The Seven Seals - Part 2

REVELATION 6 v 9-11

What are the dangers and opportunities of Persecution?

In this passage we see the fifth seal being opened. The judgement of those who persecuted Christians is written here and the how the world will be destroyed. As many of us know Christians are still heavily persecuted today, but God has promised justice for their deaths and persecution.

• The martyrs are eager for God's judgment to come upon those who persecuted them. But they are told to wait. God timing is not our timing, He is not waiting for a certain number. God is going to honour those who were killed for his name.
• The writer talks about what will happen to people because of their faith, in Hebrews 11 after he has listed all the men and women of faith. Hebrews 11 v 35-40 - "...There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. ³⁶ Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— ³⁸ the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. ³⁹ These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, ⁴⁰ since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."
• The majority of these things still happen to Christians today. What I love about this scripture is that Paul could have written it and if he didn't write it he definitely believed it. The exciting and amazing thing is he used to kill Christians and now through the transformation that the Holy Spirit has brought to his life he is passionate about standing firm and being persecuted.
• It takes us and all the Christians before us who stood up for God and stood firm in their faith no matter what happened to them, to be added to the end of the list of men and women of faith.
• How willing are we to stand up for our faith?
• In our team devotional just yesterday morning, one of the team brought an excellent exercise for us to do as we studied Acts 16 (Paul and Silas in prison), she asked us to write letters through Open Doors to Christians in persecution. As I wrote this letter it truly moved me as I was able to write a simple letter which would bring such great encouragement to a Christian who is being persecuted. We are all brothers and sisters in one body!
• God honours those who were killed for their faith and brings justice for their death.
• I am always inspired by stories of Christians who are standing up for their faith in the most difficult conditions. 
• The danger of persecution is death and judgement on those who do it.
• The opportunity is to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted.
• I Thessalonians 1 v 2-3 - “2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. ³ We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
• This passage is one of many that talks about praying for other Christians. We can pray that they will be able to endure everything and have a full hope in God.