Chronology of Revelation

📜 Foundational Background

   · ⚔️War in Heaven— Revelation 12:7

   · 👶Birth of Christ — Revelation 12:1–2

   · 🩸Satan tries to destroy Christ — Revelation 12:3–4

   · 💪Christ’s victory and ascension — Revelation 12:5

   · ⬇️Satan cast out— Revelation 12:8-9

🏛️ Church Eras and Seals— (Revelation 2–6; 12)

   🕊️Apostolic Church (31–100)

      · ⛪1st Church: Ephesus (pure but beginning to lose first love) — Revelation 2:1–7

      · 📜1st Seal: White Horse — Gospel goes forth conquering — Revelation 6:1–2

      · 🌎Heaven rejoices, woe to Earth — Revelation 12:9–12

   🩸Persecuted Church (100–313)

       · ⛪2nd Church: Smyrna — Faithful under Roman persecution — Revelation 2:8–11

      · 📜2nd Seal: Red Horse — Bloodshed and martyrdom — Revelation 6:3–4

      · 👰‍♀️Woman persecuted — Revelation 12:13, Revelation 12:6

   🏴Compromising Church (313–538)

      · ⛪3rd Church: Pergamum — Church unites with the state — Revelation 2:12–17

      · 📜3rd Seal: Black Horse — Spiritual famine — Revelation 6:5–6

      · Trumpets begin (judgments on Rome) — Revelation 8:6–13

        o 🎺1st Trumpet: Barbarian Invasions (395–410) — Revelation 8:7

        o 🎺 2nd Trumpet: Naval Destruction (428–468) — Revelation 8:8–9

        o 🎺3rd Trumpet: Fall of Leadership/Rome (451–453) — Revelation 8:10–11

        o 🎺4th Trumpet: Western Roman Empire collapses (476) — Revelation 8:12

   🪦Dark Ages and the Rise of Apostasy (538–1517)

       · ⛪4th Church: Thyatira — Church fully corrupted, long era — Revelation 2:18–29

       · 📜4th Seal: Pale Horse — Death and the grave follow — Revelation 6:7–8

       · 👰‍♀️Woman flees to wilderness for 1260 years — Revelation 12:14-15

      · 👹Rise of the Sea Beast (Papal Rome) — Revelation 13:1–10

      · 🎺5th Trumpet (1st Woe): Rise of Islam (622–750) — Revelation 9:1–11

       · 🎺6th Trumpet (2nd Woe): Ottoman Turks (1449–1840) — Revelation 9:13–21; 11:14

   🙏Protestant Reformation (1517–1755)

        · ⛪5th Church: Sardis — Reformation begins but fades — Revelation 3:1–6

        · 📜5th Seal: Souls under the altar cry out — Revelation 6:9–11

        · 📖Two Witnesses slain — Bible banned in France — Revelation 11:3–10

   🚪Great Awakening (1798–1844)

       · ⛪6th Church: Philadelphia — Missionary revival and open door — Revelation 3:7–13

      · 🦬Earth Beast (USA) rises — Revelation 13:11–17

      · 👰‍♀️Earth helps the woman (Religious freedom in America) — Revelation 12:16–17

      · Precursor signs of 6th Seal — Revelation 6:12–13

        o 1755 Lisbon earthquake

        o 1780 Dark Day

        o 1833 Falling stars

 ⏳ End-Time Era (1844–Close of Probation)

