Friday, August 15, 2014

Revelation 2:10

10 Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. [Dismiss your dread and your fears!] Behold, the devil is indeed about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and proved and critically appraised, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life.
·         10 days represents a time of trial.
·        There are over 120 examples in scriptures that a day is equal to one year, so this group of people were going to be attacked for some time. Numbers 14:34, Ezekiel 4:6, Genesis 29:27. Christians are always persecuted for not trusting in the world.
·        Our peace, even in trials is that Jesus will never allow His chosen ones to be tempted above that which  they can take.
·        For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. 1 Corinthians 10:13
·        So Jesus will keep those of us faithful who are in these areas, even if we will be killed for it. Look at Stephen at his time of death. Look at Paul, Peter, John and all of the others when they were beaten, killed, and imprisoned for being used to tell the Truth. They all were able to stand, because our Father was always greater in them then anything that is in this world.
·        Here is a question to ask yourself: why wouldn’t Jesus just rapture these people out of their situation? If there is truly a pre-tribulation rapture to save us from the effects of the Great Tribulation, why don’t these believers get to escape their great trial?
·        Remember Jesus is showing us everything in its entirety in Revelation, and these people aren’t removed from their trial, they are told to endure it.

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