will ultimately be much more pleasure than sorrow and suffering, but
in this particular age in which we live suffering is appointed unto men. Suffering must come
before pleasure as the words of the book of Revelation declare.

Revelation 21:3-4
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is
among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God
Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their
eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any
mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."