Luke 6:40 “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.”
Matthew 26:3-4 “Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes . . . that they . . . might . . . kill him.”
John 8:47 “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”
A Little History:
Psalm 44:22 “. . . for thy sake . . . we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.”
79:2 “The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.”
Hebrews 11:35-38 “. . . others were tortured, not accepting deliverance. . . .”
Revelation 1:13 “. . . Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you. . . .”
HOW THIS ACTUALLY WORKS:
(A) Acts 6:8 “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”
(B) Acts 6:9 “Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians . . . disputing with Stephen.”
(C) Acts 7:59 “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
(D) Acts 22:20 “And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was . . . consenting unto his death. . . .”
(“Yea, he deserved it, man!”) [As an unconverted man, Paul thought he was doing God a service.]
Doctrine:
Psalm 37:32-34 “The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.”
116:15 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”
John 15:18-21 “. . . because ye are not of the world . . . the world hateth you.”
21:18-19 “. . . signifying by what death he should glorify God.”
2nd Corinthians 7:4 “. . . I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.”
1st Peter 4:12-14 “. . . think it not strange concerning the fiery trial. . . .”
1:3-7 “. . . 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. . . .”
1st Corinthians 4:9-14 “. . . being persecuted, we suffer it . . . I warn you.”
(1st John 3:1,13 “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.”)
Hebrews 12:3-4 “. . . consider him that endured . . . lest ye be wearied. . . .”
Matthew 10:28-33 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. . . .”
24:13 “. . . he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (a promise and a warning)
Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb . . . and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
Prophecy Concerning The Tribulation To Come:
Matthew 10:16-21 “And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.”
(v. 34-36 “. . . a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.”)
(Luke 12:51-53 “For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two. . . .”
John 16:1-3 “. . . yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”
17:14-15 “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world. . . .” (So much for “pre-trib rapture”!)
1st Thessalonians 3:1-5 “. . . we told you before that we should suffer tribulation. . . .”
Revelation 2:10 “. . . ye shall have tribulation . . . be thou faithful unto death. . . .”
13:4-10 “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. . . .”
14:9-12 “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
(Real Christians are still here, and still keeping the commandments. Phony “Christians” are horrified by this verse!)
(Luke 21:16-19 “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. . . .In your patience possess ye your souls.”)
6:9-11 “. . . I saw . . . that were slain for the word of God. . . .”
12:11 “. . . and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
12:17 “And the dragon . . . went to make war with the remnant. . . which keep the commandments of God. . . .”
(Psalm 119:86 “All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.”)
(Daniel 11:32-33 “. . . they that understand . . . shall fall by the sword. . . .”)
20:4 “. . . I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God. . . .”
Matthew 10:39 “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”