Persecution

1. PERSECUTION PROMISED TO ALL FOLLOWERS OF JESUS:

Matthew 10:17  Beware of men: they will deliver you up … scourge

Matthew 24:9  Deliver you up … ye shall be hated of all nations

Mark 10:30  Shall receive an hundredfold now … with persecutions

Luke 21:12  They shall lay their hands on you and persecute you

John 15:20  If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you

John 16:33  In the world ye shall have tribulation

Philippians 1:29  Given not only to believe on him, but also to suffer

2 Timothy 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution

  (See also Matthew 23:24; 1 John 3:13.)

2. BENEFITS OF PERSECUTION:

A. Heavenly rewards for enduring persecution:

Matthew 5:10   Blessed are … persecuted … for theirs is the kingdom

Romans 8:17–18   Sufferings … not worthy to be compared with the glory

2 Corinthians 2:12   If we suffer, we shall also reign with him

2 Corinthians 4:17   Affliction … worketh for us … eternal weight of glory

Hebrews 11:25–26   Choosing to suffer affliction … respect unto reward

Hebrews 11:35   Tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection

1 Peter 4:12–13   Fiery trial … when his glory revealed, ye may be glad

B. God is with and helps those being persecuted:

Psalm 37:32–33   The Lord will not leave him [the righteous] in his [the wicked’s] hand

Psalm 46:1   God is … a very present help in trouble

Isaiah 50:7–9   The Lord God will help me … who is mine adversary?

Matthew 10:18–20   Brought before governors … it shall be given you what ye shall speak … [God’s] Spirit speaketh in you

Acts 7:55   [Stephen] saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing

Romans 8:35–39   Persecution [can’t] separate us from the love of God

2 Corinthians 4:8–11  Persecuted, but not forsaken

Hebrews 13:5–6   The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me

1 Peter 4:14   If ye be reproached for Christ … spirit of glory and God resteth upon you

C. God allows persecution to spread His message and messengers:

Matthew 10:23   When they persecute you in this city, flee ye   into another

Acts 8:1,4   Scattered … went everywhere preaching the word

Acts 11:19   Scattered … travelled as far as Cyprus, preaching  227

D. When condemning God’s messengers, enemies often broadcast God’s message—thus arousing interest in it:

John 19:4–8   The Jews answered, “[Jesus] ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God”

Acts 17:5–7   These [say] there is another king, one Jesus

Acts 19:23–26   This Paul persuaded … saying that [idols] be no gods

Acts 24:14   This I confess … the way which they call heresy, so worship I God

Acts 25:18–19   [Paul’s] accusers … had questions against him of Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive

Acts 28:22   Everywhere [this sect] is spoken against … but we desire to hear of thee, what thou thinkest

Philippians 1:15–18   Notwithstanding … Christ is preached

E. The Word can be preached even from prison:

Jeremiah 38:13–18   [King Zedekiah consulted with imprisoned Jeremiah]

Matthew 10:18–20   Brought before governors and kings for a testimony

Acts 16:23–31   [Philippian jailor converted after earthquake]

Acts 28:16   [In bonds, Paul preached in Rome] (See also 28:30–31.)

Philippians 1:12–14   [In bonds, Paul converts Caesar’s household] (See also Philippians 4:22.)

F. God gets good out of seeming bad:

Genesis 50:20   Ye thought evil … but God meant it to good

Exodus 14:1–28   [God hardened Pharaoh’s heart to pursue the Hebrews, so that his entire army drowned and empire collapsed]

Psalm 76:10   Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee

3. ATTITUDE TO HAVE DURING PERSECUTION:

A. Be fearless and unmovable:

Jeremiah 1:17–19   Be not dismayed … they shall fight … but I am with thee

Ezekiel 3:8–9   Fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks

Matthew 10:28   Fear not them which kill the body

Acts 20:24   None of these … move me, neither count I my life dear

1 Thessalonians 3:3   That no man should be moved by these afflictions … we are appointed thereunto

1 Peter 2:20   When ye do well, and suffer for it … take it patiently

Revelation 12:11   And they loved not their lives unto the death

  (See also Philippians 1:14.)

