One reason the church is persecuted is that it is a sign to those inflicting the persecution that they will be destroyed.  It is a rare and special privilege, granted by God, that certain Christians might suffer for the sake of Christ. 

“…I know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.  This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved – and that by God.  For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him…” (Phil 1:27-29).

Paul wants to share in Christ’s suffering.  Peter sees the brothers sharing in suffering together.  Suffering makes us stronger and helps us grow.  And Paul does not focus on the present hardship; but rather, considers the glory to be revealed.

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Phil 3:10-11).

“Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Rom 5:3-5).

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.  I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Rom 8:16-18).

Peter exhorts believers to follow Christ’s example. 

“But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.  To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps.” “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.  Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:20b-21, 23).

Hebrews 12:4, “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”

Finally, Paul reminds us that we are not fighting against mere people, but against the spiritual forces of evil.  Although manifested in worldly pains and suffering, in reality, it is a spiritual war we are participating in.  God has equipped us well to participate in this battle, which we will talk more about later (Eph 6). 

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph 6:12).

THE CHURCH UNDER ATTACK

I was going to say, “The church under attack in developed countries.”  This would imply a distinction of what is developed and what isn’t, which would not be very helpful.  When I was going to say “Christian” countries,” differentiating between countries that are overtly hostile and those that are not.  Finally, it became apparent that in every country, Christians are under some kind of attack - overt or covert, worldly or spiritual.

Satan doesn’t expend a lot of energy in non-Christian countries, where he has many agents to do his work.  There are countries where just believing in Jesus Christ is a crime (Please visit www.persecution.org, then choose ‘country profiles’): On this website they list by country and rate Christian persecution.  You will be able to see what countries have government sanctioned “violent acts of force, including torture, slavery, expulsion, or the withholding of food and humanitarian aid that frequently cause severe depravation or death.”  I would also suggest that you read the latest newsletters to learn what is currently happening).  In these countries all Satan has to do is flame the fires already burning, so they burn hotter in hatred to Christianity.  If you can’t do anything else, stay aware of and pray for Christians being persecuted for their faith. 

At this writing I heard on the radio that more Christian families in America got divorced than non-Christian families.  Why is that?  Overt attacks on Christians in hostile countries are one way Satan works.  But by covert means, in the spiritual realm, he is actively seeking to destroy the effectiveness of the Church in “Christian” countries by tearing apart families.  (I don’t believe he can actually destroy the Church, any more than he could destroy Christ’s body, but he can work to limit its appeal and effectiveness).

Satan’s deceptions are subtle and effective, and developed patiently, but relentlessly over a long period of time.  The result is a Christianity in this present age that is more veneer than substance.  I have heard modern Europe referred to as the Post-Christian Europe.  In a May 2001 article it was reported that once-a-month church attendance in Britain and France was less than 10%, in Scandinavia less than 3%, and to pay bills in Amsterdam the Dutch Reformed were converting churches into luxury apartments  ( T.R. Reid, Washington Post Foreign Service, Sunday, May 6, 2001, p A01).

Tolerance is a tool Satan uses with great effect.  Worldwide, there is a move to ridicule people who show any type of intolerance.  If a person suggests that there is only one way to heaven, they are maligned as fanatics, judgmental, uneducated, narrow-minded and unloving.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  But the label sticks because the people applying that label also don’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, sin, and the Bible itself.  Many of the people complaining about intolerance are from mainline churches, seminaries, and institutions of higher learning, giving their rebuke the sound of authenticity, although the substance is worldly rather than spiritual. 

I am writing this to alert you to the fact that you should not feel comfortable in your church and community.  You are under attack!  As long as you believe you are not under attack and don’t respond, Satan has already won.

OVERCOMING HARDSHIP

Fear Not 

Many Christians will be in great fear.  Fear of what they’ve heard about the Great Tribulation, fear of Satan, and fear of the unknown.  But fear of what the Tribulation will bring is put aside by faith in God.  Those who are strong in the faith help the weaker build their faith and make right choices.  Take the time to memorize these verses, so you can call on them in a time of need.

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I   will help you” (Isa 41:10, 13).

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isa 43:1b-3a).

All of Psalm 27 is about overcoming fear and depending on God.  “The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1-2).

“And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matt 30-31).

Keeping On

If you fail, don’t give up.  Ask God for forgiveness, for his help and grace, and keep going.  We all make mistakes, we all sin, we all flounder on occasion.  Like Peter, we are happy to jump out of the boat and run to Jesus, then we get distracted by the storms around us and start to sink.  But what did Peter do?  He cried out to Jesus, and Jesus quickly jumped to his aid.  So it is with us.  “He was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord save me!’  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him” (Matt 14:30b-31a).

Endurance and steadfastness come from reliance on God and not on our selves.  If we rely on our fellow man or our own strength, we are doomed to failure.  In our time of trial, we need to be mindful of the scriptures exhorting us to stand firm in our faith and knowledge of what is to come.  Remember, Jesus is full of compassion and mercy.  Let these promises sink into your soul.

“Resist him [Satan], standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Peter 5:9).

“As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered.  You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.  The Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (James 5:11).

Overcoming Hardship

Whenever hard times and the end times are mentioned in the Bible, the believers are told to overcome hardship.  When the believers are told about suffering they are experiencing or suffering that is coming, they are encouraged not to loose faith.

Jesus speaking to the disciples about the end times said, “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.  At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matt 24:9-12).

Throughout the book of Revelation, believers in Christ are exhorted to overcome hardship, and they are promised rewards for their faithfulness and victory. 

The Greek word for overcome is, ‘νικαω’4 (nikao), which means, ‘to carry off the victory, come off victorious,’ and ‘of Christians to hold fast their faith even unto death against the power of their foe.’  Nikao is translated: Overcome(s), prevailed, victory, victorious, and conquering.  It appears in twenty-five verses in the New Testament; and significantly, fifteen verses just in Revelation. 

Rev 2:7, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”

Rev 2:11, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.”

Rev 2:17, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna.  I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who received it.”

Rev 2:26-29, “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations – He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery - just as I have received authority from my Father.  I will also give him the morning star.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Rev 3:5, “He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white.  I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Rev 3:12, “Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of God.  Never again will he leave it.  I will write on him the name of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Rev 3:21, “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Rev 12:11, “They overcame him [the beast] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”

Rev 15:2, “And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name.”

Rev 21:6-7, “He said to me: “It is done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.  He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”

The Christians of the early church thought they were going through the Great Tribulation, and they did not think it odd that they were suffering from all kinds of persecution.  Many Christians and most of the apostles were martyred as they waited for what they thought was the imminent return of Jesus.

The Apostle Peter thought the end was near and Jesus was coming soon.  “The end of all things is near.  Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray” (1 Peter 4:7).

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophesy, report, or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come” (2 Thess 2:1-2).

Throughout the ages believers have never been spared from suffering.  Fox’s Book of Martyrs details some of the suffering inflicted on believers, but it certainly does not chronicle it all.  In more recent times, hundreds of thousands of Christians in Moslem countries, China, Africa, Southeast and Southwest Asia, and other places, have suffered death rather than deny the name of Jesus Christ.

Revival comes during times of pain.  The greatest revival in history will take place during the Great Tribulation.  Incomparable suffering will create incomparable depths of faith.  Let us, therefore, emulate the example set before us by our peers in the past. 

Life during the Tribulation requires believers to know God and know the enemy.  Why do we fight?  Because if we don’t resist the enemy, then he has already beaten us.  If we don’t resist Satan because of our ignorance, incompetence, or stubbornness the result is the same. 

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Cor 15:58).