Smyrna, The Persecuted Church - Rev. 2:8-11

Let us pray for persecution.

Does this sound outrageous? Let’s face it, none of us likes to suffer, and yet nothing moves us to pray as when we suffer. So it seems ironic that the Lord Jesus (who could stop this persecution instantly) tells this beautiful and faithful church it’s going to be persecuted even more than it already is. Throughout history the more the church has suffered, the greater has been its purity and strength. Today, many Christians are suffering in prisons around the world for their faith in Jesus Christ. The church for the most part is oblivious to their suffering, and our government could care less. But if the world ignores or forgets the suffering church, Jesus never forgets. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Peter told the followers of Jesus, “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Jesus Christ, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you (1 Peter 5:10). Jesus forewarned His disciples, “In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33a). Paul also tells us: “yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). And yes, “nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39b).