Our Lord Jesus Christ reveals His faithfulness to those who suffer for His Name’s sake in the Book of Revelation. In Revelation 1:9, John wrote, “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
The sufferings of our Lord’s witnesses is noted throughout the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 2:10 – Smyrna Christians imprisoned 10 days
Revelation 2:13 – The Lord’s faithful witness Antipas martyred
Revelation 5:9-11 – Christ’s own suffering on the cross is referenced
Revelation 6:9 – Martyrs slain for the Word of God
Revelation 11:7 – The two witnesses slain by the beast
Revelation 12:17 - The dragon wars with keepers of God’s Word
Revelation 13:7 - The beast overcomes the saints
Revelation 16:6 – They have shed the blood of saints and prophets
Revelation 17:6 – Woman drunk with blood of saints and martyrs
Revelation 18:24 – Babylon killed prophets, saints, and others
Revelation 19:2 – God avenges the shed blood of His servants
Revelation 20:4 – The beheaded for Christ Jesus reign with Him
God gives us a “why” for His severe judgments in 2 Chronicles 36:15-16, “The Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.”
God’s vineyard keepers did not want to yield unto Him a harvest. In Matthew 21:34-41, Jesus compared earth’s managers to vinedressers who take God’s servants, beat one, kill one, and stone another. When He sends His Son to them, they say among themselves, ‘This is the Heir. Come, let us kill Him and seize His inheritance.’ They kill Him. Thus, God’s plan is to destroy these wicked men and “lease His vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to Him the fruits in their seasons.’”
The Book of Revelation ends well because God answers the prayers of those who cry out to Him. Prayers like the one in Revelation 6:10: “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
In Psalm 79:10, Asaph prayed to the Lord in a similar fashion as the martyrs in heaven. He prayed, “Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Let there be known among the nations in our sight the avenging of the blood of Your servants which has been shed.”
In Matthew 21:34-35, Jesus said that all the righteous blood shed on the earth would come upon the murderers of His servants.
Most Biblical holidays are celebrations of victory over abuse. The Passover Festival originated with God freeing His people from slavery. The Purim Festival originated with God reversing the plot of Haman to wipe out the Jewish race. Hanukkah originated with the victory of Judas Maccabeus in 165 BC over Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
Incarnation and Resurrection Day celebrations originate with the Son of God coming down to earth, being born in a manger, suffering among us, being slain by our sins and then, resurrected by the power of God.
Praise God, Hebrews 4:14-15 says, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
In Romans 8:34, Paul wrote, “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” In Romans 8:38-39, he added, “I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
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