The Importance of Perseverance
Revelation 1:9,10: I, John, your
brother and fellow-partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance
which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos, because of the word of God
and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard
behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet.
John refers to himself as a “fellow-partaker in the tribulation
which is in Jesus”. Every wholehearted disciple of Jesus should be prepared to
partake in the “tribulation which is in Jesus”, as long as he is in this world.
John did not get this unveiling while living in comfort. He received it, while
experiencing tribulation at Patmos, because he had been faithful to “the word
of God and the testimony of Jesus” (v.9). He had to experience tribulation
himself in order to be able to write about the saints experiencing the great
tribulation from the Antichrist in the last days. God takes us through trials
and tribulations first before giving us a ministry to others who are facing
tribulation.
Paul said, “God encourages us in all
our affliction so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any
affliction with the (same) encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged
by God” (2 Cor.1:4 - Amplified).
It is not surprising therefore that the doctrine that Jesus
would come secretly and take (rapture) His church out of the world, before the
great tribulation, arose for the first time in a country (England) where
Christians were living in comfort, and at a time (mid-19th century) when they were
not facing any persecution for their faith at all. Today this doctrine
continues to be proclaimed and believed by Christians who live in ease and
comfort, in countries where there is no persecution against Christians at all.
Since the prayers of most Christians are basically of this order : “Lord make
my life more comfortable on earth”, it is not surprising that they have gladly
accepted this teaching of a pre-tribulation rapture of the church. Thus Satan
has succeeded in lulling multitudes of Christians with a false comfort, so that
they will be unprepared for the great tribulation when it does come upon them.
The words of Jesus are clear: “In the world YOU HAVE
TRIBULATION. But take courage; I have overcome the world”
(Jn.16:33). He never promised that we would escape tribulation - whether small
tribulations or the great one. But He did say that we could overcome even as He
overcame. He is far more interested in making us overcomers than in saving us
out of tribulation, because He is far more interested in our character than in
our comfort.
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Neither did Jesus ever say that escaping the great tribulation
was a reward for faithfulness, as some teach. On the contrary, He said that
those who forsook everything to follow Him would have even more tribulations than
others who didn’t follow Him (Mk.10:30).
When He prayed to His Father for His disciples, He said, “I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them
from the evil.” (Jn.17:15). He did NOT want His
disciples to be raptured out of the world at that time, just because they were
going to face tribulation.
In the 3rd-century when Christians were being thrown to the
lions in the Roman amphitheaters and being burnt at the stake in different
parts of the Roman empire, the Lord did not rescue them from such tribulations.
The God Who shut the lions’ mouths and took away the power of the fiery furnace
in Daniel’s day, did NOT do such miracles for these disciples of Jesus - for
these were new-covenant Christians who were going to glorify God through death.
Like Jesus their Master, they neither asked for, nor expected twelve legions of
angels to come and protect them from their enemies.
From heaven, God watched the Bride of His Son being torn to
pieces by lions and being burnt to ashes; and He was glorified in their
testimony - for they had “followed the
Lamb, wherever He went”, even unto a violent physical death(Rev.14:4). The
only word that the Lord spoke to them was, “Be faithful until death and I
will give you a crown of life” (Rev.2:10).
Even today, when the disciples of Jesus are being tortured and
persecuted for His Name in many lands, the Lord does not take them away from
the earth. And He will not rapture us to heaven before the great tribulation
either. He will do something far better. He will make us overcomers in the
midst of the great tribulation.
Jesus is far more interested in saving us from evil than in
saving us from tribulation. He permits us to go through tribulation because He
knows that that is the only way that we can become spiritually strong.
Such a message is strange teaching indeed to a comfort-loving
Christendom that has been coddled in their pews everySunday for years by
ear-tickling preachers. But this is the message that the apostles preached to
the early churches.“They (the apostles Paul and Barnabas) strengthened the
souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, saying,
`Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God’” (Acts 14:22).
The little trials that we face at home and at work now, are but
a preparation for the greater ones that will come in the days to come. That is
why it is essential that we are faithful now. For God says, “If you have run
with footmen and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with
horses?” (Jer.12:5).
John speaks here about being a “fellow-partaker in the
tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus” (v.9). We have to
enter into fellowship with Jesus in tribulation first, before we can share His
throne with Him in His kingdom.
Perseverance is a great virtue
that is emphasized throughout the New Testament.
Jesus Himself said “They will deliver you to tribulation……. but the one who endures to
the end shall be saved” (Mt.24:13).
Zac Poonen
www.cfcindia.com
Prayer Points
1. Powers assigned to frustrate my destiny die! In the name of Jesus.
2. I shall not die before my testimony, by the power in the blood
of Jesus.
3. O God! Preserve me to the end, by the power of the holy ghost
4. Problems assigned to make me fall, die in the name of Jesus.
5. Let the progress of the enemy in my life; be frustrated in the
name of Jesus.
6. I shall not give up; my enemies shall give up; by the power in
the blood of Jesus..
Declare these Confessions to
yourself:
7. I laminated my life and my family with the blood of Jesus.
8. Throughout the year, People shall not have a cause to say to me;
Sorry! In the name of Jesus.
9. I shall not be used as Sacrifice; my family shall not be used as
sacrificed by the power in the power of Jesus.
10.
Father Lord! Announce my name for
promotion this week, in the name of Jesus.
Seven Fold Amen with Faith!!!
Amen! Amen!
Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen!
2015 is your Year of multiple restoration and
unparalleled Favor in the name of Jesus
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IF THE ENEMY HAS STOLEN FROM YOU;
RECOVERY IS BY FORCE.
STOP THEM BEFORE THEY STOP YOU,
GOD BLESS YOU.
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