Modern Doors
Today many opportunities or “doors” exist for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. These include printed materials, radio, television and the Internet. These are the modern avenues Christians can use to fulfill the commission to the Church to “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Jesus expects modern followers to preach the same gospel that He taught, the gospel of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15). Unfortunately, many today have mistakenly accepted an incomplete gospel—one that focuses upon the person of Christ but omits His teaching about the Kingdom.
Jesus' praise of the Philadelphians, “you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name” (Revelation 3:8), indicates that they took advantage of the opportunities He made available for preaching the gospel. God's people today must do the same.
Protection
After explaining that religious pretenders, ones who often persecuted and tried to deceive Jesus' true followers (Acts 15:1; 20:30; Jude 4), would eventually be forced to recognize the believers who obeyed Him, Jesus continued: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 3:10).
When we understand that Revelation is a prophetic book with its setting being the second coming of Jesus Christ, we see the important magnitude of this wonderful promise for us today. Within it are two concepts worthy of special note. First, the promised protection comes because Jesus' followers have kept His “command to persevere.” This phrase literally means “the word of my patience” and is so translated by the King James and American Standard versions. Revelation 14:12 explains what this entails: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” The recipients of Christ's protective grace will be believers who are obeying God's law.
A second concept deserving our attention is the fact that this “hour of trial,” meaning a short period of time, will “come upon the whole world.” No one escapes being tested. While Jesus' followers are tested through trials during their lifetimes (2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 1:7; 4:12), those who have not known Him or obeyed Him will also face judgment at His return.
In encouraging another first century congregation that had experienced many trials, Paul expressed similar principles:
“We ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:4-8).
Questions arise over how Christ will protect His believers during this time. We do know there is a clear reference to the gathering of many saints in one location (“her place,” Revelation 12:14) and there is another possible reference to individuals being protected in their location (Psalms 91:7). Both are within His power to accomplish.
To be contd.
God bless you all.
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