B. Have joy in persecution:

Matthew 5:12   Rejoice and be exceeding glad … for so persecuted

Luke 6:22–23   When men hate you … rejoice … leap for joy

Acts 5:40–41   Rejoicing they were counted worthy to suffer shame

Romans 5:3   We glory in tribulations

2 Thessalonians 1:4   We glory in you for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure

1 Peter 3:14   If ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye

1 Peter 4:12–14   If ye be reproached for … Christ, happy are ye

C. Do not be ashamed:

Isaiah 50:7   I set my face like a flint … I shall not be ashamed

1 Peter 4:16   If any suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed

D. Suffer willingly for a righteous cause:

Jeremiah 15:15   For thy sake I have suffered rebuke

Matthew 5:10   Blessed are they … persecuted for righteousness’ sake

2 Corinthians 12:10   I take pleasure in persecutions … for Christ’s sake

2 Thessalonians 1:5   Counted worthy of kingdom of God, for which ye suffer

1 Peter 2:19   For conscience toward God … suffering wrongfully

E. Examples of enduring persecution courageously:

  ■ Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:11–15)

  ■ Paul and his companions (1 Corinthians 4:12)

  ■ Paul (2 Corinthians 6:4–5,8–10; 2 Corinthians 11:23–27)

  ■ Timothy (2 Timothy 1:8)

  ■ Early Christians (Hebrews 10:32–33)

  ■ Moses (Hebrews 11:25)

  ■ Old and New Testament saints (Hebrews 11:35–40)

F. Remain faithful to the truth despite persecution:

Psalm 119:51   Proud have me … in derision, yet have I not declined

Psalm 119:86–87   They persecuted me wrongfully; they almost consumed me … but I forsook not thy precepts

Psalm 119:157   Many are my persecutors … yet I do not decline

Revelation 2:13   Thou holdest fast … and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein … my martyr was slain

G. Endure persecution because of love for the lost:

2 Timothy 2:10   I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they may obtain salvation (See also John 10:11.)

Hebrews 5:7–9   He suffered … became the author of eternal salvation

1 Peter 2:21   Christ suffered for us … ye should follow his steps

H. Examples of men of God imprisoned for their faith:

  ■ Old Testament saints (Hebrews 11:36)

  ■ Samson (Judges 16:21)

  ■ Micaiah (1 Kings 22:26–27)

  ■ Hanani (2 Chronicles 16:10)

  ■ Jeremiah (Jeremiah 37:11–16)

  ■ Daniel (Daniel 6:16–17)

  ■ John the Baptist (Matthew 14:3–4)

  ■ Peter and John (Acts 4:1–3)

  ■ Apostles (Acts 5:16–18)

  ■ Men and women Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 8:3; 9:1–2,14; 22:4–5,19; 26:10)

  ■ Peter (Acts 12:1–4)

  ■ Paul and Silas (Acts 16:22–24)

  ■ Paul’s imprisonments (2 Corinthians 11:23)

  ■ Paul’s final imprisonment (Acts 24:27; 26:29; 28:16)

4. REASONS WHY PERSECUTORS ATTACK CHRISTIANS:

A. Their goal is to stop the witness:

Jeremiah 11:21   Prophesy not … that thou die not by our hand

John 11:47–48,53   If we let him alone, all men will believe on him. Then they took counsel to put him to death

Acts 4:17   That it spread no further … Let us threaten them

  (See also Revelation 6:9; 11:7.)

B. Wicked men hate the righteous:

Psalm 38:20   They are adversaries; because I follow … good

Proverbs 29:27   He that is upright is abomination to the wicked

Isaiah 59:15   He that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey

Acts 7:52   Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?

Galatians 4:29   He that was born after the flesh persecuted him

1 Peter 4:3–4   [Righteous despised for not joining drunken parties]

1 John 3:12   Cain slew [Abel] because his own works were evil

C. Because truth is a witness against evil:

1 Kings 22:17–27   [Micaiah imprisoned for prophesying the truth]

2 Chronicles 16:7–10   [Asa imprisons Hanani for prophesying against him]

2 Chronicles 24:20–21   [King has Zechariah stoned for rebuking the people]

Jeremiah 32:2–3   [Jeremiah imprisoned for prophesying the truth]

Amos 5:10   They abhor him that speaketh uprightly

John 7:7   It [the world] hateth me [Jesus], because I testify of it

Acts 6:10–15   [Stephen stoned for rebuking Jews] (See also Acts 7:51–60.)