    · ⛪7th Church: Laodicea — Lukewarm end-time church — Revelation 3:14–22

    · ⌛Investigative Judgment begins — Revelation 14:7; Daniel 8:14

    · 👼Three Angels’ Messages begin sounding — Revelation 14:6–12

        Worship God and keep the Sabbath — Revelation 14:7

        Babylon is fallen (spiritual apostasy) — Revelation 14:8

        Warning against Mark of the Beast — Revelation 14:9–11

   · Final call to come out of Babylon — Revelation 18:1–5

   · Mark of the Beast enforced — Revelation 13:15–17

   · 144,000 sealed, great multitude praises God — Revelation 7:1–17

   · Close of probation — Revelation 22:11

🌍 Final Crisis and Deliverance

   · ☠️Seven Last Plagues — Revelation 16:1–21

   · ⌛ Babylon fully falls and is judged — Revelation 17–18

   · 📜6th Seal closes: Heaven departs, mountains moved — Revelation 6:14–17

· 🎺7th Trumpet : God's kingdom proclaimed - Revelation 11:15-19

   · 📜7th Seal: Silence in heaven — Revelation 8:1

👑 Second Coming and the Millennium

   · Christ returns on white horse — Revelation 19:11–16

   · Beast and false prophet destroyed — Revelation 19:19–21

   · Satan bound 1,000 years — Revelation 20:1–3

   · First resurrection — Righteous reign with Christ — Revelation 20:4–6

   · Satan released, final deception — Revelation 20:7–9

   · Fire from heaven destroys the wicked — Revelation 20:9–10

🌈 Eternity: Controversy Ended

   · Great White Throne Judgment — Final sentencing — Revelation 20:11–15   

   · Wicked judged and destroyed — Revelation 20:14–15

   · New heaven and new earth — Revelation 21:1

   · New Jerusalem descends — Revelation 21:2–27

   · Tree of Life and river of water of life — Revelation 22:1–2

   · Eternal life and peace restored forever — Revelation 22:3–5

Deconstructing the Adventist Worship Wars

EP 1 - Racism, Culture and the Worship Wars (P1)

EP 2 - Racism, Culture and the Worship Wars (P2)

EP 3 - Rhythm, 4/4 Signatures and God's Time

EP 4 - Philosophy, Science and the Worship Wars

EP 5 - The Bible, Paganism and the Worship Wars (P1)

EP 6 - The Bible, Paganism and the Worship Wars (P2)

EP 7 - Music and “Negative” Emotions (P1)

EP 8 - Music and “Negative” Emotions (P2)

EP 9 - Protest, Counterculture, Social Justice and Biblical Worship

Top 5 Resources for Deconstructing the Adventist Worship Wars (Bonus Ep. 1)

EP 10 - Harmony, Melody, Beats and the Worship Wars

EP 11 - Nostalgia, Tradition and the Endless Struggle Between "Old Vs New"

Does Rock Music Really Kill Plants? (Bonus Ep.2)

Ep 12 - Ellen White, Adventist History & The Worship Wars (P1)

Ep 13 - Ellen White, Adventist History & The Worship Wars (P2)

Deconstructing the Adventist Worship Wars, Feat. Maxwell Aka (Q&A)

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(Resources pdf)

Chronology of Christ's Life and Ministry

Bethlehem

- Jesus' birth

 Nazareth

- Jesus was raised here

Bethabara

- Jesus' baptism

Wilderness

- Jesus' temptation

Cana

- Jesus turns water into wine at a wedding

Jerusalem

- Cleansing of the temple

- Discussion with Nicodemus

Sychar (Nablus)

- Woman at the well

Cana

- The Nobleman's Son healed

Jerusalem

- Lame man healed at the Bethesda Pool 

- Rejection by religious leaders

Nazareth

- Rejected in Nazareth

Capernaum 

- Fish Catching Miracle

- Demoniac healed in the Synagogue

- Peter's Mother-in-law healed

- First healing of a leper

- Healing of paralytic brought through a roof

- Call of Levi Matthew

- Plucking of grain on the Sabbath

- Healing of a man's withered hand

- Appointing of the 12

Mount of Olives

- Sermon on the mount

Capernaum

- Healing of The Centurion's Servant

Nain

- The Widow's Son at Nain is Healed

Galilee region

- Blind mute demoniac healed

Sea of Galilee

- Sermon by the sea (with parables)

