Peter was crucified upside down, Paul was beheaded, John the Baptist was beheaded, Andrew was crucified, Thomas was pierced through with the spears of four soldiers, Philips was cruelly put to death, Matthew was stabbed to death.......... i can go on and on. These disciples of Christ and more suffered greatly because of their faith in Jesus and some lead to death just because they boldly declared the truth of God's word. So was it written about these ones to die in such way? Well let listen to God's word "When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been. " Rev 6:9-11
It is clear in God's word that some are called to die as Martyr.
Jesus did not promise a world without persecution, in fact He said you will be persecuted just like i was. You will be threatened, rejected, falsely accused, some put to death... because you speak the truth. So get ready if you stand for the truth you sure will be persecuted in one form or the other. Whatever form it is we should be ready to die for our faith in Christ Jesus. Revelation 12:11 says They triumphed over the devil by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Sometimes we tend to omit the last phrase of Rev 12:11 " they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death"
Jesus commands that if anyone will come after Him let them deny themselves, If you do not learn what it is to die to self and do as Jesus command by the help of the Holy Spirit, then how will you be able to stand and be victorious when persecution comes? Please let me explain what victorious means, i mean holding on to your faith in Christ and not letting go even if your life is at stake, i mean being willing to die for your faith in Christ Jesus- this is the victorious life. Praise God some will surely die because of their faith in Christ Jesus, while some will still be given extra years on earth because they still have more assignment to accomplish. Both are victorious in Christ Jesus. Revelation 2:10
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:12-14.
Listen dear friends, we are in the last days and those who stand for the truth will be persecuted. We have the persecution going on from outside against the church, but there is one so terrible also and sad, and that is the persecution going on within the church. Yes right within the church. We should not be surprised, Jesus was persecuted and crucified by those who claim to be scholars of His word- Chief Priest/ Pharisees. So do we expect to be treated differently. Be careful of false doctrines out there that do not include the total package of our faith work with God.
THANK YOU LORD.