Revelation 14:12: Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

In Revelation 13:10, John described the patience of ancient saints who were persecuted and killed by the First Beast of the Roman Empire during the Great Apostasy.¹ Here, in Revelation 14:12, John describes the patience of the saints that will be persecuted and killed by the Second Beast (Modern Babylon).² This latter day persecution and martyrdom will occur primarily during the last 3½ years before the Second Coming in the period called the Great Tribulation.³ During the Great Tribulation, the Second Beast will have great dominion on earth⁴ and the whole wicked world will be at war during the second half of Physical Armageddon.⁵ The Second Beast will murder and martyr saints during the Great Tribulation as described in Revelation 13:5.⁶ John admonishes these saints in Revelation 14:12 to be patient in their afflictions,⁷ keep the commandments of God⁸ and have steadfast faith in Jesus Christ.⁹

John's vision in Revelation chapter 14 comes at the end of the Second Woe‒after the saints have gathered at Adam-ondi-Ahman.¹⁰ After this gathering, New Jerusalem (Zion) will be constructed as the center place of Zion in Missouri.¹¹ Revelation 14:12 warns the future citizens of New Jerusalem (Zion)¹² that to receive the blessings of Zion they must endure chastening and trials with patience.¹³ They must keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.¹⁴ The saints who do so will qualify to dwell in Zion where they will be physically protected and preserved during the Great Tribulation.¹⁵ They will become a great army that none can contend with because the Lord will fight their battles.¹⁶

Many saints will physically gather to New Jerusalem in Zion during the Great Tribulation as the city and temple are built at Independence Missouri.¹⁷ However, many other righteous saints will be unable to physically gather and they must remain spiritually gathered in the outlying stakes of Zion¹⁸ throughout the world.¹⁹ They will remain spiritually gathered as they continue to keep the commandments of God and maintain their strong faith in Jesus as directed by John in Revelation 14:12.²⁰

The outlying stakes of Zion will be a spiritual refuge for faithful saints that stand in holy places,²¹ but the stakes of Zion will not necessarily be a place of physical refuge like New Jerusalem (Zion).²² Therefore, the saints that cannot physically gather to New Jerusalem (Zion) must possess the patience of Job²³ during the Great Tribulation. Many will be subjected to severe trials and even martyrdom.²⁴ The Lord promises blessings and offers hope to these martyred saints in Revelation 14:13.²⁵