- Calming of the sea

Decapolis

- Demoniacs of Gadara healed

Capernaum

- Woman healed by a touch of faith

- Jairus' daughter raised from the dead

- Two blind and mute demoniac healed

- Inquiry of John's disciples

Bethsaida

- Feeding of the 5000

 Galilee region

- Walking away on the lake

- Sermon on the bread of life

- Contention about hand washing tradition

Region of Tyre and Sidon

- Phoenician Woman's Daughter healed

Decapolis

- Deaf mute healed

- Feeding of 4000

Bethsaida

- Blind Man Near Bethsaida healed

Caesarea Philippi

- Peter's confesses Jesus is the Christ

Mount Tabor (east of Nazareth)

- Transfiguration

Galilee region

- Demon possessed boy healed

- Temple tax miracle

- Instruction on humility

Jerusalem

- Teaching at the temple

 - Woman caught in adultery forgiven

- The light and the truth

- The Man Born Blind is Healed

- Jesus, the good shepherd

- Appointing of the 70

- The Good Samaritan 

Bethany

- At Mary and Martha's home

Judea region

- Instruction on prayer

- Blind and Mute Demoniac Healed

- The lamp of the body is the eye

- Woes to the pharisees

- Folly of riches

- Watchful for the Master's return

- The barren fig tree

- the crippled woman healed

- The narrow gate

- Jesus weeps over Jerusalem

- Being a humble guest and inviting the needy

- The cost of discipleship

- The lost sheep, lost coin, and the prodigal son

- the dishonest steward

- The rich man and Lazarus

Bethany

- Jesus raises Lazarus

Judea region

- Healing of the 10 lepers

- The unjust judge

- The two worshippers

- Marriage and divorce

- Blessing of the children

- The rich young ruler

- Laborers of the vineyard

- Ambition of James and John

Jericho

- Blind Bartimaeus healed

- Jesus goes to Zacchaeus' house

Bethany

- The Nobleman and the Pounds

- Simon's feast

Jerusalem

- Triumphal entry

- Fruitless fig tree

- Second cleansing of the temple

- "Go work today in my vineyard"

- The Wicked Husbandmen

- The Man Without a Wedding Garment

- Paying tribute to Caesar

- Marriage and the Resurrection

- The Great Commandment

- Woes upon scribes and pharisees

- Widow's mites

- Signs of Christ second coming

- The 10 virgins

- The Talents

- The Sheep and Goats

- Passover, foot washing, and last supper

- The Coming of the Comforter

- The True Vine

- Gethsemane

- Arrest and trial before Sanhedrin

- Trial before Pilate

- Trial before Herod

- Second trial before Pilate

- The Crucifixion and burial

- The Resurrection 

- The walk to Emmaus

- Appearance in the upper room

- Restoration of Peter

- The Great Commission

- Christ's Ascension

PA Camp Meeting Meet Ups

Camp meetings are a great way to meet up with friends and meet some great speakers. I used to be more socially withdrawn for much of my life up to the year 2017 and didn't think much about it. I believe Steve Wohlberg was a speaker at PA camp meeting in 2017 and I heard that he was dealing with some kind of mental crisis. Ironically, I started going through one myself that year too, so I found that really relatable. Here is a list of speakers I met at camp meetings so far: Doug Batchelor (2018), Mark Finley (2019), John Bradshaw (2019), and David Asscherick (2022).

Many of the friends I meet up at camp meetings are ones I met at a church at some point in time. I have a friend named Joshua Fleming who's originally from New Jersey, lived in Pennsylvania for a while, moved to West Virginia to go to medical school, and now is doing his residency over in Texas. I met him in 2017 at my church, we connected on Facebook and he helped me through my crisis with encouraging words from the bible and Spirit of Prophecy. I got to meet him again in 2018 and 2019 during camp meeting. 

Funny story that happened in the 2019 camp meeting: I was on my way to the car of my friend who brought me and then the alarm of the car next to it suddenly goes off. Next, I kid you not, John Bradshaw comes to that car and turns off the alarm. So apparently he had parked right next to my friend's car. What is the chance of that? haha

There was no camp meeting in 2020 due to the pandemic, but I did get to meet many new Adventist friends online though. See my other post about how the pandemic became a blessing. In 2021, I didn't really think to meet up with any speakers, but I did get to meet up with the Adventist graphic designer, Andrew Carroll. Andrew is also involved with an online ministry that I'm also involved with. I got a new pastor that year, but I got to meet up with my previous pastor (Tom J Stone) at camp meeting too. This pastor was also a great help for me too during my crisis.

