Good evening, and welcome to EBible Fellowship’s Bible study in the book of Revelation.  Tonight is study #11 of Revelation 2, and in our last study we were looking at James 2 where God discusses the relationship between the profession of faith and works.  It says in James 2:21:

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

We discussed how God has set this trap by speaking so highly of Abraham’s work in performing this good work of offering up his son Isaac.  That is the trap the Lord has laid.  Notice how it was an incredibly great work and an unusual act of obedience on the part of Abraham.  But I pointed out that God was actually taking a “snapshot” in the life of Abraham as a saved individual, and then He is asking the question, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works,”  at that particular point in time?

And since it was such an incredible occurrence to offer up his only son Isaac, it takes our focus away from everything except this incredibly good work that Abraham was involved in.  That is exactly what the Lord wanted to do because if He had said of Abraham (or of any true believer), “Was not Abraham justified by works, when he saddled his ass?,”  or God could have said of Sarah, “Was not Sarah justified by works, when she was preparing dinner?”  Immediately we would wonder what “saddling an ass,” “preparing dinner,” “taking out the trash,” or “doing the dishes,” have to do with being justified by works.  Obviously, the answer is that none of those things have anything to do with being justified in God’s sight by works.” 

The truth is that the offering up of Isaac also did not justify Abraham in God’s sight.  We tend to think that such a great act of faith is what it takes to be justified by works in the sight of God.  We are completely in error to think that way, but that is the natural tendency of man.  And that is why God was able to set this trap so easily for mankind.  God is really asking, “Was not Abraham a saved man, and therefore justified by the works of Christ at the time that he offered up Isaac?”  God asked the same question of Rabah in James 2:25:

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

The answer is, “Yes, God had saved Rahab.  He had put His fear in her.  She was therefore justified by the works of Christ at that point in time.”  Just so we do not miss this important teaching of the Bible, God put a contrary statement in the book of Romans, or I should say, “seemingly contrary,” in Romans 4:1-2:

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

You see, it is the same language.  If Abraham were justified by works, he could not glory before God because there is a biblical principle that applies to Abraham and all mankind, in Galatians 2:16:

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

There is the principle, and it is “an open and shut case.”  God says, “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.”  This is why it was said that the Reformer Martin Luther doubted the book of James, but what he should have done was to continue to study and search the Bible, praying for wisdom.  Then he would have understood, Lord willing, that there is no contradiction because James 2 is not speaking about the works of Abraham, but it is a “Polaroid picture” in the life of one of God’s elect.  God could say the same thing about you, or me, if we are true believers and God has paid for our sins and granted us justification.  God could “take a picture” and make a statement about us in our daily life.  He could say, “Was not Mary justified by works when she took the trash out?”  As soon as a work is just an ordinary daily activity, we begin to question it: “Well, what does taking the trash out have to do with being justified by works?”  And we know it has nothing to do with it, and God would not have hidden it very well in that case.  But when God directs our attention to something dramatic and out of the ordinary like Abraham offering up his son, then we make the mistake of thinking it was that extraordinary act of offering up his son Isaac that justified him by works.  But again, it was not, but it was the work of Christ that justified Abraham on his behalf.

Let us move on to Revelation 2:10:

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

We will begin to look at this verse like we have done with all the previous verses, taking it a phrase or word at a time.  Verse 10 begins: “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer.”  God is reminding us that the life of a Christian is not an easy life.  It is not a life of ease.  It is not a life of comfort in this world, but it is a very difficult and hard life.  And there will be suffering.  We cannot avoid it, but here the Lord is giving us admonition not to fear it, and some do fear the suffering that accompanies being associated with the Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.  They fear the world’s reaction.  They fear the churches’ reaction.  They fear their family’s reaction, to make it more personal.  But the Lord says to fear none of those things that you will suffer.

The word “suffer” is found several places, but we are going to look at Philippians 1:28-30:

And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

We should not pass over that word “given” too quickly.  God speaks of certain spiritual gifts that He gives His people.  When He saved an individual, He gave the gift of repentance.  We are given that gift; it did not come of ourselves, but it is given of God.  He gives the gift of faith, as we are told in Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” 

But here God says, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him…”  Since the Lord is relating it to belief, He is definitely letting us know that it is a gift, just like faith is given to the people of God, but that gift is not alone.  There are other spiritual gifts that God gives, and this is one of the accompanying gift with faith, going hand in hand with the gift of faith, the gift of salvation  And then, interestingly, He adds that what will also come our way is “suffering.”  That is, on behalf of Him we are given belief as a result of what He has done for us, and we are also given “suffering.” 

