Post by Watchman on Jul 9, 2006 12:00:30 GMT -5
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute [you], delivering [you] up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Luke 21:12-13
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and [some] of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. Luke 21:16-19
Jesus Christ's prophecy parallels the fifth seal in Revelation 6:9-11:
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?' And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled.
As time speeds toward the return of Christ, we can expect religious persecution and martyrdom to intensify. Society is already humanistic, and human nature- the carnal mind - "is enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). It is no great leap from the current atmosphere of hostile tolerance to outright violence. An objective observer of those debating abortion, homosexuality, animal rights, or environmentalism can discern that the veneer of civility is quite thin. A misstep at any time could plunge America over the edge of 'tolerance' into the abyss of religious persecution. Much of the persecution of the Truth will come from Satan's counterfeit religious system- paganized churchianity- as the apostate Church falls further into error on their way to receiving the Man of Sin and their joining together with One World earth godess worship.
It is encouraging to notice Christ's instructions to us when this time comes:
And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle [it] therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and [some] of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:13-19)
His command: We should not be overly concerned when this happens to us because He will be with us to comfort us and inspire us in our answers. The truth we will speak will be so wise and right that our persecutors will have no retort. This may incite them to more violence, even to killing us, but if we patiently endure it, we will surely obtain the crown of eternal life. Our entrance into Christ's Kingdom is what really matters. If we are martyred for it, our reward will reflect our unflinching faithfulness and obedience to Yahweh and His way of life.
The apostle Peter shows the proper godly attitude toward persecution:
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy [are ye]; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or [as] a thief, or [as] an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls [to him] in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 1 Peter 4:12-19
We need not fear the coming days of chaos and destruction when our religious freedom will be stolen and we must choose between worshiping the BEAST system and receiving it's mark or worshipping the True and Living God, Yahweh, the God revealed by His Word the Holy Bible. They will be dreadful and dark, and many will lose their lives. But, if we commit ourselves to living righteously, we have the assurance of our faithful Father that we will receive salvation and great reward in His Kingdom!
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, 'we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Daniel 3:16-18
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Revelation 2:10
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Revelation 21:7
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and [some] of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. Luke 21:16-19
Jesus Christ's prophecy parallels the fifth seal in Revelation 6:9-11:
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?' And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled.
As time speeds toward the return of Christ, we can expect religious persecution and martyrdom to intensify. Society is already humanistic, and human nature- the carnal mind - "is enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). It is no great leap from the current atmosphere of hostile tolerance to outright violence. An objective observer of those debating abortion, homosexuality, animal rights, or environmentalism can discern that the veneer of civility is quite thin. A misstep at any time could plunge America over the edge of 'tolerance' into the abyss of religious persecution. Much of the persecution of the Truth will come from Satan's counterfeit religious system- paganized churchianity- as the apostate Church falls further into error on their way to receiving the Man of Sin and their joining together with One World earth godess worship.
It is encouraging to notice Christ's instructions to us when this time comes:
And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle [it] therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and [some] of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:13-19)
His command: We should not be overly concerned when this happens to us because He will be with us to comfort us and inspire us in our answers. The truth we will speak will be so wise and right that our persecutors will have no retort. This may incite them to more violence, even to killing us, but if we patiently endure it, we will surely obtain the crown of eternal life. Our entrance into Christ's Kingdom is what really matters. If we are martyred for it, our reward will reflect our unflinching faithfulness and obedience to Yahweh and His way of life.
The apostle Peter shows the proper godly attitude toward persecution:
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy [are ye]; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or [as] a thief, or [as] an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls [to him] in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 1 Peter 4:12-19
We need not fear the coming days of chaos and destruction when our religious freedom will be stolen and we must choose between worshiping the BEAST system and receiving it's mark or worshipping the True and Living God, Yahweh, the God revealed by His Word the Holy Bible. They will be dreadful and dark, and many will lose their lives. But, if we commit ourselves to living righteously, we have the assurance of our faithful Father that we will receive salvation and great reward in His Kingdom!
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, 'we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Daniel 3:16-18
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Revelation 2:10
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Revelation 21:7