I got to meet up with my previous pastor again during this year's camp meeting. I also met up with Andrew Carroll, Lee Givan (musician), Jason Miller (from Hope Sabbath School) and the guest speaker David Asscherick. I've met Lee G before, he did a concert at my church. My friendship with Jason started with a Facebook conversation. I didn't know he was at camp meeting and he didn't know I'd be there either, but he found out because of my Instagram stories. He messaged me and we got to meet up for a bit. 

As for David Asscherick, the first time I've heard of him was on some cassette tapes my dad bought about 20 years ago. David was the first English speaking Adventist evangelist that I've ever heard of before, so it was really cool to finally meet him. 

Thank God for Online Ministry (Updated)

Social media became the source of much fear and anxiety since four years ago, but ironically, everything changed last year when God led me to an online ministry on a platform called Discord. This platform allows you to create or join private chat groups called "servers" and they can have various "channels" for text or voice chat (voice chat also allows for camera and screen sharing).

I'm thankful to be part of an online ministry and community on an alternative social media platform because it has become a great way for me to escape from all the troubles that other social media platforms have been causing me. I'm also thankful for the awesome new laptop that this online community helped me to receive. One of the members of that community, Ernie Hernandez, came over to my church in November to do a concert (he's more of the sound guy that deals with the instrumentals, his wife is the singer).

I'm also thankful God provided me a job three months ago, which helps to have more real life social interactions (other than once a week at church) and keeps me from being on the internet all day.  I made a friend at work who struggles with anxiety. We connected on Discord and I shared with her some encouraging bible promises that have helped me. This is a great example of connecting with people online in order to help them in their real every day lives.

Laura and Ernie did a concert at my church

The following is just a clip of a song they closed with

How God turned the pandemic into a blessing

I had already been spending too much time on social media since 2017, it only fed into my anxiety, worrying what people think. The pandemic seemed to make this worse, but it later got better as I started to seek help for these issues.

During the pandemic, I began connecting with many other Adventists on social media. In April, I signed up for ARISE Online and I was really blessed. Nicole Parker's talk about Jesus' friendship circles was really interesting. Later in the year, on Facebook, I learned about and was blessed by the on-going Zoom meetings by the Central California Conference youth department.

During the start of the summer, I came across Ivor Myers' Phototheology idea on Facebook and it inspired me with the idea of illustrating the bible in Minecraft. Then I attended a meeting with the Center for Online Evangelism who had a guest host who was talking about a similar idea to mine, although it was about using any video game in general. After that we formed a Facebook group called Adventist Gamers and made some new friends there.

Also that summer, I attended the virtual GYC Atlantic conference (the theme for 2020 was "God Hears"), then I joined their morning zoom prayer group and made some new friends there. I also attended their 40 days of prayer initiative in the evening. Around the same time, I also attended the virtual ASI event. I also attended the virtual GYC Europe event too (their theme for the year was "What If We Ask?").

It was in September when I suddenly realized that God fulfilled a promise He made to me the year before about replacing my past painful experience with a positive one. I saw that God was giving me a second chance at connecting with other young adults in church without worrying what they think of me. 

How to grow your church

Preparing The Soil of The Heart: Community Ministries
Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, “Follow Me.” [MH 143]

In Christlike sympathy we should come close to men individually, and seek to awaken their interest in the great things of eternal life. Their hearts may be as hard as the beaten highway, and apparently it may be a useless effort to present the Saviour to them; but while logic may fail to move, and argument be powerless to convince, the love of Christ, revealed in personal ministry, may soften the stony heart, so that the seed of truth can take root. [COL 57]

When properly conducted, the health work is an entering wedge, making a way for other truths to reach the heart. [6T 327]

Isaiah 58:10 If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Planting the Seed of God's Word: Literature/Media Ministries
Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Ecclesiastes 11:4-6 He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap.  As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything. In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good.

