As we draw nearer and nearer the End Time, it appears that - like Job - God's saints are often increasingly harassed by Satan. Although this phenomenon is clearly predicted in the Scriptures, pastors and preachers generally do not teach it. This is understandable. All of us, especially where we have a responsibility to God's own sheep, want to be encouraging and positive, not gloomy.

But ignoring or - as some do - even contradicting any of these clear verses is also not beneficial to believers. For, like Job, when Satan's attacks and harassments come - they will be left without an answer to the question: why would God have allowed such conditions and trials!

"I was watching, and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. Thus he said: 'The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.'" (Daniel 7:21-25)

And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. And she bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and to His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. (Revelation 12:3-6)

And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. And it was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue and nation. (Revelation 13:5-7)

In a sense, Job stands as an example for the End Time saints who the Evil One will be allowed to harass and even overcome, during a period of three and a half years, (perhaps the same three-and-a-half years God allowed Job to be tried by the Devil - who knows!)

Beautiful, and in a strange way comforting therefore, are the words of the Psalmist who expresses - as so many Christians are indeed doing -confidence in God's ultimate power and victory even as he confesses the seemingly opposite reality being experienced by him. In a psalm that could easily have been written by Job himself he writes:

To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah.

We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what deeds You did in their days, in days of old: How You drove out the nations with Your hand, but them You planted; How You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out. For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them.

You are my King, O God; command victories for Jacob. Through You we will push down our enemies; through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us.

For I will not trust in my bow, nor shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our enemies, and have put to shame those who hated us. In God we boast all day long, and praise Your name forever.

Selah

But You have cast us off and put us to shame, and You do not go out with our armies. You make us turn back from the enemy, and those who hate us have taken spoil for themselves. You have given us up like sheep intended for food, and have scattered us among the nations. You sell Your people for naught, and are not enriched by their price.

You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and a derision to those all around us. You make us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples. My dishonor is continually before me, and the shame of my face has covered me, because of the voice of him who reproaches and reviles, because of the enemy and the avenger.

If we had forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a foreign god, would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart. Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord? Arise! Do not cast us off forever. Why do You hide Your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression? For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our body clings to the ground. Arise for our help, and redeem us for Your mercies' sake. (Psalm 44)

"Though I speak, my grief is not relieved; and though I remain silent, how am I eased? But now He has worn me out; you have made desolate all my company. You have shriveled me up, and it is a witness against me; my leanness rises up against me and bears witness to my face. He tears me in His wrath, and hates me; He gnashes at me with His teeth; my adversary sharpens His gaze on me. They gape at me with their mouth, they strike me reproachfully on the cheek, they gather together against me. God has delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over to the hands of the wicked. I was at ease, but He has shattered me; He also has taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces; He has set me up for His target, His archers surround me. He pierces my heart and does not pity; He pours out my gall on the ground. He breaks me with wound upon wound; He runs at me like a warrior.

"I have sewn sackcloth over my skin, and laid my head in the dust. My face is flushed from weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death; although no violence is in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

"O earth, do not cover my blood, and let my cry have no resting place! Surely even now my witness is in heaven, and my evidence is on high. My friends scorn me; my eyes pour out tears to God. Oh, that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor!" (Job 16:6-21)

"Oh, that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor!"

This is what Job's pious and self-righteous preacher friends did not understand. And neither do many today: so often does the sheer enormity of the disasters overcoming even saints and believers lead many to try find the fault in the victim, upbraiding him or her for lack of faith or other things due to the seeming utter hopelessness of his/her situation which seems to require some kind of answer.

Likewise we often become miserable, self-righteous comforters, instead of the intercessors Job calls for here who, instead of immediately giving our tailor -made spiritual advice, will see the suffering person come through, no matter what, as indeed Job came through in the end.

"Oh, that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor!" (Job 16:21)

Jan Willem van der Hoeven