Revelation 1:9   [John exiled to Patmos for preaching the word]

  (See also Revelation 12:17; 20:4.)

D. Ignorance of the truth:

Acts 3:13–14   I wot that through ignorance ye did it (See also 3:17.)

1 Timothy 1:13   [I] was a persecutor … I did it ignorantly in unbelief

E. Not truly knowing God:

John 5:18,38,42   Ye have not his word … ye have not the love of God

John 8:37   Ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place

John 15:21   They [persecutors] know not him [God] that sent me

John 15:24   Now have they … hated both me and my Father

John 16:3   Because they have not known the Father, nor me

Acts 13:27–28   They knew him not … nor yet the voices of prophets

F. Self-righteous, misguided religious zeal:

John 16:2   Whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service (See also Isaiah 66:5.)

Acts 13:50   Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women

Acts 21:27–32   Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teacheth

Acts 22:3–4   Zealous … I persecuted this way unto the death

Acts 23:12–14   [40 men vowed and conspired to kill Paul]

Acts 26:9–11   I thought I ought to do many things contrary to Jesus

Galatians 1:13–14   Persecuted … being exceedingly zealous of traditions

Philippians 3:6   Concerning zeal, persecuting the church

G. For breaking religious traditions and doctrines:

Matthew 12:10–14   Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days?

John 5:16   [Angry Jews seek to kill Jesus for healing on Sabbath]

John 10:31–33   For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy

H. Religious jealousy and fear of competition:

Matthew 27:18   For he knew that for envy they had delivered him

Mark 11:18   Feared him, because people astonished at his doctrine

Acts 13:44–45   When the Jews saw the multitudes … filled with envy

Acts 17:5   Jews which believed not, moved with envy … assaulted

I. Because we do not belong to this world:

John 15:19   Because ye are not of world … the world hateth you

John 17:14   World hated them, because they are not of the world

1 John 4:5–6   They are of the world … we are of God

J. Persecution by corrupt rich:

Acts 19:23–27   By this craft we have our wealth … but Paul persuaded

James 2:6–7   Rich men oppress, draw you before judgement seat

Revelation 17:1–6,18 That great city … drunken with the blood of saints

K. Wickedness, pride:

Psalm 10:2   The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor

Psalm 74:22   The foolish man reproacheth thee daily

Psalm 119:69   The proud have forged a lie against me

L. For refusing to compromise faith:

Daniel 3:14–20   We will not serve thy god, nor worship the … image

Daniel 6:4–5   [Jealous princes accuse Daniel regarding his faith]

M. For refusing to worship the Antichrist and his image:

Revelation 13:14–17  As many as would not worship the image … be killed

Revelation 20:4   Beheaded … had not worshipped the beast

N. For no valid reason at all:

Psalm 119:86   They persecute me wrongfully

Psalm 119:161   Princes have persecuted me without a cause

John 15:25   They hated me without a cause (See also Psalm 69:4.)

5. PERSECUTION USUALLY BEGINS WITH VERBAL ATTACKS:

A. Slander, infamy, lies:

Psalm 69:9–12   I became a proverb to them … they speak against me

Psalm 119:51   The proud have had me greatly in derision

Matthew 5:11   Men shall revile you … and say all manner of evil

Luke 6:22   Men shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil

Luke 22:63–65   Men that held Jesus mocked him … blasphemously spake

Acts 14:2   Made their minds evil affected against the brethren

Acts 28:22   This sect … everywhere it is spoken against

1 Corinthians 4:13   Defamed … we are made as the filth of the world

  (See also Psalm 35:16,21.)

B. Persecutors twist words to defame:

Isaiah 29:21   Make a man an offender for a word … lay a snare

Isaiah 56:5   Every day they wrest my words … their thoughts evil

Matthew 22:15   Took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk

Mark 12:13   They send Pharisees … to catch him in his words

Luke 11:54   Seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him

Luke 20:20   Take hold of his words … deliver him to the governor

C. Lying accusations and false charges:

Psalm 35:11   False witnesses … laid to my charge things I knew not

Jeremiah 38:4   [Treason:] seeketh not the welfare … but the hurt

Matthew 26:59–61   Chief priests … sought false witness against Jesus

Luke 23:2   We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute [pay taxes]

Luke 23:5   [Sedition:] He stirreth up the people

Acts 6:11–13   We have heard him speak blasphemous words

Acts 16:19–21   These men exceedingly trouble city … teach customs

Acts 17:5–7   These … do contrary to the decrees of Caesar

Acts 18:12–13   Persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law

Acts 24:5   Pestilent, mover of sedition, ringleader of sect

2 Timothy 2:8–9   I suffer trouble as an evil doer, even unto bonds

  (See also Psalm 94:20.)

