As we seek to understand the scriptural teaching on persecution, it is important to understand, first of all, that the New Testament is not overly concerned to answer the question of suffering in general-that is, suffering as a consequence of living in a fallen world. That is assumed. Rather, most of its passages dealing with suffering have to do with suffering on account of righteousness. As I have studied many of the classic books on suffering, I have noticed that this fact is hardly ever stressed. This is to be expected, I suppose, since Christians in the West today have little or no experience of persecution per se.
Thanks for bringing light to the topic of Christian suffering. It's central to our faith, but you wouldn't know it from listening to 99% of Western preachers and teachers. Here are three verses (out of many) that support your article.
1. Hebrews 11:35 says, "Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection." This is completely opposite of attitudes today.
2. Revelation 20:4 teaches the first resurrection is limited to those who are "beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God." Compare this to the popular modern rapture doctrine that applies 1 Thessalonians 4:17 to all believers.
3. Revelation 6:11 tells us God has a certain number of holy martyrs that must be killed before God judges and destroys the Devil's rebellious world system. According to Revelation 12:9-11, it's the faithful witness (martyrdom) of sanctified Christians that enables God to cast the Devil and his angels down from heaven.
Hephzibah… What a topic! The persecution of the fallen world, or the common persecutions that all experience, would be referencing the machine aspects of the creation or the logical consequences of our sinful behaviors.As you say, this is not what the NT scriptures are describing to us here.
The physical persecution of believers can be glimpsed in Ezekiel 28:11-19. There is a power behind the throne of men who use’s the world’s ungodliness to harm the children of God. This power is our great adversary, Satan and his minions. But the Lord declares that even these things work together for the good,(Romans 8:28.) This verse would include the fierce animals and the hot irons inflicted on our brothers and sisters. This promise is not one of deliverance, but rather a statement of divine truth.
Luke22:31-32, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has asked permission to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you; that your FAITH may not fail.”
1Peter 5:8-9, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert, for your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your FAITH.”
1Thessalonians3:5, “For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your FAITH, for fear that the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.”
Ephesians 6:16, “Taking up the shield of FAITH with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
When one reads the many lists of all the sinful behaviors that man gets involved in, you will look far and wide to find that Satan is anywhere in the nearby context of these scriptural admonishments. He is not. Rather, It is our faith that he seeks to destroy,and he is capable if doing just that. Your enemy does not seek to pollute you as much as he seeks to destroy you. Let your faithfulness stand against him in all your struggles of faith. To be an overcomer is just that… “One must overcome!”
Philippians 1:12-14 NLT: "And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear."
Dear Hephzibah,
Thank you for boldly speaking the truth without compromise. I pray for you to continue standing strong and being faithful to His call to proclaim the Gospel.
1 Peter 4:12-14 NLT
"Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you."
Thank you again brother James for your continual edification! You are such a lovely blessing and I thank Heavenly father for you! It is indeed my prayer for you too and all the assembly of our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus who form his body of Ekklesia. 🪔💌
Thank you brother Robert. We certainly need to be ever closer & in holy intimacy of communion in communication with our Heavenly father as the sole object of our faith as everything comes from Him. He is the source of all strength power ability & faithfulness, really learning to hear, listening and be finely attuned to His voice and responding through obeying the leadings by His spirit even in the small things. The one whom is faithful or obedient in little will be faithful in much.
Hephzibah,
Thanks for bringing light to the topic of Christian suffering. It's central to our faith, but you wouldn't know it from listening to 99% of Western preachers and teachers. Here are three verses (out of many) that support your article.
1. Hebrews 11:35 says, "Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection." This is completely opposite of attitudes today.
2. Revelation 20:4 teaches the first resurrection is limited to those who are "beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God." Compare this to the popular modern rapture doctrine that applies 1 Thessalonians 4:17 to all believers.
3. Revelation 6:11 tells us God has a certain number of holy martyrs that must be killed before God judges and destroys the Devil's rebellious world system. According to Revelation 12:9-11, it's the faithful witness (martyrdom) of sanctified Christians that enables God to cast the Devil and his angels down from heaven.
Amen thank you.
Hephzibah… What a topic! The persecution of the fallen world, or the common persecutions that all experience, would be referencing the machine aspects of the creation or the logical consequences of our sinful behaviors.As you say, this is not what the NT scriptures are describing to us here.
The physical persecution of believers can be glimpsed in Ezekiel 28:11-19. There is a power behind the throne of men who use’s the world’s ungodliness to harm the children of God. This power is our great adversary, Satan and his minions. But the Lord declares that even these things work together for the good,(Romans 8:28.) This verse would include the fierce animals and the hot irons inflicted on our brothers and sisters. This promise is not one of deliverance, but rather a statement of divine truth.
Luke22:31-32, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has asked permission to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you; that your FAITH may not fail.”
1Peter 5:8-9, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert, for your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your FAITH.”
1Thessalonians3:5, “For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your FAITH, for fear that the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.”
Ephesians 6:16, “Taking up the shield of FAITH with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
When one reads the many lists of all the sinful behaviors that man gets involved in, you will look far and wide to find that Satan is anywhere in the nearby context of these scriptural admonishments. He is not. Rather, It is our faith that he seeks to destroy,and he is capable if doing just that. Your enemy does not seek to pollute you as much as he seeks to destroy you. Let your faithfulness stand against him in all your struggles of faith. To be an overcomer is just that… “One must overcome!”
"Boldly speak God's message without fear."
Philippians 1:12-14 NLT: "And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear."
Dear Hephzibah,
Thank you for boldly speaking the truth without compromise. I pray for you to continue standing strong and being faithful to His call to proclaim the Gospel.
1 Peter 4:12-14 NLT
"Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you."
GOD bless you all!
MIQEDEM - Psalm 23 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWM8gSSnz_8
Thank you again brother James for your continual edification! You are such a lovely blessing and I thank Heavenly father for you! It is indeed my prayer for you too and all the assembly of our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus who form his body of Ekklesia. 🪔💌
we certainly have it easy in the West, but that is changing
Thank you brother Robert. We certainly need to be ever closer & in holy intimacy of communion in communication with our Heavenly father as the sole object of our faith as everything comes from Him. He is the source of all strength power ability & faithfulness, really learning to hear, listening and be finely attuned to His voice and responding through obeying the leadings by His spirit even in the small things. The one whom is faithful or obedient in little will be faithful in much.