The Blood of the Saints by Feed the Hunger

the

Blood of the

Saints A Biblical look at persecution

Joseph L. Williams

the

Blood of the

Saints

A Biblical look at persecution

Joseph L. Williams

Table of Contents Introduction 5 Old Testament Day 1: 7 Prophetic Tug-of-War Day 2: 9 Feeling Picked On Day 3: 11 Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah Day 4: 13 Daniel’s in the Den Day 5: 15 Extermination Day 6: 17 The Man Who Lost Everything New Testament Day 7: 19 John the Baptizer Day 8: 21 The Most Famous Martyr Day 9: 23 The Stoning of Stephen Day 10: 25 Saul to Paul Day 11: 27 The First Followers Day 12: 29 In and Out of Trouble Day 13: 31 Can You Drink the Cup I Drink? Day 14: 33 Peter the Prisoner Day 15: 35 The Faith Chapter

A Look at the End of the Age Day 16: 37 End Times Martyrdom Day 17: 39 Lots of White Robes Day 18: 41 The Two Witnesses Day 19: 43 One Bad Beast Day 20: 45 The End Times Key Day 21: 47 Blood for Blood Day 22: 49 Babylon the Slaughterer Day 23: 51 More than Conquerors Guidance for the Present Day 24: 53 A Warning from Jesus Day 25: 55 Accepting Hardship Day 26: 57 Love Your Persecutors Day 27: 59 Persecution in America – Part One Day 28: 61 Persecution in America – Part Two Day 29: 63 Paul’s Proper Perspective Day 30: 65 Burning Coals Conclusion 67 Do You Believe in Jesus?

Introduction I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. Revelation 17:6 In many translations, the key phrase I’ve honed in on for the title of this devotional is stated as “the blood of the saints”. When I first thought of writing a devotional about the persecution against believers mentioned in the Bible, this phrase immediately popped into my mind. It is so powerful to me, for we are saved by the blood of Jesus, and many have and will have the opportunity to repay that eternal act of kindness with their own blood. The Greek word for persecute is diōkō. It means to put to flight, drive away, or pursue. It is also sometimes the word thlibō, which means to press, squeeze, or crush. You get the point. To persecute, as it relates to our study, means to pursue, harass, and oppress followers of Christ. Let me share with you my two primary purposes for writing this devotional. But first, let me tell you what you will not find in this study. This is not a collection of modern-day stories or quotes from wise people about persecution. It is not meant to be comprehensive; this is a devotional, not a book. Lastly, it is not meant to depress you, but rather to inspire and encourage your faith into action. Here is what I am trying to accomplish with this devotional and the other devotionals I’ve written before it: I’m trying to motivate you to dive deeper into God’s Word. It is to inform you of the recurrent theme of persecution that often comes with a life of service to the Lord. And in the here and now, I am trying to prepare you and the American Church for the rising threat of persecution on our own soil. The precursors are already here and growing. We will look at persecution in the Old and New Testament, at End Times persecution, and close with warnings and guidance that Jesus and others like Paul give for us today. Not surprisingly, persecution is discussed much more extensively in the New Testament, so we’ll spend a good bit of time studying there. Whenever possible, I will share some practical application for you to consider. Until such a day when persecution is found within our own borders, we need this practical application. We also need to prepare our-

selves for the future. It doesn’t take a genius to see that America is in a post-Christian era, and hostility is growing. So why should you study persecution? The path of the church throughout history is paved with the blood of the saints. One day you might be persecuted too. One day you might be martyred. It is wise, then, to at least be as knowledgeable and as spiritually prepared as possible. With that in mind, let’s get started…

Day 1 Prophetic Tug-of-War You are to destroy the house of Ahab your master, and I will avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the Lord’s servants shed by Jezebel. 2 Kings 9:7 Jezebel married Ahab, king of Israel, who was the worst king Israel had experienced up to that point. He set up the worship of false gods and led the people astray (1 Kings 16:29-33). Jezebel also made it a point to persecute and kill the prophets of the Lord. God punished Israel through the prophet Elijah by sending a drought. Obadiah, a devout believer in God, hid a hundred prophets of the Lord in two caves and successfully protected them from Jezebel (1 Kings 18:4). What followed was a showdown between Elijah and Ahab on Mount Carmel (18:16-40). It was one prophet of the Lord against the 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah that Ahab had summoned. The pagans lost because the One (God) worked through the one (Elijah) to bring fire down upon an altar soaked in water, unlike the false prophets who could get no fire started on their altar. The Israelites saw Who the one true God was that day, and Elijah then had the false prophets killed. What should have been a great victory that increased Elijah’s faith instead turned into a tuck-tail-and-run moment for him in Chapter 19. Once Jezebel found out what had happened, she sent word to Elijah that he wouldn’t live another day. Elijah became afraid, fled, and asked the Lord to take his life. But the Lord cared for him and fed him via an angel, and later appeared to him in a cave. What then took place is inspirational. God demonstrated to Elijah that sometimes He speaks in the quietest of voices. I encourage you to read this passage (1 Kings 19:11-18). God also comforted him and brought him help in the form of Elisha, who would become his spiritual successor. However, Jezebel wasn’t finished spreading her poison. She took the lead in having another man stoned to death because Ahab wanted his vineyard. As a result, God was going to wait and bring disaster during the reign of Ahab’s son since Ahab had shown repentance. Ahab later

died in a battle with Aram. As a consequence of killing God’s prophets, Jezebel met her gruesome fate in 2 Kings 9:30-37. Let’s look at two quick practical applications from this Ahab/Jezebel versus Elijah tug-of-war. First, be careful to distinguish between a true prophet, preacher, or teacher and a false one. False prophets have been around for thousands of years. They tell people what they want to hear, not what they need to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4). So, be on the lookout. There are plenty here in America. Second, look again at 1 Kings 19:11-18. Realize that God controls elements like wind, fire, and earthquakes, but He often speaks to our spirit through the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit. I’ve learned that the most successful path to hearing this quiet voice is to be still. This is not easy to do in our loud and fast-paced world, but find a way to do so.

Day 2 Feeling Picked On Now Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him there, saying, “Why do you prophesy as you do?” Jeremiah 32:3a Jeremiah and Job could probably have related to each other. Both went through horrible ordeals, and they sometimes wondered where God was in the midst of it all. We’ll look at Job on another day, but today we focus on Jeremiah, who suffered repeated persecutions over a long period of time. Jeremiah’s writings make up the longest book in the Bible as far as total word count. He prophesied during the reigns of five kings of Judah. The first was a good king, Josiah, but those who followed were not. Jeremiah’s prophecies were not of the warm fuzzy type, but were instead bad news. He confronted the people on their sin and idolatry, and warned of judgment if repentance did not occur. Jeremiah was arrested and spent much of his life in captivity within his own country until Jerusalem was captured by the Babylonians (38:28). He was also confined to the courtyard of the guard, which was basically house arrest with soldiers (32:2-3, 33:1). He was beaten and put in the stocks by the official in charge of the temple (20:1-2). In other words, he was persecuted by the very people who were supposedly also serving the Lord. At another point, Jeremiah was surrounded by an angry mob (26:89). He was beaten again and wrongfully confined to a dungeon and then to the courtyard of the guard once again (37:12-21). In the next chapter he was lowered into a cistern to die of starvation (38:6-13). So, you can see it was a tough life! All of this happened to Jeremiah because he was being obedient. He was merely conveying messages from the Lord to His people. And he had to watch the downward spiral and eventual downfall of the kingdom of Judah. He also prophesied over other nations that would be judged. Doesn’t sound like a fun job or an exciting life, does it? Who would want to convey a message of God’s judgment to others? But I ask you this, what choice did Jeremiah have? What choice do any of us have if God is telling us to do something?

