Unavoidable indescribable persecution for all Bible believing believerss of all ages, following Christ

Unavoidable indescribable persecution for all Bible believing believerss of all ages, following Christ 

Revelation  1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Apostle John met our Master and Lord around the age of twenty five years old.

Around the age of ninety, he remained the only surviving apostle of Christ.

The remaining had been martyied and dead.

The emperor of Rome Domitian wanted everyone to worship him as Lord and God.

He had his statue placed in all the major provinces under Rome.

The people will go before the statue and bowed, saying our lord and god.

John was the Bishop at Ephesus teaching Bible believing believers to stand firm and confess the God of heaven alone as their God.

He and other believers alike were severely persecuted.

But then, been a leader his own persecution was intense.

He was thrown inside a boiling oil and when he survived it, he was banished to isle of Patmos to suffer and die there.

But, he despite been alone kept on living by faith and worshiping God alone.

While doing this on a particular Lord’s day,  which was Sunday. 

Acts  20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

This day that our Lord resurrected from death, he  was visited by the Lord, at Patmos and He commissioned him to write the book of Revelation.

Revelation  1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Apostle John was persecuted for refusing to compromise the word of God and defending the Lordship of Christ, over Caesar Domitian .

Remember all Bible believing believers and you in particular are commissioned to defend the gospel.

Philippians  1:17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

When you choose to defend the gospel, not compromising like , John , another thing, is given to all Bible believing believers of all ages and you in particular.

Philippians  1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

It is reaffirmed again in another scripture.

2 Timothy  3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Before our Master and Lord went to the cross and ascended back to heaven,  He affirmed what will continue to be the experience of His followers until, He comes.

John  15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.  15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.

John  16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Luke  6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.  6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Matthew  10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Matthew  24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.  24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

The Holy Spirit corroborates what our Master and Lord Jesus, said.

Acts  14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Romans  8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Thessalonians  3:3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.  3:4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

2 Timothy  3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

2 Timothy  4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

1 Peter  4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  4:13 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.

Then our exalted Master and Lord Jesus Christ added this  from glory also.

Revelation  2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.  2:10 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.

These challenges must never separate you from Christ.

Acts  11:23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

Romans  8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You must be rejoicing for being a partaker of Christ’s suffering.

Acts  5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.  5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Romans  5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Don’t be surprised or marvel that you are being persecuted because of your faith in Christ.

1 Peter  4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  4:13 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.

1 John  3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

For you to reign with Christ, you must be willing to endure unavoidable persecutions because of your unwavering faith in Him.

2 Timothy  2:11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:  2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:  2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

This persecution will continue until the end of your life and till Christ cometh.

2 Timothy  3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.  3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

Revelation  2:10 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.

Don’t allow persecution to take away your eternal rewards and crown.

Revelation  3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Listen to how the disciples of old suffered. You will discover it is incomparable to your present suffering for Christ.

1. Matthew

Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, Killed by a sword wound.

2. Mark

Died in Alexandria, Egypt , after being dragged by Horses through the streets until he was dead.

3. Luke

Was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous Preaching to the lost.

4. John

Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge Basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution In Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered From death.

John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison Island of Patmos. He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos . The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve As Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey . He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully

5. Peter

He was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross.

According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die In the same way that Jesus Christ had died.

6. James, the half brother of our Master and Lord Jesus Christ.

The leader of the church in Jerusalem , was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his

enemies beat James to death with a fuller’s club.

* This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation.

7. James the Son of Zebedee, 

was a fisherman by trade when Jesus Called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was   beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer Walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and Knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.

8. Bartholomew

Also known as Nathaniel Was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.

9. Andrew

Was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: ‘I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.’ He continued to preach to his tormentors For two days until he expired.

10. Thomas

Was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the Sub-continent.

11. Jude was half brother of our Master and Lord Jesus Christ.

Was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.

12. Matthias

The apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded.

13. Paul

Was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many

epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire. These letters, which taught many of the foundational Doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament. 

Apostle John, even though severely persecuted, endured to the end.

Same grace is available for you to do same.

2 Corinthians  9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Apostle John kept on worshipping the Lord and served Him till he breathe his last.

He is now in heaven beholding Christ on His throne as He prayed for all His followers of all ages and you in particular.

John  17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

This same privilege is awaiting you. May the good Lord depend on you too in Jesus name.

Revelation  1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray.