There's been a concept running around the forums lately, and I just wanted to try to introduce an argument to clear it up.
When someone claims or feels that they are being persecuted by everyone, does that mean that they are?
*What is persecution?*
Biblical persecution is when you're being attacked for your beliefs in God. You stand up for God and His ways, and instead of people seeing the wisdom and truth in that, they choose to ridicule you, and eventually, literally or figuratively, "stone" you to "death".
Generally, the persecution in question simply means that you are being denounced or attacked for what you believe.
*If there are many voices "persecuting" you, does it mean you are right?*
No. If you are the lone "wolf" sowing discord in the midst of the church of God, you don't get to be right if everyone is trying to correct you or put you out. So even if there are many people against you, you can be wrong.
*If there are only a few voices "persecuting" you, does it mean you are right?*
No. At times in the bible, God only had one little prophet to stand against entire nations. One small voice, but that one small voice was speaking for God and condemning those nations in their sin.
*Does it matter what kind of voices are "persecuting" you?*
Absolutely, and only there lies the evidence of persecution. You must look at what the voices are trying to do. Are they trying to mock you or correct you? Are they using scripture? But, to simply claim that you're being persecuted because everyone is speaking against you is a little ridiculous, and it's also ridiculous to claim that if there are many voices against you that it is evidence you are right about everything. Neither are safe positions, both are devices to blind you to potential correction and close your mind to possible truth.
We must keep our eyes and ears open, but guarded. I don't think anyone wants to be the person God has to slap in the face to get their attention.
Yup!!!...He does expect people to read it...The truth is...he is just peeved off because he has been Banned 3 times in the past and the rest of us havent...So he cuts and pastes what ever he can find as evidence against us all when someone trys to convey to him he is in error...We could all do that to...And some of us have...me included...and it served its purpose...However...no one wants or needs to because we all already know this is what he does....everytime he is here...doing the same thing expecting a differant result...talk about holding onto a grudge and resentment... :0(
I'm not feeling the least bit persecuted. I wish I could stop you from persecuting yourself though, all you're doing is embarrassing yourself. Take a step back, take a breath, and come back with a clear head. You seem to be a bit off lately.
If you're going to quote someone, you should get it right. It hasn't been 614 times I've asked, bit it has been quite a few...and yes, I am still waiting for an explanation.:dunce:
According to the number of views on this OP it seems people are paying attention eh Tijmen....? So what is it that the one who feels persecuted wants or that we can all personally do and also as a group of believers here do to resolve this tension between us? I just keep wondering tonight!
WILL THE COURAGEOUS TRIBULATION SAINTS SUFFER THE WRATH OF GOD??
God has always allowed His people to suffer tribulation and trials because they purify and perfect their faith and will gain countless eternal rewards when Jesus Christ is *REVEALED. There are over 40,000 saints martyred every year and the main culprit is no longer just Islam and the Satanic Roman Catholic Church. Millions of saints were martyred by the Communist atheist countries after 1917 in Russia and after 1948 in China and then in North Korea and Vietnam. Many more millions were killed by Japan 1937-1945 and by the Fascists in Italy and Germany 1922-1945.
Romans 8:35-37: �Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?... 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!�
I Peter 1:6-8:���In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith may be proved genuine and may result in
praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is *REVEALED.�
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I Peter 2:20b,21: �But if you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow IN HIS STEPS.�
I Peter 4:12,13: �Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But REJOICE that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is *REVEALED!�
Rev 2:10: Jesus says, �Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the Crown of Life.� Read other persecution verses: Matthew 5:10-12; Romans 5:3; Heb 13:35-40; 2 Tim 3:12; 2 Cor 1:7-10; I Thess 3:3,4; Phil 1:29; Phil 3:10; Rev 12:11; Rev 13:9,10 & Rev 14:13.
������ The courageous and faithful Tribulation saints will *NOT* be hurt by God�s *WRATH* as shown in Rev 14:9-11; 15:1,7; 16:1,19; or in any of the 7 trumpet or 7 bowl plagues as explained in Rev 9:4,20,21 and Rev 16:2,4-6,9,10,21; or in any of the plagues of God�s 2 witnesses as per Rev 11:6,10; or in *ETERNAL HELL*: Rev 14:9-11: �If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he will drink of the wine of God�s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of *HIS WRATH*.� He will be tormented with burning sulfur and the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever.�
The pre-tribs often confuse the wrath of God with the persecution from the anti-christ. They are not the same thing. The wrath of God is intended for the ungodly and will be poured upon them and them only. The Lord knows His target and He never misses. Jesus warned in Matthew 10:28, �And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.�
In Rev 18:1-24 we read about the plagues that will destroy the headquarters of 666 during the Great Tribulation. This evil city on 7 hills {See Rev 17:9} is called �Babylon� which Peter implied was the nickname for Rome in 2 Peter 5:13. In Rev 18:4 a voice from Heaven will order God's saints to stay away from Babylon {Rome-That great seaport-Rev 18:17-19} so that they will not participate in her sins or be hurt by God's wrath which will completely destroy Rome with many horrific plagues.
There are 260 verses from Revelation chapters 6 thru 20 and 128 of these verses or 49% tell of the wrath of God to unbelievers, 666, his False Prophet and Rome. However, not even one of these verses tells of any wrath of God toward His courageous Tribulation saints. Even pre-tribbers and mid-tribbers reluctantly agree that believers during the Great Tribulation will be exempt from the wrath of God.
Jesus says, �My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one!� John 17:15
Jesus says, �Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell!!�
