Peace Or Persecution?

We have one more problematic question concerning what the Bible says about living in peace on earth. In 1 Timothy 2:1-3 we read:

I exhort (urge) therefore, that, first of all, supplications (requests), prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and aceptable in the sight of God our Savior.

The word ‘kings’ refers to the world’s rulers, whether they be called president, czar, chancellor, emperor, etc. The phrase “For all that are in authority” refers to those with positions in government that make laws and decisions that affect our daily lives.

We then understand that 1 Timothy 2:1-3 is commanding us to remember to pray for such people, for their salvation for two very important reasons. The first and most important is for their salvation because God wants all men to be saved and receive the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9). Second, we pray for them and their salvation because our lives can be most miserable and even horrific under the rulership of wicked leaders in government who do not fear God.

Let’s now look at the following scriptures which when considered in conjunction with 1 Timothy 2:1-3, may cause us to lose hope for ever living in any peace under the rulership of the present world’s leaders. They may also leave us in confusion.

…Beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge (beat/whip) you in their synagogues, and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parent, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake… Matthew 10:17-18, 21-22

And we read:

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12

Let’s consider the final scripture we’ll present:

And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword Revelation 6:4

When the above scriptures which fortell of persecution of Christians are considered in conjunction with 1 Timothy 2:1-3 which speak of our living quiet and peaceable lives, we may be left very perplexed. Why pray for our government official so that we can lead a quiet and peaceable life when scripture has already predicted our persecution? How can we live a quiet and peaceable life and be persecuted at the same time?

The answer is a simple one. We’ll first give it and then we will see if it is biblical. We have heard people say that we must take the bitter with the sweet in this life. Life in this present world cannot and will not be all sweet all of the time. However, it is not God’s will for it to be all bitter all of the time either.

Likewise, let every Christian know that in this present world, he must take the persecution, the bitter, with the blessing of God, the sweet. God lets us know that if we will live godly, we will suffer persecution in one form or another. He also lets us know that, nevertheless, it is not his will for his servants to be persecuted without rest, without deliverance, all the days of their lives on this earth, regardless of what land they inhabit. Is this what the Bible says or is this an opinion? We will boldly say that this is what the Bible teaches as evidenced in the following scriptures.

In Mark 10:29-30, Jesus speaks of the things that one may have to give up in order to follow him. However, he immediately afterwards speaks of the blessings to be expected to follow, and then again reminds us that in the midst of the blessings will be persecutions. Is this not taking the bitter (persecutions) with the sweet (blessings)?

And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, WITH PERSECUTIONS; and in the world to come eternal life Mark 10:29-30

The apostle Paul, who suffered much persecution, was not left undelivered from his sufferings, and he knew that he never would be until it came time for the persecution that was set to take his life at the time appointed by God (2 Timothy 4:6). But until that time, Paul said:

…I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom… 2 Timothy 4:17-18

The Bible gives us to know that God wants us to have good things, to have some joy in this present life, to enjoy good health, to be protected and to be prosperous. The scriptures say:

For the Lord God is a sun and a shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prosperth. 3 John 1:2

Jesus said:

…Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. St John 16:23-24

A desire to know God only in the blessings we enjoy in Jesus is an imbalanced mentality. Paul wrote:

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection (blessing), AND the fellowship of his sufferings… Philippians 3:10

Let’s take a look at the life of Joseph. He enjoyed a quiet and peaceable life, was loved by his father, Jacob, above the rest of his brothers. He had plenty of food to eat and we do not read of him having any health problems (Genesis chapter 37). He was then mistreated by his siblings and sold into Egypt, but again, he received good things from God who caused all that he put his hands to to prosper (Genesis 39:1-3). God exalted him to the position of overseer of the house of his master, the Egyptian (Genesis 39:4-5). Joseph enjoyed the blessing of God. Soon afterward, he would face persecution for his righteousness. He went to prison as an innocent man. Joseph refused to break God’s law in lying with his master’s wife. This obedience to God landed him persecution (Genesis 39:7-20). Nevertheless, God was with Joseph in prison, to ease his persecution that he had to face. We read:

But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison,; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper. Genesis 39:21-23

Later we read that God blessed and exalted Joseph to a position of being ruler over the land of Egypt. His position was inferior only to the Pharaoh’s throne (Genesis 41:39-41).

Later, in the book of Psalms, we learn that Joseph’s persecution had been set by God to last a specific period of time, not all of his life. The Bible says:

He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him (tested his faith) The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance. Psalm 105:17-21

The phrase “Until the time that his word came” refers to the interpretations that God gave Joseph for the dreams of Pharaoh’s chief of the butlers and that of his bakers came to pass. This later lead to the Pharaoh consulting Joseph for the interpretation of his own dream for which God again gave interpretation (Genesis 40th chapter and verses 1-45 of chapter 41). It is the word of the Lord (God’s revelations of the dreams given to Joseph for him to tell) that delivered Joseph whose trial of faith was then complete. God’s word washed away the marred reputation and persecution that Joseph had suffered. The pharaoh would not believe that God would give so great a wisdom and power to foretell dreams to a sinful, wicked man, but rather to one who was righteous in his eyes (Genesis 41:38-39).

