As the Lamb continues to open the 7 Seals, the suffering of the persecuted church comes into view, and more broadly, the overall difficulty of living as an “exile” in this world. The reality for followers of Jesus is that persecution and opposition will arise when they are bold witnesses. The consolation from Jesus himself to those who are suffering is that they don’t give up and don’t give in! Jesus will return to expose the deception and emptiness of all those who have come declaring to be "the Christ," and he will vindicate his faithful witnesses.