On the future Day of Judgment, we will have no excuses (Revelation 20:11-15). We will answer for everything we did and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do. It will be useless to blame the hardship, persecution, or martyrdom we wanted to avoid. If our name is in the book of life, we will be with the Lord forever, but our reward will be much less. See the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-29 about obedience in relation to reward. We must be compelled to act in obedience to Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s direction, regardless of the circumstances. That often means a more challenging life here, but a greater reward in heaven.

Day 3 Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants!” Daniel 3:28a It was the time of the Babylonian captivity. Daniel and three fellow Hebrews, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, were chosen to enter the king’s service because they were “young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified…” (Daniel 1:4). You might know them better as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. It is unfortunate that they are remembered for the pagan names given to them. Each of their Babylonian names had the name of a pagan god embedded in them, whereas their Hebrew names had the name of God embedded in them. In spite of their oppressors’ attempt to erase God from the men’s identities, they remained steadfast and true to Him, and are most remembered for their bold stand in the face of imminent martyrdom. These four young men were on a special diet, but they also served a special God. It wasn’t the false god that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up for everyone to worship. The Lord blessed them in the eyes of the king and elevated them as “administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court” (2:49). An image of gold was set up by King Nebuchadnezzar, one that was 90 feet high and nine feet wide. Because Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah refused to worship it, they were reported to the king. Their response to him is so inspiring and worth fully quoting: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (3:17-18). We’ll come back to their stand in a minute, but you remember the

rest of the story. The three men were bound and thrown into a massive furnace to be burned alive. The flames were so hot that the soldiers who threw them in were killed. Yet an angel, perhaps the Lord Himself, came to them in the flesh. The unharmed men were freed, and Nebuchadnezzar praised God, but he didn’t learn his lesson. That didn’t really happen until after he had lost his mind for seven years (Daniel 4). What is our lesson to be learned from the fiery furnace? God can rescue us from any hardship, persecution, or martyrdom if He so chooses. “But even if He does not”, we already have the victory with our eternity secured. Let us have the confidence of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah as we – with God at our side – face whatever this fallen world and Satan may throw our way.

Day 4 Daniel’s in the Den Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions? Daniel 6:20b Let’s look at the other famous story from the book of Daniel. It is arguably one of the top five or ten most well-known stories from the Bible, especially for children. Yet, I dare say that none of us have tied the word “persecution” or “martyrdom” to this story. That is exactly what it was. Daniel continued to climb the governmental ranks of subsequent kings, serving Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzar, and then Darius the Mede. Daniel was one of three administrators over 120 satraps, or provincial governors, in Darius’ kingdom. He outshone the other two administrators, so the king was going to promote Daniel over everyone but himself. This bred jealousy and a plot to take down Daniel, which worked to a degree. The king in his pride and vanity agreed to the conspirators’ idea “that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den” (Daniel 6:7b). What Daniel did should not only be an admonition to us, but also a good guide for daily living. Three times each day, Daniel would get on his knees to thank God and ask for help (verse 10). Once the conspirators witnessed this act, it was then merely a technicality of exposing him to King Darius. There was no way the king would go back on his royal decree. You know the rest of the story. Daniel was thrown into a den of hungry lions, spent the night, and was found unharmed at dawn by the king himself. Daniel was freed and the conspirators and their families were fed to the lions. But it didn’t end there! The king issued another decree that in “every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel” (verse 26a). A life lived in faithful prayer is a life full of peace, love, and joy. The world may be going to hell in a handbasket, as the saying goes, but we can still rise above it all and worship our Savior. Regardless of the outcome, we can trust the God who loves us, saves us, and is gifting us with a sinless eternity. So, as we live day-to-day in the here and now, let’s be faithful in our prayer lives. Let’s make it a discipline to read God’s Word, meditate on it, and speak and

listen to God through the Holy Spirit in prayer.

Day 5 Extermination For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:14 The ten chapters of the book of Esther encapsulate a story about one of the most well-known women in the Bible. It is an incredibly inspirational tale from Jewish history that could have been tragic instead. Throughout history, the Jewish people have been the target of extermination. We are all aware of the Nazis’ attempt to do so in the modern era. They murdered six million, and yet today, the Jews have increased to more than double that number. In today’s Bible story, King Xerxes was looking for a new queen because his first one named Vashti refused to appear before him and his banquet guests while he was intoxicated. A Jewish girl named Esther was one of many chosen as a possible replacement. She found favor in Xerxes’ eyes, and was then named queen. This is when the story turns dark, as the cousin who adopted her, Mordecai, refused to pay honor to a man honored by Xerxes named Haman. This caused hatred to boil up in Haman’s heart against Mordecai and the Jewish people. So plans were successfully made to pit the king against the Jews and exterminate them. Mordecai realized that their only hope was for Esther to appear before King Xerxes, earn his favor, and expose Haman’s plans. His words to Esther should be motivation to us all, as God seeks to use us to carry out His plans. See today’s verse. God wants to use us like Esther “for such a time as this” when sin needs to be uncovered and the truth made known. Otherwise, He will find someone else to do it, even though it was supposed to be our task to obediently carry it out. Esther asked the Jews to join her in prayer and fasting for three days prior to her appearance before the king. You can read the rest of the story, but thanks to Mordecai’s wisdom and Esther’s boldness, Haman’s plan backfired, and he and the enemies of the Jews were killed.

There will be moments in life when we need to be like Mordecai and encourage someone to speak up. And there will be moments in life when we need to be the one speaking up. Now is one of those moments for us who believe. We need to speak up in America for the truth of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Word. We need to come out publicly against the global persecution of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s people, be they in Israel or elsewhere. And we need to pray and fast for the persecuted church around the world.

Day 6 The Man Who Lost Everything Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. Job 1:21 The first line in the book of Job sounds like a fairy tale: “In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil”. But as we know, it was about to be anything but a bed of roses for Job. Yes, it had a happy ending, but the journey to get there was brutal. Can you imagine being persecuted by Satan himself with God’s approval (Job 1:12)? Certainly this is something our finite minds cannot fully comprehend – the relational dynamic between God and the ultimate fallen being. By the end of the first chapter, it seemed that Job had essentially lost everything over the course of just one day: servants, animals, and all of his offspring. In the midst of unspeakable mourning, he stated the above declaration. Oh, if only that were the end of his misery! Next, Job was afflicted from head to toe with painful sores. What follows is chapter after chapter of sorrowful soul-searching dialogue between Job and his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Unfortunately, they were not very helpful and didn’t give the advice God wanted (42:7). Did Job actually lose everything? Well, not quite. He lost everything but his faith in God. It was tested to the extreme for sure, and he seemed to have doubts and frustration, but God never left him even when it felt like it. Then a great thing happened in Chapter 38:1: “Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm”. Job had passed the test after great sacrifice. “The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part” (42:2). Job went on to have over twenty thousand animals, ten children, and many grandchildren. There is a statement made by Job responding to Zophar in the midst of all this that has greatly ministered to me in my times of trouble. It is the

first half of verse 15 in Chapter 13: “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him”. When things look rather bleak, I lean on the words of a man whose faith had been tested far beyond anything I have experienced. You should too. No matter if it’s persecution, illness, abuse, disaster, etc., we must put our hope in God. This means having faith that His Word is true, He is in control, and He has the victory. Tribulation and death are but two small grains in the sand dunes of eternity.