And this is exactly what Christ did for us.  He suffered for His people.  He suffered in a tremendous way as He took upon Himself our sin, and He paid for our sins as the Father poured out His wrath upon Him unto death.  He died for us, and there was suffering for us.  When He came into the world and went to the cross, the Lord was in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He was suffering a second time for the sins of His people, although He was not making payment for sin a second time because He had already done that (at the foundation of the world). He suffered for us, and it is given to us to suffer for Him.

Let us turn to 1Peter 3:11-14:

Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

Jesus is righteousness, so this could just as easily say, “and if ye suffer for Christ’s sake.”  Then He said, “and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled,” and then He says in 1Peter 3:15-18:

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Here, we see that Jesus is our supreme example.  He suffered for us, but He was just, and we are unjust.  Therefore we can suffer a little bit for His sake.  It says in 1Peter 4:1-2:

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

When we read about suffering in the Bible, we often find it is related to the will of God.  And a little further along in this chapter, it says in 1Peter 4:12-14:

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Again, God says that if you happen to be reproached and you are suffering for the Lord Jesus Christ, then you can be glad with exceeding joy, and He says, “Happy are ye,” and that word “happy” means “blessed.”

We really ought to take the Bible’s mindset concerning “suffering,” as long as it is a right suffering, as God does emphasize in 1Peter 4:15-16:

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

So it is very important that we suffer for the right reason, which is for Christ’s sake, and the Word of God, the Bible, is inseparable from Christ.  They are synonymous.  He is the Word made flesh.  Therefore if we are suffering because we hold onto a true teaching of the Bible, and someone does not like it, and we are being reproached or reviled as a result, then we should be glad and have exceeding joy, and be blessed because it is for the Lord’s sake.

However, if we are suffering because of our own sins, that is different.  If we have transgressed and done wrong, and others have taken note of it, we should never think that this kind of suffering has anything to do with our Christian witness.  It is suffering because of our own sins, and there is no good or thanks in that because we brought it upon ourselves, and it was a consequence of a sinful action.

But if we are doing things God’s way, and the world does not like it, or if we are sharing a biblical truth humbly, or we are holding to a truth humbly, that is thankworthy.  If we are not being proud and arrogant in any way, but we cannot deny the Word of God, and we say to the boss, “I am sorry, but I cannot work on Sunday.”  As a result, that person may suffer.  He or she could lose their job, or they may not have enough money to pay their bills.  There are certain consequences at times for holding fast to the Word of God, but that is not to be considered, and that is why the Lord said in Revelation 2:10: “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer.”

Some people think, “Well, if I take a stand and I do what the Bible tells me to do, then this will happen, and I fear that consequence, so I just cannot do it.  The risk is too great.”  But the Lord is telling us not to fear suffering, but to embrace it.

And keep in mind that the Lord suffered for you, and here is an opportunity to demonstrate love toward Him as you hold onto one of His commandments.  You are desiring to keep His commandments, and you will suffer a little bit.

Then it goes on to say in 1Peter 4:17-18:

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

It is no coincidence, and it is not an accident that God is putting the focus on “suffering” in the context of a fiery trial that leads right into the time of the Great Tribulation because that was the point when judgment began at the house of God.  And as we go further into the Day of Judgment, it will be a time of severe trials, testing, and suffering by God’s people for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then, finally, it says in 1Peter 4:19:

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Again, notice how God links suffering to it being according to His will.  There is no doubt that the Word of God proclaimed to the world that Judgment Day would occur on May 21, 2011.  And, yes, there has been some suffering involved because of our proclamation.  But God opened the Scriptures to reveal these things to His people.  He made it “plain upon tables” that the elect might run who read it.  So there are consequences, and we may still be experiencing some of them.  Very well.  Commit whatever has happened to you unto the Lord.  It was done for His sake.  You suffered rightly and properly according to the Word of God.  Therefore just keep that in mind: “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. “  We continue to follow the Bible.  We continue to trust in the Lord as a faithful Creator.  He knows full well our situation.  He knows full well the suffering that happens in our lives, the trials, tribulations, and afflictions.  He knows the tears.  He knows when we are cast down.  He knows the hardships.  Continue.  Do not be weary in welldoing, but continue to trust the Lord, casting your cares upon Him, for He is faithful.  He will bring things to an excellent end.