Acts 22:20b blood of thy martyr Stephen
Revelation 2:13d Antipas was my faithful martyr
Revelation 17:6b blood of the martyrs of Jesus
(martyr: like the word baptism, martyr is a transliteration, the word means a witness.
At the beginning of the book of Acts, it was used describing those who were eye witnesses of the resurrection.
Then it became used to describe a witness for Jesus, and also those who suffered for witnessing for Jesus.
Eventually, the word came to be used for those who died for their witness of Jesus, as in the three scriptures cited.)
(Stephen was the first martyr:)
Acts 7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Acts 8:2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
(And other martyrs at that same time:)
Acts 26:10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
(Then the apostle James was a martyr:)
Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
(According to church history, by the time John was on Patmos, all the other apostles had been martyred.
Also, there were numerous other believers who had been martyred by that time.)
(Jesus mentioned one martyr by name, to the church in Pergamos:)
Revelation 2:13c and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you,
(The book of Revelation became, not a book "of" martyrs, but a book "for" martyrs, throughout the church age.
The way the book is written, it has been miraculously specific in application, for all who suffer for Jesus.
Therefore, it has been a source of great comfort, strength, and encouragement for all who are persecuted for the name of Jesus.)
Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
(Paul had persecuted the church, until Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus, explaining who he was really persecuting:)
Acts 8:1b And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem;
Acts 26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
(Jesus explained where this comes from:)
John 15:20b If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;
(First, they'll avoid you, then shun, despise, mock, and trouble you, eventually hurt you, maybe put you away, or even kill you:)
II Corinthians 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
I Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
I Peter 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
(Then, sadly, there is also this aspect:)
Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Mark 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
(Two personal accounts: 1st during open air evangelism in the club district in Chicago, while another man was preaching, I went to get more tracts in the little alleyway between two buildings. An extremely large, aggressive man jumped in front of me, saying that he was a muslim willing to die for his god, asking if I was willing to die for mine. Apparently, he was looking for a hand-to-hand combat to the death, and since he never struck me, I didn't do anything, so he left, without doing or saying anything else.
However, I was ashamed, since I knew that I was afraid, fear of man, and had been a coward since the time I was a little boy.
2nd, during open air evangelism, down on St Croix, in their club district, I was preaching on the southwest corner.
A man came towards me swinging a machete, shouting at me to stop preaching there.
I crossed the street to the northwest corner, and preached there, instead; however, I was very ashamed of myself.
I could have just stayed where I originally was, and left everything in Jesus' hands, even if it meant being killed for the word.
However, again, I was a coward, and I knew it - both times I responded the same way - the fear of man bringeth a snare.
The 1st was like 30 years ago, and the 2nd 15 years, but I can still feel that intense fear and shame, as if it was only yesterday.)
(But that was then, and now is now, and for the past 15 years since then, I haven't been experiencing persecution.
I ask myself, "Why is that?"; and, "how can this be?" - But, do I really want to know the answer?)
II Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
(Does this mean that I'm not really living godly in Christ Jesus?
What about how I repent? Or even, possibly the lack thereof?)
II Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
(The same grace that brings salvation, also teaches how to deny ungodliness, and more so, how to actually live godly:)
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
(godly fear - rather than the fear of man which bringeth a snare:)
Hebrews 12:28b let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
(And if I'm not living godly in Christ Jesus, am I not being delivered out of temptations, but rather, on my own, to fall therein?)
II Peter 2:9a The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations,
(So, for the past 15 years, do I have more in common with those in Laodicea?)
Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
(Have I been increased with goods, and lukewarm, neither cold nor hot? Jesus says to be zealous therefore, and repent.
And he also said, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire". How do I do that? What is gold tried in the fire?)
I Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
(Persecution isn't something strange, coming out of left field, but follows when we are first willing to live godly in Christ Jesus:)
I Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
(The trial begins by first submitting to the Spirit, to walk in the Spirit, to live godly, then persecution, to come forth as gold:)
Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
(There is a process to all of this:)
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
(Do I possibly avoid really living godly in Christ Jesus, so that I can therefore avoid persecution? Well, I know I'm a coward.
Or have I become slothful in spirit, or even apathetic towards the things that matter more to Jesus, than they do to me?)
(So, it would seem that, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire", is therefore two things:
First, surrender to the Spirit, in order to live godly in Christ Jesus; then, secondly, to let him lead us through persecution.)
(And when the Spirit leads us through persecution for Jesus, there is actually rejoicing:)
Acts 5:39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
I Peter 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
(Then, instead of being like Laodicea, we can be like Smyrna, and to hear these great encouraging words:)
Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
(and then:)
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
(And possibly, it seems that there may be, at the beginning of the kingdom, a very special ceremony with the martyrs of Jesus.
First, all those who died for Jesus during this church age, have been safely waiting for this, under the altar:)
Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
(Then those whom they have been waiting for, their fellow servants and brethren, who will be martyred during the tribulation.
It seems that they will all be brought forth for this special ceremony, where all glory will go to the Lamb:)
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
(Imagine the rejoicing they will experience then!)
(Isn't it so much better, that we repent, submit to the Spirit, live godly in Christ Jesus, then rejoice as we suffer for his name's sake?)
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