Isaiah 32:20 Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, Who send out freely the feet of the ox and the donkey.

Unvarnished truth must be spoken, in leaflets and pamphlets, and these must be scattered like the leaves of autumn. [9T 231]

In the parable of the sower, Christ gave an illustration of His own work and that of His servants. The seed fell upon all kinds of soil. Some seed fell upon poor soil, yet the sower did not therefore cease his work. You are to sow the seeds of truth in every place. Wherever you can gain access, hold forth the word of God. Sow beside all waters. You may not at once see the result of your labors, but be not discouraged. Speak the words that Christ gives you. Work in His lines. Go forth everywhere as He did during His ministry on the earth. The world's Redeemer had many hearers, but few followers. 7T 35

2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

The dissemination of the truth of God is not confined to a few ordained ministers. The truth is to be scattered by all who claim to be disciples of Christ. [Christian Service 68]

More than one thousand will soon be converted in one day, most of whom will trace their first convictions to the reading of our publications [Evangelism, 693]

Cultivating Spiritual Interest: Bible Study Ministries
1 Peter 2:2-3 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Acts 8:30-31 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.

In the experience of Philip and the Ethiopian is presented the work to which the Lord calls His people... There are those in the world who are reading the Scriptures, but who cannot understand their import. The men and women who have a knowledge of God are needed to explain the word to these souls. [Evangelism 142]

The plan of holding Bible-readings was a heaven-born idea. [Gospel Workers 192]

In visions of the night, representations passed before me of a great reformatory movement among God's people... Hundreds and thousands were seen visiting families and opening before them the word of God. 9T 126

1 Peter 1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

Harvesting Decisions for Christ: Personal Appeals and Public Evangelism
Matthew 9:37
Then He said to His disciples, The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

When persons who are under conviction are not brought to make a decision at the earliest period possible, there is danger that the conviction will gradually wear away
[Evangelism 229]

After the meetings are through, there should be a personal investigation with each one on the ground. Each one should be asked how he is going to take these things, if he is going to make a personal application of them. And then you should watch and see if there is an interest in this one or that. Five words spoken to them privately will do more than the whole discourse has done. [Evangelism 285]

The salvation of sinners requires earnest, personal labor. We are to bear to them the word of life, not to wait for them to come to us. With personal piety and a consistent course of life our earnest heart-felt appeals will be, through God, as sharp arrows of the Almighty to pierce the sin-hardened heart, as sharp sickles to reap a precious harvest for the heavenly garner. If we are co-laborers with Christ, we shall all have sheaves to bring to the Master,—souls saved through our instrumentality. [RH April 24, 1883]

the secret of our success and power... will be found in making direct, personal appeals to those who are interested, having unwavering reliance upon the Most High.
[RH August 30, 1892]

Preserving New Members with Discipleship
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

When souls are converted, set them to work at once. And as they labor according to their ability, they will grow stronger. It is by meeting opposing influences that we become confirmed in the faith.  [Evangelism 355]

Mark 3:14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach

After individuals have been converted to the truth, they need to be looked after... These newly converted ones need nursing,—watchful attention, help, and encouragement. These should not be left alone, a prey to Satan's most powerful temptations; they need to be educated in regard to their duties, to be kindly dealt with, to be led along, and to be visited and prayed with. [Evangelism  351]

Luke 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

One soul, won to the truth, will be instrumental in winning others, and there will be an ever-increasing result of blessing and salvation. [Christian Service 121]

God Will Make Things Better

The Restoration of Peter

The other day I remembered Peter Gregory preached a sermon at a church I was attending in Queens, NY over 11 years ago (don't remember the exact year). In the sermon, he mentioned that Peter had a sad memory associated with a "fire of coals" because it was while he was warming himself in front of one that he had denied Jesus three times (see John 18:15-18, 25-26). In John 21, Jesus did something to help Peter get over his sad memory.

