Two basic parties existed during the siege of Jerusalem. Both of them reaped what they sowed. First, the zealots had hatred toward the Romans. The only solution in their world was to kill them with the sword. They lived by the motto: kill or be killed. The other party did not feel compelled to kill or be killed. They might take Romans in their control into captivity. As a rule, when the Romans destroyed the city, the Zealots were killed, while the more moderate Jews were taken into captivity. This is a case of reaping what you sow (cf. Gal. 6:7).
Revelation 13:10 reads, “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” This time of tribulation presented a temptation to get involved in the hostilities against Rome. Under such conditions, Jesus told His disciples to be harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16). While they might feel like retaliating when they were treated unfairly, they were not to avenge themselves (Romans 12:18-21). Instead, God’s people may be imprisoned or killed but must never render evil for evil (Matt. 5:38-42).
This is the patience and faith of the saints. Paul said in Galatians 6:9 reads, “Let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.”