PERSPECTIVE

Don Atkin

FACING DEATH – Part 2

Jay Ferris brought this verse to my attention.

Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.  – Revelation 6:11.

These words were given in response to the cry of the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held (Verses 9 and 10).  The instruction to those souls was that they should rest a little while longer.

To our perspective, “a little while longer” is a long time!  The martyring of believers has been going on for a long, long time, and will continue until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

We cannot get our heads around this.  But, we can get our faith around things that we do not understand.  Faith is produced within us by hearing God speak to us.  We can know by faith that:

1. The death of the saints is precious in God’s sight (Psalm 116:15)
2. Jesus has destroyed the power of death (Hebrews 2:14)
3. Death shall not be able to separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:37-39)

It is vital that we believers grasp all three ingredients of active faith in those who overcome:

And they overcame him by (1) the blood of the Lamb and (2) by the word of their testimony, and (3) they did not love their lives to the death. – Revelation 12:11.

When confronted with the very real possibility of dying for their testimony, the early believers did not pray for safety and protection.  They prayed for boldness.

Consider this perspective as you pray for the persecuted church.