Day 7 John the Baptizer A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3 John the Baptist was a curious character. You can admit it: we all think he was weird for wearing camel skin and a leather belt and eating locusts and wild honey. Here’s a guy out in the Judean wilderness proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2). Sounds like the opening scene of a doomsday movie. People came from all over to hear John preach, to confess their sins, and to be baptized. Jesus also came to John and was baptized, even though John felt unworthy to do it (who wouldn’t?!). Jesus’ public ministry began to increase after some hard core testing in the wilderness for 40 days. John’s ministry took on a lesser role (John 3:28-31). King Herod didn’t like John because John was calling him out for sleeping with his brother’s wife, Herodias. So, he put him in prison. Then, after being mesmerized by the dancing of the daughter of his adultery partner, Herod vowed by oath to give her whatever she asked. Herodias directed her to ask for John’s head, and that’s what she got – on a platter (Matthew 14:1-12; also Mark 6:14-29). Not a very fitting ending to the physical life of the man with the spirit of Elijah who prepared the way for the coming of the Lord. John was beheaded merely for speaking the truth about another man’s sin. Many are in prison today for similar reasons. The truth can often be a source of anger to those walking in sin. John the Baptist’s life mission is the exactly the same as ours. Like John, we are called to announce that Jesus is coming. For John, it was in regards to Christ’s First Coming. For us, it is the Second (and Final) Coming. We need to proclaim that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). And we should believe it and share it to the point of being willing to go to prison or be beheaded for it. In the meantime, we must also heed John’s words that in our lives, Jesus “must become greater; I must become less”. We are here to do the will of God, not our own will. This is hard to do without constant effort.

It is a daily battle against our sinful human nature, but with the help of the indwelt Holy Spirit, we can do it.

Day 8 The Most Famous Martyr But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 During Easter, we often concentrate on the specific episode of Jesus being crucified. No doubt that it is perhaps the most brutal part of Jesus’ final day. However, Jesus went through a lot before the spikes were driven through His hands and feet. Let’s look at what physically happened to Jesus from the time of His arrest to His crucifixion, starting in Matthew 26:67. After Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was spit upon, struck with fists, slapped, and then flogged. Perhaps most of you have seen the movie, The Passion of the Christ. If you did, you will no doubt remember one of the most gruesome moments of the movie. One of the Roman soldiers whipped Jesus to the point where some of the metal pieces at the end of the flogging strips caught on His skin. The soldier waited a moment, and then yanked it, ripping His skin to shreds. I cringed when I saw this. After watching this accurate depiction of what flogging does to human flesh, the gruesome torture of Jesus suddenly became very real to me. After the flogging, the soldiers stripped Jesus naked and mocked Him by jamming a “crown” made of long thorns on His head. They placed a robe around His body and pretended to worship Him. The soldiers spit on Him again and beat Him in the head with a staff over and over. They stripped Jesus once again and crucified Him by driving spikes through His hands and feet. The priests and people mocked Him continuously until He breathed His last breath. The Gospel of John mentioned that they were about to break Jesus’ legs to speed up His death. People who are crucified live longer by trying to stay erect as long as possible. With broken legs, the crucified would have to slump down, and thus die of asphyxiation (being unable to breathe). Since Jesus was already dead, the soldier speared Him in the side instead. Jesus endured a brutal torture and death. But even this did not compare

to bearing the weight of humanityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sins on His shoulders. He did this so that we would not have to endure a torturous eternity separated from Him. We cannot fathom what Jesus went through for us. Express your gratitude to Him right now. He was martyred for you.

Day 9 The Stoning of Stephen And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him. Acts 22:20 Perhaps the martyr whose death received the most attention in the New Testament (along with John the Baptist) was Stephen in Acts 6 and 7. Stephen was one of seven wise men appointed to oversee the ministry to widows in Acts 6. Stephen was described as “a man full of grace and power” who performed “great wonders and miraculous signs among the people”. As was often the case when there was a mighty work of the Lord going on, opposition arose. Some of the Jews stirred up false accusations against Stephen and brought him before the high religious court, called the Sanhedrin. The high priest asked him to refute the charges against him. What followed was a powerful, anointed speech by Stephen, which recapped Jewish history from Abraham to Jesus (Acts 7). The priests were so infuriated once he spoke about Jesus as the Messiah that “they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him”. Put your imagination to work. Close your eyes and picture Stephen having the life slowly taken from him with each stone thrown. Look at the angry mob that was swirling around him, vile words and curses accompanying each hurled stone. Look back at Stephen as he cried out, “Lord, do not hold it against them”. Can you see him? Can you see the stone that took his life? Can you see yourself in his place? Or would you have been one to watch, maybe even hold coats like a man named Saul? Stephen is a vivid example of the extreme price paid for being a follower of Christ in a hostile environment. He shows us how to stand firm, speak up, and keep going forward until our physical life is over. I am led to believe that Stephen’s life and death was a key component of Paul’s conversion. We will look at this tomorrow. As Paul shared his faith in Christ to the masses in Jerusalem while in custody, he referenced Stephen in the verse mentioned above. Stephen’s life teaches us an important lesson. How we behave in our living and dying can be a great witness to both the saved and unsaved.

We are being watched, so may our lives be a testimony that points people to the Savior.

Day 10 Saul to Paul Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 1 Timothy 1:15 Yesterday we looked at Stephen’s martyrdom. Saul played a key role in it and the subsequent persecution of Christians (Acts 8:1-3). Yet, God miraculously changed his name and his life starting on the Damascus Road. I won’t go into the details of this radical life change, but you can read it for yourself in the first half of Acts 9. I am so thankful for Paul’s night and day transformation because his letters have played such a pivotal role in my Christian walk, and in the walks of untold millions of other Christians. Half of the books in the New Testament were written by Paul. Much of our instruction on how to be a follower of Christ comes from a former notorious Jesus-hater. Aren’t we glad that God did not give up on Paul? I know I’m glad God never gave up on me. If God can save Paul, He can save anybody. Period. No one is out of reach for God. No matter how impossible it may seem, no matter how ludicrous the thought may be, it’s possible. The simple fact is that we don’t know who all will become followers of Christ before their death. If we did, then there would be no point in sharing the story of Jesus with others. Therefore, we must have faith that all have the potential of believing in the Lord. Think of a person in your life that you personally feel has the least chance of finding God. They may be anti-Christian, hostile to any mention of God, and living a sin-filled life. Maybe they abuse drugs, alcohol, or family members. Perhaps it’s your mother or father, a sibling, in-law, friend, or co-worker. Did someone come to mind? Did more than one person come to mind? God can change them in the twinkling of an eye. The same grace that is available to you is also available to them. With the same vigor that they ridicule, hurt, and persecute, they can fervently preach the Word and love others. Make it a point to pray for this person on a consistent basis. God is long-suffering, which means He is ready to wait for quite a long

time for souls to be saved, even if it takes decades (2 Peter 3:9). Isn’t it worth the wait to see a life forever changed for the better, rather than see it wasted and followed by an eternity away from the presence of God? So, pray for that least-reachable person in your life. Maybe God will use you to save them. Are you ready and available with your prayers and actions? You might be the only person that ever reaches out to them, the only example of Jesus that they ever see. Don’t worry about rejection. It’s God who moves hearts. It’s just our job to be available and obedient.