D. Character assassination:

Luke 7:34   Behold a gluttonous man and a wine-bibber

Luke 7:12   Nay; but he deceiveth the people

John 9:24   We know that this man [Jesus] is a sinner

E. Accusations of being “of the Devil”:

Matthew 10:24–25   They called [Jesus] Beelzebub, how much more [us]

Matthew 9:34   He casteth out devils through the prince of devils

Mark 3:22   He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils

John 10:20   Many said, he hath a devil … why hear ye him?

F. Charges of religious insanity:

Mark 3:21   Went to lay hold on him: said, He is beside himself

Acts 26:24   Much learning [of the scriptures] doth make thee mad

G. Persecution through fear of society’s disapproval:

John 9:22   Parents feared Jews: for Jews had agreed that if any

John 12:42   [Some believing] chief rulers … did not confess him, lest they be put out of the synagogue

6. PERSECUTION FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS:

Jeremiah 12:6   Thy brethren … have called a multitude after thee

Matthew 10:21   Brother shall deliver up the brother to death

Matthew 10:35–36   A man’s foes shall be they of his own household

Mark 3:21   Friends … went out to lay hold on him

Mark 6:4   Prophet is … without honour among kin, and in own house

Luke 12:51–53   There shall be five in one house divided

Luke 21:16   Ye shall be betrayed by parents, brethren, friends

John 7:1–5   [Jesus’ brethren taunt Him]

1 Thessalonians 2:14–16  Ye also have suffered … of your own countrymen

  (See also Micah 7:2; John 1:11.)

7. THE WORLD PERSECUTED AND REJECTED JESUS:

A. Evil plots and persecution against Jesus:

Matthew 12:14   Held council against him, how they might destroy him

Matthew 26:3–4   Consulted that they might take him by subtilty and kill

Luke 4:28–29   Led him unto the hill … that they might cast him down

Luke 6:11   Filled with madness; and communed what they might do

Luke 19:47   Chief priests and scribes … sought to destroy him

John 5:16   Therefore did Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay

John 11:57   Given commandment, if any man knew where he were

  (See also Luke 20:20.)

B. Look to Jesus’ example of suffering persecution:

Isaiah 53:3,7–8   Despised and rejected of men … afflicted … cut off

John 15:18   The world … hated me before it hated you

John 15:20   If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you

Hebrews 12:2–4   Consider him who endured such contradiction

Hebrews 13:13   Let us go forth unto him … bearing his reproach

1 Peter 2:21–23   Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example

1 Peter 4:1   Christ suffered … arm yourselves with the same mind

C. When persecuting Christians, they persecute Jesus:

Zechariah 2:8   He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye

Matthew 25:40   Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these … ye have done it unto me

Acts 9:1–5   Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Acts 5:38–39   Refrain from these men … lest ye fight against God

8. COMPROMISING, FLEEING, AND AVOIDING PERSECUTION:

A. Bad examples of compromising to avoid persecution:

2 Kings 5:15,17–18   [Naaman believed in God, but bowed down to the pagan idol of Rimmon]

Luke 6:26   Woe unto you, when all men speak well of you

John 12:42   Rulers … did not confess him, lest they be put out

Galatians 6:12   Lest they suffer persecution for cross of Christ

B. Fleeing from persecution (discretion, not cowardice):

1 Kings 19:2–3   [Elijah fled from the wicked queen Jezebel]

Jeremiah 26:20–21   [Urijah fled from king Jehoiakim to Egypt]

