How to overcome persecution

One of my favorite Books in the Bible is Revelation. It is the only Book in the Bible that promises a special blessing to the person who reads, understands and obeys it. God does not want us to be intimidated by this tremendous Book.

It is the revelation or the unveiling of the Lord Jesus (Revelation 1:1). The better we understand Revelation the better we will understand Jesus in all of His power and glory. In Revelation 2:8-11 the focus is upon the church of Smyrna. Smyrna means “death.” This church lived in the face of death. Persecution was a reality for this church.

Many of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world face persecution. China today is persecuting believers. Church buildings are being destroyed. The Chinese government is burning Bibles. Chinese Christians face the risk of losing their jobs and imprisonment. Even in America we can see the gathering storm clouds of persecution. We can see the persecution coming on the distant horizon.

The church today faces a great threat from radical Islam. Within four years of Mohammed’s death over 300,000 Christians were killed by Islam. The great churches of the first century- Antioch, Jerusalem and Ephesus- were destroyed by Islam. Islam today is on the march once again.

We need to be strong! We need to stand! Revelation 2:8-11 teaches that the worst thing is not to die for our faith. The worst thing is to be unfaithful to our Lord and be ashamed at His coming.

How can we overcome persecution? What are some keys for overcoming tough times? Our Messiah said, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.” Revelation chapter 2:10-11 provides three keys for overcoming persecution.

The first key is to not fear. Jesus commanded, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer.” This is the last of twenty-five times in the New Testament Jesus told His followers not to fear. We are not to walk in fear. We are to walk in faith. Back in verse 8 Jesus is described as “…the first and the last, who died and came to life.” The expression “the first and the last” means that Jesus is in control. Our God is sovereign. Nothing comes into your life unless God allows it. Every event is Father filtered!

We build faith into our lives by meditating on God’s Word. In Romans 10:17 we are told, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” If you are fearful, dive deep into Scripture. As we get to know our God better and better we will trust Him more and more.

The second key is to understand that persecution is limited. Jesus said, “Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation.” Nothing goes on forever. Tough times have an end point. Moses spent forty years in the desert. That is a long time but it eventually ended. Joseph spent thirteen years as a slave or a prisoner. Eventually his tough times ended also.

Ranger school is the preeminent school in the US Army. It lasts eight weeks. Time is spent in the desert, in the mountains and in the swamps but eventually it ends. Your tough times will not last forever. Eternity is long. This life is short.

The third key is to focus our theology. Jesus said that faithfulness results in the crown of life. The Christian does not experience the second death. Please understand that no person is saved by their good works. Salvation is on the basis of grace. It is God’s unmerited favor in sending His Son to die on the cross. We deserve the opposite- God’s wrath for our sins- but God is merciful. Repentance and faith in Jesus bring salvation. Gratitude for our salvation produces a life of faithfulness.

The Bible is clear. There is a first death and a second death (Revelation 20:6). The first death is the death of the body. The second death is the death of the body and the soul. The second death is eternal separation from God. It includes hell and the lake of fire.

Hebrews 2:14-15 says that for a Christian Jesus takes away even the fear of death. At the right time Jesus tells a believer, “It is time to come home.” The angels carry our souls into God’s presence (Luke 16:22). For a Christian the day of our death is better than the day of our birth (Ecclesiastes 7:1). However, for the unbeliever the result is very different. Rejection of Christ’s claims brings the second death.

In the year 155 AD Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, died as a martyr for his faith. He was given the chance to renounce his faith. Polycarp said, “Eighty-six years I have served Him and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?” He was then burned at the stake. The worst thing is not to die for our faith. The worst thing is to be unfaithful to Jesus and be ashamed at His coming.

Ethan Hansen is the pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.