Day 11 The First Followers Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. Matthew 24:9 Most of the martyrdom of the early followers of Christ, and the gruesome details surrounding these events, are relatively absent in the New Testament. However, Jesus did warn his disciples that persecution and death would come, as we see above. In Hebrews 11:35-38, the author (likely Paul) spoke generally of the hardships and methods of death that many of the early faithful endured. We’ll look at that chapter another day. I highly recommend the book, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. It goes into detail concerning what the first martyrs experienced according to historical accounts and Christian tradition. Let’s look at how the twelve disciples died. We know that Judas Iscariot committed suicide after he betrayed Jesus (Matthew 27:1-10). James, the son of Zebedee, was the first disciple to be martyred. He was beheaded by Herod according to Acts 12:1-2. We’ll look at James another day. Here is what happened to the other disciples as best we know: Matthew was beheaded by a battle-ax. Thomas was run through with a spear and thrown into a burning oven. Andrew, Thaddaeus (Jude), Simon the Zealot, and Bartholomew (Nathanael) were all crucified. Philip was crucified on an X-shaped cross. Peter was crucified upside down. Judas’ replacement, Matthias, was stoned and then beheaded. James, the brother of Jesus, was either stoned to death or pushed off a tower and then clubbed to death. Only John died of natural causes while exiled on the island of Patmos. How about other early notable believers? Dr. Luke was hanged, John the Baptist and Paul were beheaded, Stephen was stoned, and Mark was dismembered. Tradition also states that Antipas (Revelation 2:13), who was considered the first martyr in Asia, was slowly roasted to death. As you can see from this gruesome list, the physical cost of being one of the first followers of Jesus was ultimate. It was like being on a most

wanted list. Satan and his evil forces worked through the dark hearts of men to bring about the bloody and gruesome deaths of these saints. However, this didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop the Gospel from spreading to the world. Ask yourself this question, would you be willing to walk closely with the Messiah if you knew sometime later in life you would be martyred? Jesus warned His disciples in Matthew 24:9 that this would be the case. And He warns us still today.

Day 12 In and Out of Trouble If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. Acts 5:38b-39 The latter half of Acts 5 shares how the disciples got in and out of trouble. God was using them in amazing ways, and crowds from all over were coming to see what was going on. The “religious” leaders did not like it. They didn’t like the change in the status quo that viewed their teachings as supreme. The high priest and Sadducees got pretty jealous and put the disciples in the public jail. But an angel of the Lord let them out without anyone noticing. There they were the next day, teaching the people in the temple courts. They were brought back to the Sanhedrin, who further harassed them and tried to prevent them from sharing about Jesus. Peter’s response contained words that we should live by today: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (verse 29). They were then warned, flogged, and released. I’m amazed that they rejoiced “because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name” (verse 41). May we all be willing to pay the same price with the same attitude. There is an often-overlooked reality that these apostles faced. On multiple occasions Jesus, His disciples, and subsequent followers were often targeted – not by the secular governing authorities – but by the Pharisees and/or Sadducees, corporately called the Sanhedrin. What is my point here? Basically they were persecuted by the Jewish equivalent of the church governing body, but one that did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. With the overseas ministries we work with, if there is a Christian presence in that particular country, our partners have told me that their primary opposition is from others in the so-called Body of Christ. I use the word, “so-called,” because you wouldn’t expect this kind of behavior in the true Body of Christ. The same is true of the American ministries we partner with. They all seem to say that some of the biggest roadblocks and obstacles they face are from those in the church, those that don’t like

the status quo being changed. How sad. Don’t be surprised that when you go on the offensive for the Lord you receive opposition from others who claim to be believers. God is worth the effort of enduring any and all opposition, even if it is from those who believe they are acting on God’s behalf. Just remind yourself that they are really “fighting against God”.

Day 13 Can You Drink the Cup I Drink? It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. Acts 12:1-2 James and John were brothers and the sons of Zebedee, or Boanerges (Mark 3:17). This word means “thunder”, so James and John were the Sons of Thunder. Sounds like the name of a hard rock band! One day, the brothers were preparing their nets for fishing with their father when Jesus called them. They immediately obeyed and followed Him (Matthew 4:21-22). James and John, along with Peter, were especially close to Jesus. The threesome accompanied Jesus to the house of Jairus to heal his daughter (Luke 8:40-56), on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13), and deeper than the other disciples into the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus prayed before His betrayal (Matthew 26:36-45). The two brothers wanted to call fire down from heaven on a Samaritan village that refused to accommodate them (Luke 9:51-56). They, along with their mother, also asked Jesus if they could sit on either side of Him in heaven (Matthew 20:20-28, Mark 10:35-45). As you can see, these guys were pretty bold. Jesus’ response to them foreshadowed His death, as well as the deaths of all the disciples except Judas and John: “‘You don’t know what you are asking,’ Jesus said. ‘Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?’” This question about drinking the cup is a Jewish expression, meaning Jesus was asking if they would share his fate. A cup is also symbolic of God’s wrath (Psalm 75:8, Isaiah 51:17). This is why Jesus asked God in the garden to “Take this cup from me” (Mark 14:36). Likewise, baptism is symbolic of death (Luke 12:50). We go down in the water, die to our sins, and are raised up in newness of life. As we saw two days ago, only John among the disciples escaped a martyr’s death, although he spent the rest of his latter days exiled on Patmos. James, the other son of Thunder, met his fate at the hands of King Herod, who was persecuting and arresting this growing band of

Christ-followers around ten years after the crucifixion. As you recall, James was then beheaded just as John the Baptist had been. Just as Jesus asked James and John, He is asking us today, “Can you drink the cup I drink?” “Are you willing to die for me?” “Will you surrender your will to Me regardless of the nature of your death?” Take a deep look at your heart, your commitment, and your conviction to follow Jesus the rest of your life, to the grave, and into eternity.

Day 14 Peter the Prisoner So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Acts 12:5 Perhaps the prison story that has the most detail in the New Testament is that of Peter in Acts 12:1-19. King Herod realized that arresting and executing church leaders increased his popularity with the Jews. So, he arrested and imprisoned Peter, put him under heavy guard, and made plans to put him on public trial. This trial would have most likely ended in Peter’s execution. The night before the trial, an angel appeared to Peter and told him to get up. His shackles suddenly fell to the ground. The angel instructed him to get dressed – it was time to go! Peter had been sleeping so well, he thought he was having a dream. Peter walked through the prison, passing by the first and second guards unnoticed. The gate that led out to the city opened on its own! At this point, the angel left Peter, and it suddenly dawned on him that this was real and not a dream. Amazed, he went to Mary’s house. Mary was the mother of John Mark, a disciple and companion of the original twelve apostles. The upper room in her house was packed with people praying, no doubt for Peter in captivity and that he might somehow escape his impending execution. When he knocked on the door, a servant named Rhoda answered and recognized his voice. She was so shocked that she left him outside the door to go tell the others. They came to the door and were surprised, to say the least, at who they found. Peter told them to spread the news of his release among the Christians, and he then left for another place. We can glean at least two lessons from this story. First, notice that the church was praying for Peter. This was a key (pun intended) to his supernatural escape. We should be lifting up our persecuted and imprisoned brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer daily. They are enduring solitary confinement and torture, often without hope of ever seeing the light of day again unless they renounce their Savior. We should pray specifically that the Lord would send His angels to protect and comfort them, to give

them strength in their hour of need, and even release them if it is His will. Second, just as the Father sent His son Jesus Christ to literally set captives (like Peter) free, He also came to spiritually set people free. Those who are not saved are captive to sin and will suffer an eternal separation in Hell from their Savior when they die. This will truly be a torture like nothing ever experienced here on earth. It will never end. God doesn’t want this to be mankind’s fate. Isaiah 49:9 states that the Lord came “to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’” We need to help these unsaved prisoners all around us find their freedom in Christ!

