| Persecution in Early Century |
Today's Text:
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment. Hebrews 11:36
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The Message:
When Jesus revealed to His disciples the fate of Jerusalem and the scenes of the Second Advent, He foretold also the experience of His people from the time when He should be taken from them to His return in power and glory for their deliverance. From Olivet the Saviour beheld the storms about to fall upon the apostolic church, and, penetrating deeper into the future, His eye discerned the fierce, wasting tempests that were to beat upon His followers in the coming ages of darkness and persecution. In a few brief utterances, of awful significance, he foretold the portion which the rulers of this world would mete out to the church of God. The followers of Christ must tread the same path of humiliation, reproach, and suffering which their Master trod. The enmity that burst forth against the world's Redeemer, would be manifested against all who should believe on his name.
The history of the early church testified to the fulfillment of the Saviour's words. The powers of earth and hell arrayed themselves against Christ in the person of His followers. Paganism foresaw that should the gospel triumph, her temples and altars would be swept away; therefore she summoned her forces to destroy Christianity. The fires of persecution were kindled. Christians were stripped of their possessions and driven from their homes. They "endured a great fight of afflictions." They "had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment." [Hebrews 11:36.] Great numbers sealed their testimony with their blood. Noble and slave, rich and poor, learned and ignorant, were alike slain without mercy. Great numbers sealed their testimony with their blood....
Under the fiercest persecution these witnesses for Jesus kept their faith unsullied. Though deprived of every comfort, shut away from the light of the sun, making their home in the dark but friendly bosom of the earth, they uttered no complaint. With words of faith, patience, and hope they encouraged one another to endure privation and distress. The loss of every earthly blessing could not force them to renounce their belief in Christ. Trials and persecutions were but steps bringing them nearer their rest and their reward.
They called to mind the words of their Master, that when persecuted for Christ's sake they were to be exceeding glad; for great would be their reward in Heaven; for so had the prophets been persecuted before them. Like God's servants of old, they were "tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection." [Hebrews 11:35.] They rejoiced that they were accounted worthy to suffer for the truth, and songs of triumph ascended in the midst of crackling flames. Looking upward by faith, they saw Christ and angels leaning over the battlements of Heaven, gazing upon them with the deepest interest, and regarding their steadfastness with approval. A voice came down to them from the throne of God, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." [Revelation 2:10.]
In vain were Satan's efforts to destroy the church of Christ by violence. The great controversy in which the disciples of Jesus yielded up their lives did not cease when these faithful standard-bearers fell at their post. By defeat they conquered. God's workmen were slain, but His work went steadily forward. The gospel continued to spread, and the number of its adherents to increase. It penetrated into regions that were inaccessible, even to the eagles of Rome. Said a Christian, expostulating with the heathen rulers who were urging forward the persecution: "You may torment, afflict, and vex us. Your wickedness puts our weakness to the test, but your cruelty is of no avail. It is but a stronger invitation to bring others to our persuasion. The more we are mowed down, the more we spring up again. The blood of the Christians is seed."
Thousands were imprisoned and slain; but others sprang up to fill their places. And those who were martyred for their faith were secured to Christ, and accounted of Him as conquerors. They had fought the good fight, and they were to receive the crown of glory when Christ should come. The sufferings that they endured brought Christians nearer to one another and to their Redeemer.-The Spirit of Prophecy 4:39-42.
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Commentary:
My friend, the persecution of the followers of Christ in the first century will once again happen to the true followers of Christ in the last days. Just before the close of human probation, there will be many martyrs for Christ. The three angels message that is to go to the world is to call the world back to worshiping the One true God through His Son Jesus Christ. This call does not center upon the true Sabbath as the church has taught, but centers upon the deception of the trinity and exposes it as a false god. This along with the power of God upon the message, enrages the hatred of the beast power upon the true followers of Christ.
The implementation of the mark of the beast will center upon Sunday sacredness, but the catalyst of this call to worship on Sunday will be the exposing of the trinity as a false god. The first angels message, which calls all to worship the One true God, will be attended by the Spirit of Christ and it will have an affect upon the people. Many, many will respond to the message and great numbers will heed the second angels message to come out of Babylon. This will enrage the forces of evil and the third angels message will bring persecution to the true followers of Christ.
Those who respond to this message of truth will come from the various forms of Babylon; from the Protestant churches, the Catholic churches, atheism, and the other religions of the world. These take their stand for the truth, but because they have not had the opportunity to perfect their characters, they will not be able to stand during the time of the seven last plagues when Christ is no longer mediating in the heavenly sanctuary above. Because of this they must seal their testimony with their lives. Though they must give their lives for Christ, they do so as a witness for Christ, and like the martyrs of old, many more will come out of Babylon and follow in their footsteps.
The number of martyrs are great, but as each gives their lives for God, Christ is there beside them, comforting and strengthening them, holding before them white robes of righteousness. The affect of the true three angels message will bring such a great number of people to accept the truth, that the number of martyrs will be great. This period of time will be awful to behold and the blood of those martyrs will cry out for justice. "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." (Revelation 6:10, 11).
The time of persecution is just before us. Those who hold to the image of God as a trinity, will become offended by those who worship the One true God through His Son Jesus Christ. This will lead them to join in their persecution. Of this Jesus said "And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another." (Matthew 24:10). "And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death." (Matthew 10:21). "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matthew 24:13). To endure to the end does not mean to live until the end, it simply means those who hold fast to their faith until the end, the same shall be saved.
My friend, the great time of trouble is just before us and many will be martyred for their faith. At that time we will need a faith in God that we do not have today. We must draw nigh unto God that He may draw nigh unto us. We must turn away from the false god of the trinity and turn unto the One true God through His Son Jesus Christ. Those who hold fast to the lie of the trinity will not be able to stand in the last days.
May you look unto Jesus, the Son of the One true God today.
God bless,
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Video of the Week
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| 3 of 6 - Sinful Flesh with Dustin Butler - SIN-posium |
Pioneer Health and Missions presented a series of six videos on the subject of sin and salvation to help inform and encourage others to study this very import topic.
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