Christ Speaks to Seven Churches in Asia Minor
CHRIST SPEAKS TO THOSE WHO ARE DYING FOR HIM. Rev. 2:8-11
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| CHRIST SPEAKS TO THOSE WHO ARE DYING FOR HIM. Rev. 2:8-11
This period in church history corresponds to the time of Emperor Nero to Emperor Constantine. (AD 64-316) During these years persecution was allowed by God and should silence the false teachers who say God has only good times for a Christian. As far as safety was concerned these were not good times to be a Christian. To profess Christ was to become an outlaw” wanted dead or alive." Jesus assured them saying, "I know thy works and tribulation" (Rev. 2:9). The word "works" refers to their "afflictions." They were in constant fear of death. A father, mother or children could be taken at any time and imprisoned or executed. The Christians had great enemies and some of them were the false Jews, natural born, but not spiritually born who were turning in Christians to the civil authorities. At this time there was no active investigation to locate Christians and the only way the state would arrest them was that if someone reported them and swore out a warrant. It was the Jews who turned in Christians and took out warrants against them. The Jews felt that the Gentiles had overtaken Judaism and that to be an ethnic Jews was to be no Jew at all. Thus these zealous Jews also turned their fellow Jews over to the government which meant a certain and cruel death. It is a clear indication that Gentile believers of the First Century did not keep the Old Testament laws. Paul’s Epistles clearly denounced the Judaizers who sought to impose the Old Testament law on Gentiles. Because of their hatred of Christians many were imprisoned and murdered. Although Christians appalled the persecution and murder of Jews by Hitler and Stalin one cannot but remember the proverb that says, "Be sure your sins will find you out." There were ten major persecutions in the period of 64-316 AD. Tens of thousands of Christians died horrible deaths, because they loved Christ more than life itself. These dear saints of God thought there were principles and truths worth living and dying for. Rather than compromise God=s truth or deny the Lord Jesus Christ, they willing suffered martyrdom for the cause of Christ. Download 107.08 Kb. Share with your friends:
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