Day 15 The Faith Chapter The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. Hebrews 11:38 Hebrews 11 is a great chapter to read about people – named and unnamed – who exercised their faith at key moments. This chapter is often referred to as the “Faith Hall of Fame”. The word, “faith”, is used 28 times in this chapter in the New International Version. So, you get an idea of the multiple actions that were taken by exercising this particular fruit of the Spirit. With names like Abraham, Moses, Joseph, and Rahab, there is a deep well of Bible stories to be studied from this chapter. We’ll look at a similar list of all the challenging and harsh things that Paul alone went through for the sake of the Gospel on another day. Today we’ll look at a list in Hebrews 11 of what people have endured by faith through the centuries (35b-38a): “…There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated…” What amazes me when I read this short passage in particular, is what the early followers of Christ were willing to do for their Savior. This might be considered religious fanaticism by some, but let me differentiate. Christians were willing to go through this for the sake of love, not hate, nor to appease some angry god. It’s that simple. Jesus went through it all and more for us. Should we not be willing to do the same in gratitude? And guess what, you’re dead already! Galatians 2:20 reminds us that we have been crucified with Christ and we no longer live. Christ lives in and through us now – at least that’s the way it’s supposed to be. I encourage you to pledge that your actions going forward will reflect a life

surrendered to God. In my opinion, this chapter is one of the richest in the Bible. Take the time to study each instance of “by faith” and it will strengthen your own resolve to act by faith in the days ahead. Don’t skim over the highlighted passage of this chapter even if you find it difficult to read or comprehend. Pray that your faith may be strong enough to endure whatever is needed to further the cause of Christ.

Day 16 End Times Martyrdom They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Revelation 6:10 The book of Revelation can be confusing because it’s so cryptic. Much symbolism is involved in the messages being shared. All manner of men wiser than I cannot disagree more on the interpretations of these passages. There are those who believe that very little can be taken literally, that everything mentioned was fulfilled in the First Century, or that it all takes place in the future. Still others believe that it has a measure of dual fulfillment (First Century and future). Regardless, we won’t try to solve this dilemma in this section of the devotional. As we continue this study about an often overlooked subject here in the West, we’re now going to look at the persecution that takes place at the End of the Age. This means the time just before and at the Second Coming of Jesus. So, we will frame our study today and in the coming days as if Revelation takes place – at least in part – in the future. As I’ve already noted, Revelation can be confusing. Items like seals, trumpets, plagues, and bowls are mentioned. What we’re looking at today is the fifth seal that is opened (Revelation 6:9-11). The Apostle John was given a glimpse into heaven as to what will happen. He saw a multitude of souls under the altar of God that had been martyred for their faith. They asked God to avenge their blood. What happened next is a bit sobering. They were told to wait longer because more are still to be martyred. Wow! Think about that. As I turn to my own imagination, I think about the many people in between who have been killed for their faith, wondering and asking God why He hasn’t acted yet to bring an end to the killing. This also leads me to believe that things are really bad on earth and the number of martyrs is growing daily. Yet, God will wait because there are more yet to pay the ultimate price, and there are more yet to be saved. God’s sovereign plan is always in action. One day we might be praying for relief from persecution or even the threat of martyrdom, but let’s close with some practical application. I

imagine that all of us have asked God, “How long?” in our prayers. Perhaps it’s for the healing of a loved one, an elusive job opportunity, the birth of a healthy child – the list goes on. Find peace knowing that God hears your prayers and is acting in such a way as to bring glory to Himself, save lost souls, develop your faith, and teach you His ways until the fullness of His timing has been fulfilled.

Day 17 Lots of White Robes These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:14 Let’s look further at this mass of humanity at the feet of God, first mentioned in the sixth chapter of Revelation and also in the seventh. After the sixth seal is opened, and the 144,000 Jews are sealed for ministry during the final days, John was given a glorious vision. It was of an innumerable gathering of believers who had died and were wearing white robes and holding palm branches. They were worshipping the true King: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (verse 10). But they were not alone. All the angels were there, as well as the elders and four living creatures. See Revelation 4 for a description of these heavenly beings and the throne of God. It is truly fascinating. Let’s stop and praise God with them before we go any further: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” (verse 12) We then learn more about what these martyred saints were doing with their time in heaven. Their suffering, torture, and tears were gone forever. Instead they stayed before the throne and served God night and day. This probably sounds like a foreign concept to us. The closest context we have to this act is our worship in church or in our personal time with the Lord – that is, if either even exist in our lives. Most of our lives aren’t built around worship, much less an intentional daily service to the Lord. So, if you aren’t experiencing this, then this chapter might not be appealing to you. Be honest with yourself. I encourage you with all your heart to pursue these holy habits in your present life. Since your future existence revolves around praising and serving God, why not do the same today? Thousands of years of martyrdom will one day culminate in a future time of unprecedented trouble that will create a vast number of addition-

al martyrs. But Satan’s victory is short-lived. We know the end of the story. We know Who wins. If you are not on the winning side, it’s not too late to accept Jesus into your heart, to love, praise, and serve Him with the rest of your life. After the conclusion of this devotional is a prayer that will walk you through the simple steps to salvation. A glorious eternity awaits, so don’t delay!

Day 18 The Two Witnesses Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Revelation 11:7 One of my favorite movies, Kingdom of Heaven, is about Jerusalem being lost to the Muslims during the Crusades. In it is an oath that a dying knight passes on to his son. One line of the oath is: “Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death”. This is what I think of when I read about the two witnesses in Revelation 11:1-13. They will speak the truth – and it will lead to their deaths. For the sake of today’s devotional, we will be taking the approach that these two men are literal, not metaphorical, and that they will appear in the future, not having done so at some point in the past. These two men will one day stand on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and prophesy for three and a half years. This location is the holiest site for the Jews, one of the holiest for the Muslims, and the future focal point of the End of the Age for Christians. No one will be able to harm the two witnesses during this window of time. Instead, they will have the ability to prophesy, affect the weather, and strike the earth with plagues. Can you imagine the spectacle this will be? These aren’t the kind of guys you’d want at a party! They will be representatives and agents of God’s judgment on the world for 42 long months. When their appointed time is completed, the two witnesses will be martyred. Or will they be? More on that in a moment. Their bodies will lay slain for three and a half days, so that the world can gloat over their deaths. After all, they will have brought much destruction and torment to the nations. However, the party will be short-lived, as God will “unmartyr” them and call them back up to heaven with a loud voice. What will follow this supernatural heaven-going will be a catastrophic earthquake that results in horrific damage to Jerusalem and the people fearing God and giving glory to Him. So what will it take for our world to honor and fear God before it is too late? What will it take for you and me to do so now? A catastrophe? Ill-

ness? The loss of a loved one? Persecution? Martyrdom? As Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve shared, it is most often through tribulation in my own life that my faith is either shaken or grown. The deciding factor is whether I try to fix things in my own strength or run to my knees before the Lord and plead for His merciful help. How about you? Which path will you choose for your life?

Day 19 One Bad Beast As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them. Daniel 7:21 It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. Revelation 13:7a These two passages in Daniel and Revelation seem to be describing the same scary beast. Keep in mind that we don’t have the space to really go into the symbolism; rather, we’ll mainly focus on the subject of persecution. Much imagery is used to describe the beast’s appearance. In Daniel, this is the fourth beast, and it has ten horns. It is a strong entity that speaks boastfully and comes against Christians. God, known here as the “Ancient of Days”, will finally step in, stop the slaughter, and reign forever (7:22). In Revelation 13, the beast also has ten horns and will be worshipped and followed. It will be given three and a half years to rule the world and make life hell for followers of Christ. John, the author of Revelation, then quotes a passage from Jeremiah 15:2 that is sobering: “If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people” (verse 10). End Times believers have some unappealing options: captivity or death – yet faithful endurance throughout. This is not exactly an exciting future in the human realm. No matter when you believe the rapture takes place, there are clearly saints, God’s holy people, or Christians, who are on earth at the time that this beast makes war with them. Whether they are believers like you and me who have not been raptured yet, or they are people who get saved during this final window of time known as the Great Tribulation, it’s important to remember that they are Christians. They are being persecuted and martyred.