The 21st chapter of John begins with Peter going back to his old fishing job with his friends and when they had failed at catching any fish, Jesus appeared to them from the shore, and repeated the fishing miracle that He had done in the past. After realizing that this was Jesus, Peter swims back to shore while the other disciples bring over the boat of fish.

When they all arrived back to shore, they saw a "fire of coals" and fish already cooking on it. They bring over their 153 fish at Jesus' request and they're invited them to eat with him. Jesus asks Peter three times, "Do you love me?". Peter replied "yes" each time and Jesus replied back each time, reminding Peter of his mission: "Feed My sheep". After the third time, Jesus predicted how Peter would die and said "Follow Me". Peter asked about the other disciple with him and Jesus basically said to mind his own business and again reminded him "Follow Me".

God Can Heal and Restore You Too
Perhaps you're new in your walk with God and you can't think of any good past experiences with God in the past to help encourage you during a negative experience in the present. Like Peter's "fire of coals," certain things may trigger negative memories. Perhaps your "fire of coals" is your church and someone did something there to hurt you.

The good news is, Jesus can give you new positive memories to help heal you from your painful memories of the past. Just like Jesus told Peter, "Feed My Sheep", He's calling you to help others in need and point them to Jesus. As you do, you will soon find that God will begin to heal you from your painful past experiences in the process.

God Invites You To Go Forward 
Just like how God told ancient Israel to "go forward" in spite of obstacles, He's telling you to move on. Don't fear the storm, God promised "I will be with you". Though you may feel paralyzed with anxiety, Christ's command "Rise up and walk" is sufficient to enable you. If you wait until the circumstances are more convenient to follow Jesus, you'll never do it. Today is the day of your salvation, trust Jesus a hundred percent with your life today.

Relevant quote:
Do not bring the disagreeable things of the past into your present life. Testify that life with Christ is no failure.... Dismiss Satan, walk with Jesus, and be complete in Him. Never, never give Satan the satisfaction of taunting you or others that our faith is a deception, a delusion. Upward Look, p. 314

Faith, More Precious Than Gold

This past Friday I was looking at a Christian Facebook page and noticed a comment by an atheist who said he wanted evidence of God’s existence. I tried to explain to this guy how God is always revealing Himself to us, even in the most subtle ways. He asked how I came to that conclusion and I told him that knowing God involves a relationship and me trying to explain it would be like trying to explain how a mango tastes to someone who never had a mango. 

That Friday night I went to bed, then I woke up at around 2 in the morning and couldn’t get back to sleep until about two hours later. As I was meditating on scripture, I imagined someone in church glowing and holding a bar of gold, then the phrase “look heavenward” came to mind. Then the words of Christ in Revelation 3:18 flashed to memory: “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire”. Then I imagined the guy glowing in the church was a knight wearing God's armor. Then two songs came to mind: "He Has Made Me Glad" and “All hail the power of Jesus’ name”. Then I got up to get some water, went back to bed, and eventually fell asleep.

As I was getting ready to go to church, I heard, on the radio, the same two songs that had come to my mind while I was having trouble sleeping and they were back-to-back, one right after the other. I thought to myself “wow, you can’t make this up”. Little did I know, this was only the beginning.

At church, the welcome included a prayer and I noticed the phrase "look heavenward" was used. Then, I kid you not, the children’s story was about wearing the armor of God. An illustration was used, showing how an unpeeled orange can float above water, but a peeled orange will sink. The peel was compared to armor and the phrase “a knight in shining armor” was even mentioned. While the orange was peeled, a story was told of someone who was losing their hold on God and it sounded like it was talking about me.

During the song service, the first song was “Tell me the story of Jesus”, the same song I sang with my dad for morning worship at home before coming to church. That's not all! The closing prayer after the sermon made reference to the "gold" of faith in Revelation 3:18. During potluck, Isaiah 41:10 flashed to my memory and it reminded me that God would me with me, even during trials. It also reminds me of this verse: "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ" 1 Peter 1:6-7