Jeremiah 36:19,26   Go, hide thee … and let no man know where ye be

Matthew 2:13–14   Arise, and take the young child … and flee into Egypt

Matthew 10:23   When they persecute you in this city, flee ye to another

Matthew 12:14–15   When Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence

John 7:1   He would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews

John 10:39–40   They sought again to take him: but he escaped

John 11:53–54   He walked no more openly among the Jews; but went

Acts 9:23–25   Took [Paul] by night, and let him down in a basket

Acts 14:5–6   An assault made … they were ware of it, and fled

Acts 17:5,10   Assaulted … brethren sent away Paul and Silas by night

Acts 17:13–14   Jews … stirred up to people … brethren sent away Paul

Acts 23:12–35   [470 Roman soldiers helped Paul flee a conspiracy]

C. Pray to avoid persecution, if possible:

2 Thessalonians 3:1–2   Pray … that we may be delivered from wicked men

1 Timothy 2:1–2   Prayers … that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life

D. Use wisdom to avoid stirring up unnecessary persecution:

Proverbs 15:1   A soft answer turneth away wrath

Proverbs 16:7   When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him

Matthew 5:25   Agree with thine adversary quickly … lest he deliver

Romans 12:18–21   If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men … overcome evil with good

9. GOD WILL JUDGE YOUR PERSECUTORS:

A. The Psalmist’s prayers for God to protect His people and judge their enemies:

(See Psalm 3:all; 5:8–12; 6:10; 7:all; 9:3–5,9–10,13–20; 10:all; 12:all; 13:all; 17:4–15; 18:37–50;

21:7–13; 23:5; 27:1–6,11–14; 28:all; 31:all; 34:1–7; 35:all; 37:all; 38:12–22; 40:13–17; 41:5–11;

43:all; 52:all; 53:1–5; 54:all; 55:1–9,18,23; 56:all; 57:1–6; 58:all; 62:1–8; 63:8–11; 64:all; 68:1–3;

69:4,22–30; 70:all; 71:4,10–13; 82:3–4; 83:1–4,12–18; 94:1–7,16,21–23; 105:12–15; 109:all;

118:5–14; 119:84,126; 120:2; 124:all; 125:3–5; 129:1–6; 139:19–22; 140:all; 143:3–4,9–12;

144:6–11; 149:5–9.)

B. Other prayers:

(See Jeremiah 15:15; 17:18; 18:18–23; Lamentations 3:59–66; Revelation 6:9–10.)

C. God’s judgement on persecutors:

Deuteronomy 30:7   Lord put curses on enemies which persecuted thee

2 Chronicles 36:16   Wrath of the Lord arose … till there was no remedy

Psalm 7:11–16   He ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors

Psalm 11:2,5–6   Upon the wicked he shall rain fire and brimstone

Psalm 37:12–15,17   The Lord shall laugh at him, for he seeth that his day is coming

Psalm 105:14–15   Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm

Isaiah 54:15   Whosoever shall gather against thee shall fall

Jeremiah 20:2–6   [Pashur persecuted Jeremiah, then Jeremiah prophesied God’s judgements against him]

Luke 11:49–51   Blood of prophets … be required of this generation

1 Thessalonians 2:15–16   Forbidding us to speak … wrath is come upon them

2 Thessalonians 1:6–9   Recompense tribulation to them that trouble you

  (See also Revelation 16:1–6; 18:2,4–8.)

10. ENDTIME PERSECUTION:

A. Suffering persecution in the last days:

Matthew 24:9–10   Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted

Mark 13:12–13   Brother shall betray brother to death

Luke 21:12,16–17   They shall lay their hands on you, and persecute

2 Timothy 3:1–3   In the last days … despisers of them that are good

B. Persecution during the great tribulation:

Deuteronomy 4:30–31  When thou art in tribulation … in the latter days

Daniel 11:33–35   They shall fall by sword, flame, captivity, spoil … they shall be helped

Matthew 24:21–22   Then shall be great tribulation

Mark 13:19   In those days shall be affliction, such as was not

Revelation 12:12–13,17  Dragon persecuted the woman [church] … war with remnant

Revelation 13:7   It was given unto him to make war with the saints

Revelation 13:15   As many as would not worship the image … killed

Revelation 20:4   Beheaded for witness … had not worshipped the beast

C. The tribulation saints will be greatly rewarded:

Revelation 7:13–17   Came out of great tribulation … before throne of God

Revelation 20:4   Beheaded … reigned with Christ a thousand years