Now, to the practical application. If given the option, most people don’t want to know when they are going to die. We would just rather go about our lives as if there is no danger on the horizon. But when it arrives, we won’t know how to handle it. This is called normalcy bias. Yet, if we are the final generation before the Second Coming of Christ, we must be ready to face the ultimate persecution. America may very well meet its fate in your lifetime and before the End of the Age. The Bible warns of a great falling away (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Is it because many will shrink in the face of persecution? Is it because they’re not ready? Is it because their faith is so shallow that they cannot discern the truth from a lie? Regardless, you should be ready. Live every day ready to defend your faith and die for the cause of Christ, if needed.

Day 20 The End Times Key This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. Revelation 14:12 The verse above appears almost identically in yesterday’s chapter about the beast (13:10b). The context of Revelation 14 includes three angels that will declare three messages (14:6-13). I want to share them with you in their entirety because they’re important. The first angel spoke in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water”. The second declared, “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries”. The third and final angel warned, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name”. It is then, after these three important messages, when John stated today’s verse. Let’s dwell on the phrase, “patient endurance,” because it is the key to getting through the End of the Age. If the world is going down the ultimate slippery slope during this final stage of human history, you can imagine the chaos that will abound. Natural and supernatural disasters, human and spiritual warfare, collapsing cities, nations, and continents, famine, persecution, martyrdom, etc. will all take place in a short period of time. When the world looks hopeless, you can imagine the temptation it will be to lose patience with the Lord and lack the heart to continue and endure. Yet, God calls us to do that very thing – to rise up in the midst of this future chaos, trust and obey Him, and remain faithful. What I just shared in the previous paragraph can also be applied to our

lives today. No matter what believers are facing, God calls us to patient endurance. “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). It doesn’t mean He will keep us from suffering or rescue our human bodies, but we can still trust Him. Don’t wait until life turns sour before being devoted to the Lord. Let’s get on our knees, pray and fast, repent and destroy the idols in our lives, and worship before the holy and righteous God. In doing so, it will bring us comfort, peace, and patient endurance, come what may.

Day 21 Blood for Blood For they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve. Revelation 16:6 Our study today focuses on the verse above. Let’s look at the context before going further. Revelation 16 deals with the seven bowls of God’s wrath poured out by seven angels. Let me briefly list each here; we won’t get into speculating how they each might literally manifest in the future: • First Bowl: Sores break out on the people who worship the beast and take his mark • Second Bowl: The sea turns to blood, causing the sea creatures to die • Third Bowl: The rivers and springs also turn to blood, and the angel speaks about martyrdom, which we’ll look at shortly • Fourth Bowl: The sun becomes hotter and burns the people, who remain stubborn • Fifth Bowl: The earth plunges into darkness, and the people curse God • Sixth Bowl: The Euphrates River dries up, and demonic activity becomes rampant for the purpose of gathering the world for the battle of Armageddon • Seventh Bowl: An angel declares things finished, and an unprecedented earthquake is accompanied by one-hundred-pound hailstones, bringing cataclysmic damage Now, back to the third angel. This heavenly being declares that God is justified in His judgment on the peoples of the earth because they have killed His people in general and His prophets specifically. Just as the blood of God’s people has been poured out, so the third bowl will be poured out and the rivers and springs turned to blood. Stephen gave a long, thorough, impassioned speech just prior to being stoned. But it was the specific accusation in Acts 7:52 that set off the audience: “Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One.

And now you have betrayed and murdered him”. Stephen and this angel are stating the same basic fact. From the prophets to Jesus to an untold number of saints, martyrdom has been present throughout. The Bible clearly states that vengeance is the Lord’s to carry out against His enemies, who are likewise our enemies (Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19). As much as we’d like to give certain “evil” people what they deserve, we can have full confidence that God will handle it all one day. He will pour out His wrath on the wicked. Let’s also not forget that we too deserve God’s wrath, but His Son’s ultimate blood sacrifice took care of that once and for all. Give thanks to the Lord!

Day 22 Babylon the Slaughterer In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people, of all who have been slaughtered on the earth. Revelation 18:24 In my previous devotional, Terminus, I spent a day investigating the mysterious identity of Babylon the Great. She is given the figurative description of a woman who sits on a strange looking beast. Read for yourself the 17th Chapter of Revelation because there’s not room to get into too much detail here. It’s not as important for today’s purposes whom she actually is (a country, religion, or something else) or when this takes place (during the First Century, in the future, or at both times). Rather, we’re more concerned about what she does in the realm of persecution. The bottom line with this entity is that she’s bad, really bad. In Revelation 17:5, she is called “the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth”. Verse six, which is where the name of this whole devotional comes from, basically states the same thing as the verse above. The blood of the saints will be spilled. Whatever your view on the timing of the rapture, these verses seem clear that (if this is a future “Babylon”) she comes against God’s holy people, i.e., saints, or Christians. And it doesn’t end well for them/us. She slaughters them. She makes them bleed. She makes martyrs out of them. The blood of the saints is on her head. Babylon gets drunk killing followers of Christ. What does this expression mean? It basically means that she figuratively drinks the blood of Christians and finds it intoxicating to kill them. Pretty gruesome, isn’t it? The reality is that there are enemies of the cross, past, present, and future. They hate Jesus, all that He stands for, and all who follow Him. They are out for blood, and they have spilled it throughout the ages. As we’ve studied previously in Revelation, it will all culminate at the End of the Age in a cumulative and massive loss of Christian life. It is an unfortunate but necessary step, a prerequisite to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Just because we were born in America doesn’t guarantee us a persecution-free life. Therefore, we as believers must be ready if God has

this path for us. And just remember, the brief time of suffering pales in comparison to the glorious riches that wait in eternity.

Day 23 More than Conquerors The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. Revelation 22:21 (the last verse in the Bible) While the above verse can be found in Revelation, I’d like to spend our last day of the End Times section of the devotional reading a passage of Scripture together. No doubt that these impassioned words from Paul have been an inspiration to persecuted and martyred Christians throughout the ages, and will be likewise an encouragement all the way to the End of the Age as well. It is Romans 8:31-39: “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written [in Psalm 44:22]: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Should you and I live to be on the receiving end of persecution and/ or the End of the Age, I hope we will revisit these verses often, these unshakable truths from God’s Word. They remind us of God’s love, His ultimate position of power, and His predestined victory. May we be able to clearly convey the vastness and depth of God’s love to a sick and dying world. And as we wait for our heaven-going, be it of “natural”

causes, martyrdom, or at the End of the Age, may we be found faithful and full of His grace. We are more than conquerors!

