Eroding Religious Freedom

Freedom of religion in America is being slowly eroded rather than removed en masse. However, the Bible encourages us in such times.

The Fifth Seal (Part Two)

Persecution and martyrdom are not popular topics among Christians, but they are facts. The fifth seal shows the cry of the martyrs and God's response.

Prudence

We should not bring about needless persecution on ourselves or on the body of Christ because of our foolish texting, posting, tweeting, or e-mailing.

Persecution

Although many have gone through sore trials, virtually no one has gone through the nightmarish persecutions suffered by the early Christians in Imperial Rome.

The Seven Churches (Part Four): Smyrna

Jesus Christ's letter to the church in Smyrna contains a rarity among the seven churches: He levels no criticism! What makes the Smyrnans so acceptable?

They Could Not Destroy It!

Miraculously, each attempt to destroy the Scriptures resulted in the printers doubling their production. Christ has always supplied the means to spread the Word.

Facing Times of Stress: Forewarned of Persecution!

Under the best of times, God's people are not immune to persecution. Persecution for righteousness' sake is evidence that God's people have Christ's Spirit.

Who Are the 'Souls Under the Altar' Mentioned in Revelation 6:9-11?

The fifth seal is symbolic of the coming Great Tribulation. Revelation 6 reveals an event to take place on the earth just before Christ's return.

The Beatitudes, Part 8: Blessed Are the Persecuted

Persecution is a fact of life for a Christian. Jesus Christ says we are blessed if we are persecuted for righteousness' sake — here's why.

Are You Bearing Your Cross?

How do we, as modern Christians, bear our cross as Jesus commands? Christ meant far more than simply carrying a stake over our shoulders!

Why Hebrews Was Written (Part Four)

We often spend so much time engaged in our present-day trials that we fail to understand and learn from the experiences of Christians of the past.

Matthew (Part Six)

Tested: Our Trust in God's Promises

There is an apparent contradiction between God's promises to protect and heal, and the persecution, health crises, and death that we all experience.

Winners Never Quit

Christ's admonition to endure to the end is in itself a solemn prophecy that Christians will have difficult times. How can we make sure that we will endure?

The Fifth Seal (Part One)

Following the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse is the Fifth Seal, depicting souls under the altar crying out to God for vengeance. Here is what it means.

Overcoming Destructive Fear

Jesus cautioned His disciples not to have any destructive fear. The worst fear of all is that which would cause us to deny Christ—namely, the fear of man.

Suffering Disgrace For Christ's Name

We can always expect new challenges, including persecution, and must never be content with standing still, but must press on to spiritual maturity.

The Handwriting Is On the Wall (2011)

While love grows cold because lawlessness abounds, the church may well have to go underground in order to survive. We must prepare for horrific times.

Smyrna: Faithful Until Death

The biblical city of Smyrna may be one that many know the least about. The city's name reveals the themes that the Head of the church wants us to understand.

Facing Times of Stress: Grieved by Various Trials

Faith from God will be required to endure and profit from trials, bringing about character and genuineness of faith, as well as patience and trust in God.

Those Who Are Persecuted

Persecution is already here, part and parcel in the lives of followers of Christ. If we are persecuted for following God's instructions, we will be blessed.

Letters to Seven Churches (Part Three): Smyrna

Christ prepared the members of Smyrna for martyrdom, promising them eternal glory for enduring a relatively short time, looking at things from a hopeful perspective.

Death, or Not A Hair of Your Head?

Our challenge in the wake of the terrible things we witness now is to retain confidence that God is in control, even though our faith will be sorely tested.

Facing Times of Stress: When God Is Silent (Part Two)

What appeared to be a series of judicial set-backs for Paul was actually the outworking of God to place him before even higher levels of secular leadership.

No Greater Love

Christ says that we can show no greater love than in sacrificing our lives. We must come to the point where we are doing this daily, yet how do we do this?

A Place of Safety? (Part 5)

Obsessing about the Place of Safety is a sure way to disqualify oneself from it. God calls some faithful, zealous ones for martyrdom during the Tribulation.

Not One Stone Upon Another

We, as God's spiritual Temple, will be a stumbling block and rock of offense to the world, leading to untimely martyrdom for many.

How Much Do You Value the Kingdom of God?

Martyrdom is not a penalty because a person has failed to qualify for the Place of Safety; rather, it is a badge of honor for those who have overcome.

God's Special Presence and Direct Intervention

The scattering of the early church strengthened it, allowing fresh seed to be scattered in new fields. The 'bad' thing actually increased the church's power.

Many Are Called, But Few Are Chosen (Part Four)

The Arnoldists, Albigenses, Cathers, Waldensians, and the Lollards all had Sabbath-keepers in their ranks. Gradual syncretism is a pattern of church history.

Principled Living (Part Five): Witnessing of God

Our best witness is often through our unspoken behavior; what we do speaks volumes. God gives us a charge to bear His name with dignity in all our actions.