Give Up Your Faith or Your Life?
Moving right along in Revelation 6 as we read about the 5th seal, we look at v9-11 to read:
9When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
Here we see the persecution of the saints.
In the January 07 USA Today a poll was taken to reveal that 17% are persecuted for their religious beliefs while 14% are persecuted for their sexual identity. Interesting, given the high volume of press coverage given to those persecuted for sexual identity in comparison to those persecuted for religious beliefs.
Also in the current news are those being held in Korea. These are Christians being held with at least two having been killed already. Persecution continues today as it has for years, and it's only going to escalate. Just mention the name of Jesus among the secular and you get a very strong sense you've said something wrong. It's ok to use "God" but not the name of Jesus Christ.
For now Christians are tolerated at best, but in the future all nations will encourage persecution as the powers of hell will come fully against all believers. The martyrs seen here in this passage were killed for their worship of Jesus.
The opening of this 5th seal brings us to the middle of Daniel's 70th week. The timeline would look something like this:
Beginning............................Middle...................................End.
l______________________l__________________ l
1,2,3,4........................................5
Birth Pangs.....................Persecution
The Anti Christ is going to lead this persecution unlike any other time in history. The breaking of this seal removes whatever is restraining him now from unleashing total persecution against the world and Christ. "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way." 2 Thess 2:7
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 2 Thess 2:4
He now will be free to persecute Christians to the fullest extent. The abomination of desolation will now be fully realized here at this time when the Anti-Christ sits on the newly built Jewish Temple and declares himself God as he schemes, plots and seeks the death of those whose allegiance is to Jesus, the one he abhors. The penalty for not worshipping the AC will be death.
As his demand of worship intensifies so too will the persecution increase. Whether or not you believe in the pre-trib or pre-wrath rapture all believe that these martyrs do die for God.
Now to keep along with Matthew as we've done, we see this played out using verses 9-22 in his gospel. This section in Matthew, as here in Revelation, is after the first 4 seals were broken.
John sees the slain "sphazo" which means to butcher, slaughter (sacrifice) to; to maim (violently); kill, slay. This may be done to mimic the OT sacrifices as seen in Leviticus 4. John sees them under the altar as if they are sacrificed or paying the ultimate price with their lives. Paul mentioned in Philippians that he would be willing to pour himself out as a drink offering for God. He too would be martyred under the hand of Nero proving he literally meant what he wrote. He loved Jesus that much.
Two reasons are given here for the deaths of these martyrs. The first would be for the Word of God. Jesus was called the Word of God by John in his gospel. Maybe these martyrs were proclaiming just these last day events much like I am doing here.
The other reason given for their untimely deaths is for a testimony. Perhaps it was their personal witness. Perhaps they died for the Word of God and the call for all to repentence.
We see here their cry is passionate. We get the sense of urgency in their cries. They will be avenged with the next seal as we will see soon. As time marches on many more martyrs will join them. Their cry is not for themselves so much as it is for God to be exalted. They see and know that Satan himself is being exalted and they wish, as we all do, that God will be the one who is exalted by all.
We ask, "how long will you allow sin to rule on the earth?" During this time many will turn to Him waiting for His justice to finally be executed. To avenge is "ekdikeo" and means punishment and retribution.
God is holy and his holiness demands justice. They cry out for holy and truth here. Their cry is not for themselves but for God.
Those who dwell on the earth describes unbelievers. They are earth dwellers who settle down and remain. This world is their home as they have made it their home. We, as Christians, are foreigners and should be treated as such. We should not be comfortable here.
Stephen, the first martyr, before he died cried out for mercy and grace for those who were about to kill him. We are now in the age of God's mercy and grace, but a time will come when judgment begins. We read in Luke 18:7-8a:
And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? “I tell you that He will avenge them speedily
The white robe would symbolize the righteousness of Christ. They can now rest in Him. Their job on earth is finished. They can enjoy heaven and rest in God's timing. Man is moving ahead for a little while longer. God has a certain time limit. He knows the number of martyrs that will die and when finished the next seal will bring about His vengeance. It's not long now he says.
Persecutiion Has a Present Purpose
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Testing increases our faith. Peter says this testing molds us and builds us up as Christians. He said in 4:12:
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
Persecution Has a Future Purpose
The sifting of tares and wheat purifies God's believers. A non-believer will not be persecuted for the name of Christ. The church is filled with both tares and wheat. True believers will endure to the end but the non-believers will not be able to stand the heat.. Purging will occur. We read in 2 Thess 2:3:
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition
So a falling away will come first. How? Persecution. Those willing to die for God are the true believers. The rest will leave. "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us". 1 John 2:19
If persecution happened in your church, how many would stick around? What would you do? Would you be willing to die? Persecution is to be expected. Do you give up your faith or do you give up your life? Persecution is to be expected.
“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also." John 15:20
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Matt 16:24
Are you willing to set yourself aside? Are you willing to deny self? For the sake of Christ? Are you being persecuted? Or, are you ashamed of the name of Jesus? The two are related. We may need to be more bold in our witness. As we do so, expect persecution.
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