Day 24 A Warning from Jesus Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. Matthew 10:21 We now switch gears for the rest of the study to look at verses and passages that will guide us in the present. Perhaps no other harassment can be more painful for a Christian than when it comes from his or her family. Jesus stated this warning above and elaborated in Matthew 10:35-36: “For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother in law – a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household’”. The book of Mark records that Jesus’ own family thought he had gone crazy (3:20-25). He was at a house with the disciples. A large crowd was following Him. There were so many people around that He and the disciples couldn’t even eat their meal. Jesus’ family heard about this large following, so they went to get him from the crowd, saying, “He is out of his mind”. Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived, and they sent someone in to bring him out. When told of their arrival, Jesus gestured to those sitting around Him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother”. We, too, have a spiritual family known as the Body of Christ. What do you think would be the hardest to deal with – persecution from strangers, friends, or family? Think about your own life. What emotional wounds usually hurt the most – ones that come from someone close or someone you don’t know? There’s no doubt it’s almost always family. Most of us at some point in our lives have been deeply wounded by a family member, usually a parent. The Gospel divides people to the point where even family will hate, persecute, and kill other family members that are followers of Christ. Does this apply to today? Certainly! The kind of situation Jesus faced from His family does in fact take place in America – maybe even in your family. You might be able to relate to His story because you have family who feel the same about you being a Christian. So take comfort that the

Lord knows what you’re going through. Maybe you’re a Christian, but you have family members who don’t believe. They think you’re crazy, that you’ve made a ludicrous decision by following some fanatic who lived in the First Century. Always respond in love, never in anger. Pray for their salvation. Pray for the veil of sin and darkness to be removed from their eyes. Persevere in your prayers. It may take years of prayer before they accept Christ, so don’t give up.

Day 25 Accepting Hardship I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33 Most of us would prefer to only hear or read stories with happy endings, stories that warm our spirits and leave us believing that there is good present in the hearts of men. But we know better. We know that life can get hard for us – for some more than others. Despite the current prosperity gospel movement here in America that believes God is just waiting to shower you with financial blessing and material wealth, the Bible tells us otherwise. Still, it is rather hard to “need” God when you live in arguably the richest and most blessed nation that has ever existed. Even the “lower class” in our country has access to amenities that the poor overseas cannot fathom. Yet, while significant prosperity may happen for some of us, the Lord warns us that we will face trouble. After all, we can be wealthy and still face major trials and persecution. How we deal with these troubles and hardships is the key. God can do some amazing things in the midst of struggle. Personally, I have found that I grow the most spiritually when I’m in the midst of some level of hardship. Maybe this is because that’s when I rely on God the most. Far too often though, I fruitlessly toil in my own efforts first. Still, I think most of us would prefer to avoid troubles if given the choice. There is, in fact, a way that can increase your chances of avoiding hardship and persecution – don’t join the spiritual battle. Don’t go on the offensive for God in this dark and fallen world. Instead, join the rat race of gaining worldly possessions. Or just sit back and relax. You’re no threat to Satan when you’re not living, ministering, or giving in a sacrificial manner. But what will you have to show for yourself in heaven when you stand before the throne of God and give an account of your life? It helps to go ahead and accept this fact if you’re a follower of Christ. In this life, you will have trouble, especially if you’re serving God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. You can count on it to happen as surely as the sun rises.

Paul declared, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Let’s live for Christ, for He is worth the hardship. Let’s die for Christ, for we know that when we die, we will gain a sinless eternity and perfect fellowship with Him.

Day 26 Love Your Persecutors But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Romans 12:14 I think you’ve gotten the point that God gives us some hard messages to obey. We are often directed to do what is the opposite of our human nature. These two verses above are perfect examples. Love our enemies? Bless those who persecute us? Pray for them? Sounds like a cruel joke. I’d rather curse them and give them what they deserve. Yet this path of praying and blessing is the example Christ gave us through His life and His death. Jesus knew that the enemies of the cross ultimately could not overcome His love. Further, persecution actually has the opposite effect of what we might think. Here in the west, the thought of being targeted for our faith might spark fear, but it does not in places where it is more challenging to live and worship. Persecution results in the exact opposite of what those who do it intend to happen. Here are some of the positive effects of persecution: • God shines through us when we are weakest (2 Corinthians 12:10) • It encourages other believers in the faith, not discourages them (2 Thessalonians 1:3) • It often causes Christians to scatter, but this only spreads the Gospel to a wider area (Acts 8:1, 4) • It unifies and strengthens the bonds of the broader Christian community (2 Thessalonians 1:4) The main point of today is that some of those who are enemies of Christians and participate in persecution eventually have their hearts broken and turned to Christ because they are loved and blessed (1 Timothy 1:12-14). I’ve met some in today’s world who have this testimony.

Paul promised us in 2 Timothy 3:12 that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”. So, if you’re not being persecuted, what does that mean? Once again, I realize that we live in a fairly Christian-friendly country (at the moment) where using real faith hasn’t been that needed. But there are practical ways to be more active for the Lord. These verses should inspire us into bold faith coupled with action. This can take place in the form of witnessing to friends, speaking God’s truth in love through social media, and taking a more active role in our churches and communities. I encourage you to ask God today what you can do for Him, come what may.

Day 27 Persecution in America – Part One If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. John 15:18 What persecution can you expect to face here in America in this day and age? Compared to the stories mentioned so far, what hardships do we really have to deal with if we’re Christians? Here in the Land of the Free, our “problems” are sitting in traffic jams in our air-conditioned cars, not being happy because we can’t afford the right kind of clothes, and wishing we didn’t have to eat our vegetables. In persecuted countries, the believers are fleeing for their lives, wearing only the clothes on their backs and eating grass to stay alive. At most, the only persecution we face here at present is of the mild verbal sort from “friends,” co-workers, the media, and Hollywood. However, various levels and branches of government are turning their backs on our country’s spiritual roots more and more. Surely you have noticed this is growing. The truth that I want to continually convey is this: if you want to serve the Lord on the front lines of this great spiritual battle we are in, you will be persecuted. Jesus told us so in John 15:18-23. The world hates us because they hate Him. The world persecutes us because they persecuted Him. Perhaps that is why so few of us give our lives fully for His service, for we are too happy with our lives here in this Disney World we call the United States of America. It is a high and hard calling to turn our entire lives over to the Lord for His use. Jesus acknowledges the problem of only a few being willing to serve Him in Matthew 9:37-38 when He said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field”. Now I am not asking you to consider missionary service. There seems to be a concern among Christians that God wants them to pick up and move to some remote village in Africa or Asia. The truth is, once you become a Christian, you are a missionary – right where you live. Your purpose in life is to share Jesus with those around you, no matter how they treat you. Whether they chastise you here in

America or beat you in a country overseas, Jesus is worth the hate that you will receive. I do believe that we are seeing the precursor of persecution in America. As political correctness and a growing sentiment of “anything goes” increases, the cases of targeting Christian business owners, politicians, and other community leaders will increase. Perhaps one day soon, persecution will become common in America. With the current erosion of Christian values taking place today, it is naïve to believe that this isn’t possible. We must pray for America to return to its spiritual foundations that are so deeply rooted in the Gospel.

