Loyalty Under Persecution

GOLDEN TEXT: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”—Revelation 2:10

TODAY’S lesson emphasizes the fact that the Christian way is not an easy one, that it is a way of sacrifice and suffering. It is essential to recognize this if we are to know what it really means to be a Christian. It is true, of course, that every faithful Christian enjoys a deep sense of peace and has joys of which the world knows nothing, and which it can neither give nor take away; but from the material standpoint, those who follow the Master cannot expect to be especially blessed. Their covenant with the Lord is to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, and this, we know, leads in the way of the cross.

There is no occasion to misunderstand the Scriptures on this point, for the simple fact is set forth many times and in varying ways that we are invited to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, and we know that his footsteps lead to death. This means that those who are offering material ease and blessings and riches to those whom they would have accept Christ are presenting a very false conception of the Christian life, and are holding out false hopes.

REVELATION 2:8-11—In this scripture we have the Lord’s message to “the church in Smyrna.” We are not to suppose, however, that it is limited in its application to that one local group of Christians. There are seven churches specifically mentioned in Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, and they are believed to be symbolic of seven stages of the church’s history, beginning with Pentecost and ending with the “harvest” at the conclusion of the Gospel age—the period of time in which we are now living. And while some of the conditions mentioned as existing during these various stages were especially true of those periods, yet the promises of the Lord to each of the seven churches undoubtedly apply to all seven. For example, it has been true of Christians throughout the entire Gospel age that if faithful unto death they will receive a crown of life in the resurrection.

Concerning the church at Smyrna the Lord said, “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty (but thou art rich).” This is not a contradiction as might appear on the surface. Those who work earnestly and faithfully in the divine service will do so at the cost of earthly riches and comforts. They will be faithful even though persecution may be the inevitable result. Like Jesus, they will make themselves poor in order that others might be rich.

But they will be poor only in the sense that the world measures poverty. Actually they will be rich; for, by their faithfulness, they will buy of the Lord “gold” that is tried in the fire. By renouncing their claims to earthly pleasure and riches, they will lay up treasures in heaven. Thus, not only will they be spiritually rich with the Lord’s blessings now, but later will obtain glory, honor, and immortality. They will then be truly rich!

REVELATION 7:9-17—In this passage we have an account of a “great multitude” who comes up through “great tribulation.” Obviously this. is not the church of Christ, for Jesus spoke of his church as a “little flock,” not a “great multitude.” The church is to live and reign with Christ, but the “great multitude” serves God day and night in his temple. In other ways, also, the description of the great multitude, and the work they are to do, shows that it is a class that comes into existence (as a class) after the “little flock” have all been selected from the world and glorified with Christ, as his bride and joint-heirs.

Psalm 45:7-15 refers to this same class of “servants” as the “virgins her companions” who follow the bride into the King’s palace. In this Psalm, Jehovah is depicted as the great King, and the implication is that Jesus is the King’s Son. The church of Christ is referred to as the King’s daughter. Her clothing is said to be of wrought gold, symbolic of the divine nature.

To the King’s daughter the invitation is extended, “Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and “incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house; so shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.” It is faithfulness to this invitation, this calling, that constitutes the “little flock” worthy of being the bride of Christ. They forget their own people in the sense of not permitting any earthly ties to interfere with their full devotion to Christ. They forget their father’s house by renouncing their hope of restitution. Father Adam’s house is the earthly paradise, and the “little flock” are invited to set their affection on things above, not on the things of this earth, not even on the restored paradise.—Col. 3:1-4

But many of the called are not faithful to their calling, yet they, do not lose everything. Through great tribulation and washing of their robes in the blood of the Lamb, they are salvaged for service in the temple with the bride; so they follow her into the temple as companions, or bridesmaids, and there they serve the King and his “bride” faithfully. They are a “great multitude,” the Scriptures indicate. They are shown carrying palms of victory, but not wearing crowns of glory, honor, and immortality.

QUESTIONS:

Is it right to encourage people to follow Christ by telling then that thus they will secure a life of ease and material prosperity?

How can a Christian be in poverty and be rich at the same time?

What is the difference between the “little flock” and the “great multitude”?

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