Truth really can be stranger than fiction.
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La verdad puede ser más extraña que la ficción.
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Estudio bíblico que nos hace abrir los ojos en menos de cinco minutos! Acceda a todos los episodios aquí.
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Augenöffnendes Bibelstudium in weniger als fünf Minuten! Alle Episoden finden Sie hier.
Was There A Curse On Helen's Romantic Life?
The Third Man by Angela Sheffield is based on a true story. Read chapter one now!
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¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? por Teófila Gottfried
Lo que leemos en la Biblia tiene que ver con todos los seres humanos, sean cristianos o judíos, ateos o agnósticos, budistas, musulmanes o adherentes a alguna de las filosofías o nuevas religiones que surgen en el mundo. ¿Por qué? Ver mayor información sobre este interesante libro.
Scripture of The Day - St. John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Escritura del día - San Juan 14,6
Jesús le dijo: Yo soy el camino, y la verdad, y la vida; nadie viene al Padre, sino por mí.
Bibelstelle des Tages - Johannes 14,6
Jesus spricht zu ihm: Ich bin der Weg und die Wahrheit und das Leben; niemand kommt zum Vater, denn durch mich!
The Persecution of Christians: How Long O Lord?
Persecution of Christians is set to occur only for a predetermined-by-God period of time. Understand that the period of time may be short or long, stretching into some years, causing many to ask, "How long O Lord?" The times of persecution may be scattered throughout our lives, or may only occur at the beginning, middle or end of life. It may involve the marring of our reputation (Matthew 5:11, 1 Peter 4:13-14), beatings and imprisonment (Acts 16:16-24), torture (Hebrews 11:35), death/martyrdom (Revelation 6:9-11) or any combination of these. But none of these will exceed the time established by God for the trial of faith. Our Lord said:
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried (tested); and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.(Revelation 2:10)
"Ten days" does not refer to a literal ten days, but rather it symbolizes that the persecution of Christians, the trying of their faith will not exceed the ten days set by God for them. However, that can seem like an eternity and move many to pray, "How Long O Lord?"
Finally, as you read this, please note that it centers on the persecution of Christians, the saints of God because of their righteousness, their obedience to the Lord. This suffering is not to be confused with suffering under God's chastisement (punishment) nor with suffering that may be reaping what has been sown. There is also the suffering that just comes from living in a fallen world where evil runs rampant.
Although we can't avert the foretold great persecution of Christians that the Antichrist will usher in with his government, we must continue to fight (spiritually according to God's will) until God has allowed him to take his position of power, and even after he has taken his position.
Satan searches the earth for any and everyone he may destroy (1 Peter 5:8). There is no logical reason to believe that he, knowing his time is short (Revelation 12:12), would not have manifested himself and set up his kingdom many years ago, had he not been restricted.
The enemy, knowing that his time is short, works to put into practice as many aspects of his coming government, his manifestation, ahead of God's schedule. We need only look at the many governments that allow and even encourage persecution of Christians. We must continue to pray fervently according to the instructions of 1 Timothy 2:1-3 and to reprove (speak and act against) the works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11) that we not be found guilty before God concerning the salvation of men's souls or suffer persecution that God would have averted through our prayers and supplications. These instructions are according to 1 Timothy 2:1-3.
God commands us to pray for our political leaders, because he wants them to be saved. Also, it is his will for his servants to live as peaceably as possible under the rulership of political leaders. This requires his intervention. You might wonder how God can intervene in government when he does not force salvation on anyone. Remember that God controls both the saved and the unsaved for his purposes. Proverbs 16:4 says:
The Lord hath made all things (including people) for himself (his own purposes)...
God in Government
Does the Bible say that the Pharaoh that exalted Joseph to ruler over Egypt was saved? No, it does not. Nevertheless, the people enjoyed a quiet and peaceable life because of the hand of God in government. Does the Bible say that the keeper of the prison where Joseph was, accepted salvation? No, it doesn't. Nevertheless, God used him, giving Joseph favor in his eyes which made life so much better for him. When we pray for our political leaders and those in authority, we can look to see some of them come to salvation. Others may be removed from their positions, and others powerfully influenced by God to carry out an action that is for the good of the lives of followers of Jesus. This has direct impact when speaking of the persecution of Christians.
In the book of Esther we read how God caused king Ahasuerus to not be able to sleep one night and in his restlessness, to have his servants bring the records of the chronicles to be read to him. It was found written that a man named Mordecai had told of two of the kings keepers of the door who sought to kill him. The king then asked what honor and dignity had Mordecai received for his deed. They responded that he had not been honored at all. At this time, a man named Haman, one of the king's high officials, sought to have Mordecai killed by hanging; and not only this, but also the destruction of the entire Jewish people (Esther 3:1-10).
Haman was then mandated to carry out the king's order for Mordecai to be greatly honored. Queen Esther who became queen through the hand of God in government (Esther 2:17), attended a banquet with him and Haman. During the banquet, Esther appeals to the king for his intervention into a plot to destroy her people. The king, attentive to her plea, asks her to reveal the one who was behind such a deed. She exposes Haman's wicked plot to him (Esther 7:2-6). The scriptures then tell us:
And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman, stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
(Esther 7:7-10)
God's servants, an entire nation, was spared a great persecution because of the Lord's intervention into the heathen government under which they lived. This is a vital message of truth when considering the ever growing threat of worldwide Christian persecution. We do not read of the king's conversion in the book of Esther. But we do see the Lord's control over his throne for the good of his people.
Highly Recommended Reading:
Was Global Peace the Goal of Jesus?
Global Peace: What Does the Christian Bible Say?
God in Government and the Persecution of Christians
Based on true events, The Third Man by Angela Sheffield, brings the Bible up close and personal as the characters face real issues of life: Betrayal, deceit, romance, bitterness, anger against God, hopelessness, will power, perplexity, triumph, unforgiveness, mental illness, and the "Alcohol made me do it" excuse. Read chapter one FREE now.
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