Day 28 Persecution in America – Part Two Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:12 Look at American society as a whole. It should be clear to those living in this country that there is a growing portion of the population, and a large segment of the media and Hollywood, that hate Christianity and what it stands for. Laws are being changed or made that are slowly eroding the spiritual foundation of this country. Christians are now being categorized as extremist, right-wing, out-of-touch, and fanatical. It could be only a matter of time before more tangible persecution breaks out – and it could come from people you know. So be ready. In the meantime, let’s persevere in our faith. Find encouragement in the Word and from others who believe. This life we’ve been given is a battle. There is no guarantee that life will be easy. Remember, Jesus warned us that “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”. We know how the story ends. We know Who wins. So take heart. Any persecution that may come, be it from friend or foe, family or foreigner, we must stand with our Savior and not give in. He died for us. We should be ready to do the same. What about martyrdom worldwide? Is it getting better or worse? Actually, the number of martyrs seems to be increasing in our time. It has been said that more followers of Christ were martyred for their faith in the 20th century than in the previous nineteen centuries combined! As we look at the world now, I can’t imagine things improving during this century. By God’s grace, we are currently spared from the horror of martyrdom here in America except in rare cases. Yet, isn’t it sad how the American church has separated itself from this reality? Most churches seem to spend considerable time focused solely within their own walls. Life is too short not to be involved in fulfilling the Great Commission. It is our reason for being here – to spread the Gospel – not to just sit in the pews! Let’s open our eyes to those who are being martyred every hour of every day. Millions of Christians in other countries have em-

braced the possibility that martyrdom can happen at any time. They are virtually signing their own death warrant when it becomes known that they are followers of Christ. So, how do we apply this lesson of martyrdom-preparedness here in America? Yes, there are a growing number of people who despise Christianity, and God is slowly being removed from our political and educational institutions, even from our churches. We do know that a day is coming when many will die for Christ. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be naĂŻve enough to think that America is bulletproof from persecution and martyrdom. From the Old Testament prophets to the present, persecution will continue to manifest. Let us rejoice and be glad in the midst of it. A reward in heaven is waiting!

Day 29 Paul’s Proper Perspective I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me— the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24 Let’s face it – who wants to be an expert at hardship? I don’t, and yet we’ve looked at the fact that faith is often best refined through trials and tribulations. This is somewhat of a foreign concept to us in America. As of yet, our faith has not really been challenged because God’s blessing has been flowing for decades on end. Daily tasks relating to food, water, fire, shelter, etc. are not an issue. Neither is facing persecution, nor fleeing from it. For centuries, however, followers of Christ have faced obstacles you and I cannot fathom. And our imaginations won’t do the reality justice. Here’s an example applicable to us to help drive the point home: reading about a hurricane or preparing for one pales in comparison to actually going through one. And for all you “preppers” out there, all of the supplies in the world can’t really prepare you for what you think lies in the future, to actually live in it day after day. Reading this devotional will only prepare you so much, but I hope it will help. The Apostle Paul knew trouble like few people ever had. He also had a God-given perspective on hardship: “…I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Paul was strong because he knew the Lord was strongest in his life when he was weakest. He knew a thing or two about living a life of hardship in this epic spiritual battle we are in. Listen to his words in 2 Corinthians 11:24-27: “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles;

in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.â&#x20AC;?

In my mission travels I have actually met some faithful men and women who have faced similar trials. Can you imagine coming up with a similar list of the traumas that you have had to experience as an American Christian? It would be almost comical in comparison. Yet, it is something to be grateful for, not embarrassed by. Many believers around the world gladly embrace persecution. They fully grasp, as the Apostle Paul did, that their life is worth nothing, if only they â&#x20AC;&#x153;may finish the race and complete the task the Lord has given [them]â&#x20AC;?. May this be true for us as well through whatever journey God has for each of us.

Day 30 Burning Coals Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21 As we recall Day 21, entitled, “Blood for Blood”, God will bring vengeance on His enemies, as it is mentioned in Revelation 16:6 at the End of the Age, and in general as stated in Romans 12:19. Today, I would like for us to look at the two verses that follow in Romans 12 (20-21). Paul is actually quoting Proverbs 25:21-22. Both state: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Proverbs adds: “…and the Lord will reward you”. At face value, this seems like and odd statement. First, we are told to do the exact opposite of our human instincts when our enemy is weak and vulnerable. If they are hungry or thirsty, we are to meet that need. Do you think this comes naturally to us? Yet, here is Paul directing us to do so. Why should we? It will heap burning coals on their heads. Say what?! Before we look into what this strange saying might mean, let’s remember who is giving us this nugget of wisdom. Here is a man, Paul, who once made it his mission to persecute Christians. However, he also knew what it was like to receive kindness from a believer, for it was a Christian named Ananias whom God used to heal Paul of his blindness (Acts 9:1-19). Paul had lived from all sides and knew what it meant to persecute, to be loved by those he persecuted, and to love those who later persecuted him. Now, to the heaping of burning coals on your enemy’s head. Sounds like they would die a rather quick but excruciating death, doesn’t it? That would mean taking the exact opposite action of helping them. To quote Inigo Montoya in the classic movie, The Princess Bride, “I do not think it means what you think it means”. Would you agree with me that the goal is to have our enemies believe in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world? The hope, then, is that our kind actions, overcoming evil with good, will be used by God to convict them, soften their hearts, and turn them forever toward the Messiah. Think of the burning coals as a metaphor for the enemy experiencing shame and

guilt. Now, this may not work, but vengeance belongs to the Lord. In the meantime, continue to love your enemies. Heap as many burning coals on their heads as possible! Then maybe this weight will be too much to bear and their hearts will be broken towards the God Who loves them.

Conclusion I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 So what do we do now? How do we apply what God’s Word says about persecution? First, pray for the persecuted church. If we, as Americans and the wealthiest nation in the history of the world, do nothing about the suffering and martyrdom of our fellow believers in Christ around the world, then we are no different than Saul holding the coats of those stoning Stephen. Ignoring their plight is the same as enabling their executioners. Pray for these men and women to be strong until the very end. There is a date that you should become permanently aware of. Every year in early November, a special day is planned as the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Get your church involved on this Sunday, for it is the corporate prayers of Christians around the world that may be the only sources of hope for those enduring torture for the sake of Jesus Christ. Secondly, seek out Christian organizations that give you direct ways of helping those in harm’s way. The Persecution Project and Voice of the Martyrs come to mind. Let’s also apply this topic of martyrdom to our personal lives. As believers, our lives are no longer our own. We belong to God. If we are submissive to His will, then He will use our lives for His glory. The Apostle Paul declared: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). We are already dead, but alive in Him! Paul gives more encouragement in Romans 8:18, the verse above. This should be the main focus for Christians enduring persecution. Jesus is a man worth dying for. He is worth our life and our very last breath. Whatever we face here is nothing compared to the glory ahead! We have voluntarily given up our lives for the sake of the Gospel. But to be honest, sometimes we don’t live our lives with Christ in control. We let the temptations and other evils of the modern world rule our daily lives. It takes a conscious effort to die daily to ourselves and put Christ first.

I encourage you to begin each day with a simple prayer, asking the Lord to live through you and guide your steps for His honor and glory. Whether through your life or physical death, give Him total control. Be a living martyr.

Do You Believe in Jesus? If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 Finally, if you are reading this and are not a Christian, I pray that you will realize that Jesus died for you. Your sins were nailed to the cross with Him. He defeated death, so that you could live for eternity with Him. I hope you will believe in Jesus and make this life-changing decision to follow Him. Will you do that now? It is such a simple, yet profound step that you need to take. Pray this simple prayer with me and believe it in your heart: God in heaven - I believe in You. I believe You sent your Son to die for my sins and defeated them by raising Him from the dead. I confess my sins before You now and ask that You come into my heart. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. If you prayed this prayer, allow me to be the first to greet you as your brother in Christ. Your life will never be the same because of this wonderful decision! I urge you to find a pastor or Christian friend who can help you begin this journey, and I look forward to meeting you in heaven one day to celebrate! Until that day, get connected with a church, small group, and/or Bible study to help you on this new life journey. The teaching, fellowship, and encouragement will be invaluable – and necessary. God bless you.

Joseph Williams

P.O. Box 2347 Burlington, NC 27216-2347 feedthehunger.org 1.888.772.9634

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