Again, it was not God’s will for Joseph to be persecuted relentlessly, with no rest, throughout all of his life because of his righteousness.

Are we to consider the life of Joseph since he lived during Old Testament times? Of course we are. We have presented ample New Testament scripture which is in perfect agreement with what we see and learn in the life of Joseph.

But we have even further confirmation that our persecution is set by God to occurr only for a predetermined period of time. Understand that the period of time may be short or long, stretching into some years. Our persecution times may be scattered throughout our lives, or may only occur at the beginning, middle or end of life. It may involve the maring of our reputation (Matthew 5:11, 1 Peter 4:13-14), beatings and imprisonment (Acts 16:16-24), torture (Hebrews 11:35), death/martyrdom (Revelation 6:9-11) or any combination of these. But none of these will exceed the time established by God for the trial of faith. Our Lord said:

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried (tested); and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Revelation 2:10

‘Ten days’ does not refer to a literal ten days, but rather symbolizes that the persecution, the trying of your faith, will not occur beyond the ten days set by God.

Finally, as you study this lesson, please note that it centers on the persecution of the saints of God because of their righteousness, their obedience to the Lord. This suffering is not to be confused with suffering under God’s chastisement nor with suffering in reaping what we have sown.

Although we can’t avert the foretold great persecution that the Antichrist will usher in with his government, we must continue to fight until God has allowed him to take his position of power.

Emphasis is on God’s allowance because it is a powerful reminder of who is actually in control at all times no matter what the situation looks like. The unholy trinity will one day display such power that many will say: “Who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:4). We pray that these words will never come from you as they are a form of worship of the beast (Revelation 13:4) for which God will pour out his wrath on those who do this (Revelation 16:1-2). Nevertheless, the Antichrist (son of perdition), cannot enter the world scene (manifest himself) before the time the Lord has set (2 Thessalonians 2:3-6).

Satan searches the earth for any and everyone he may destroy (1 Peter 5:8). There is no logical reason to believe that he, knowing his time is short (Revelation 12:12), would not have manifested himself and set up his kingdom many years ago, had he not been restricted. Someone who will not break free does not need to be detained.

Therefore, I believe that Satan, knowing his time is short, works to put into practice as many aspects of his coming government, his manifestation, ahead of God’s schedule. One need only look at the many governments that allow and even encourage persecution of Christians. We must continue to pray fervently according to the instructions of 1 Timothy 2:1-3 and to reproove (speak and act against) the works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11) that we not be found guilty before God concerning the salvation of men’s souls or suffer persecution that God would have averted through our prayers and supplications before him according to 1 Timothy 2:1-3.

Coming soon, we will study historical and modern-day testimonies of God’s intervention into government when his people follow his instructions for prayer and supplications before his throne.

In conclusion, note that God commands us to pray for our political leaders, first, because he wants them to be saved, second, its not his will for his servants to be relentlessly persecuted without deliverance or rest, under their rulership. You might wonder how God can intervene in government when he does not force salvation on anyone. Remember that God controls both the saved and the unsaved for his pursposes. Proverbs 16:4 says:

The Lord hath made all things (including people) for himself (his own purposes)…

Does the Bible say that the Pharaoh that exalted Joseph to ruler over Egypt was saved? No, it does not. Nevertheless, the poeple enjoyed a quiet and peaceable life because of this intervention of God. Does the Bible say that the keeper of the prison where Joseph was, accepted salvation? No, it doesn’t. Nevertheless, God used him, giving Joseph favor in his eyes which made life so much better for him. When we pray for our political leaders and those in authority, we can look to see some come to salvation, others to be removed from their positions and others powerfully influenced by God to carry out an action that is for the good of the lives of Christians.

In the book of Esther we read how God caused king Ahasuerus to not be able to sleep one night and in his restlessness, to have his servants bring the records of the chronicles to be read to him. It was found written that a man named Mordecai had told of two of the kings keepers of the door who sought to kill him. The king then asked what honor and dignity had Mordecai received for his deed. They responded that he had not been honored at all. At this time, a man named Haman, one of the king’s high officials, sought to have Mordecai killed by hanging; and not only this, but also the destruction of the entire Jewish people (Esther 3:1-10). Haman was then mandated to carry out the king’s order for Mordecai to be greatly honored. Queen Esther who became queen through God’s intervention into government (Esther 2:17), attended a banquet with him and Haman. During the banquet, Esther appeals to the king for his intervention into a plot to destroy her people. The king, attentive to her plea, asks her to reveal the one who was behind such a deed. She exposes Haman’s wicked plot to him (Esther 7:2-6). The scriptures then tell us:

And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman, stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified. Esther 7:7-10

God’s servants, an entire nation, was spared a great persecution because of the Lord’s intervention into the heathen government under which they lived. We do not read of the king’s conversion in the book of Esther but we do see the Lord’s control over his throne for the good of his people.

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