The Persecuted Church

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, Sovereignty of God, The Holy Spirit

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. – Isaiah 43:2

When first there was a Church of God on earth, in the person of Abel it was persecuted, Cain lifted up his cruel club to slay his brother; and when the children of Seth were the representatives of God’s chosen, they were without doubt the subject of the jeer and gibe of the descendants of Cain. Noah, the preacher of righteousness endured during his one hundred and twenty years, the hardness of heart and carelessness of an unthinking world; he and his family, who were the remnant of the Church in the latter part of those days, were constantly exposed to the laughter and persecution of men…From that day forward, whether you read through the life of Abraham, or Isaac, or Jacob, it still standeth true, “He that is born after the flesh persecuteth him that is born after the Spirit.”

Find me the abode of the Church of God and I can smell the furnace not far off. Show me the follower of the God of Abraham and I shall soon find the host of enemies ready for the attack. Up till the days of the Saviour the kingdom of heaven suffered violence, not only from its friends who would take it, but from those enemies who would assault it. From the blood of Abel down to the blood of Zecharias the son of Barachias, the pathway of the Church hath been a blood-besprinkled time. Since that day, what tongue can tell the sufferings of the people of God? Since Christ became martyr as well as Redeemer, has there been a season in which God’s people have not somewhere or other been made to feel that they are not of the world, and that the world does not love them because they are not of the world? Through much tribulation the people of God must wade their way to Canaan.

Fire! Fire! Fire! by C. H. Spurgeon

 

5 thoughts on “The Persecuted Church”

    • Brother in Christ, I will let you share this but I am a pretrib rapturist and know that God will deliver us from His wrath which is what the Tribulation is. He has perfected us in Christ Jesus, so the Tribulation serves us no purpose. It is the time of Jacob’s Trouble (the Jews) and it cannot happen with the Church, His Bride, in it since there will be no one on their side. Christ’s Bride loves the Jews and prays for their salvation. Besides, why would He abuse her to perfect her when we are already perfected? Until I see the Antichrist confirming the covenant which begins the Tribulation I will remain a pretribber.

      Have a blessed day, Jerry, amen!

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      • Copilot Search Branding

        Charles Spurgeon did believe in the rapture, viewing it as an imminent event that would rescue the church from impending wrath.

        Spurgeon’s Eschatological Views

        1. Belief in the Rapture: Spurgeon held that the return of Christ could occur at any moment, and he believed in a rapture that would take place to rescue the church from the wrath associated with Christ’s return. This event would involve both the resurrection of dead saints and the transformation of living saints.
        2. Context of Tribulation: While Spurgeon acknowledged the church’s ongoing experience of tribulation throughout history, he did not emphasize a distinct future tribulation period separate from the current struggles faced by the church. He interpreted the “great tribulation” as something that the church has been enduring since its inception, primarily under antichristian systems. (my add: we, the Church, are now suffering the wrath of man, not the wrath of God, which is in the future Tribulation, and participating in Christ’s sufferings.)
        3. Views on Prophecy: Spurgeon was critical of those who overly focused on prophetic interpretations, particularly regarding the rapture. He expressed concern that some believers placed too much emphasis on prophecy at the expense of the gospel message. He cautioned against viewing the study of prophecy as equivalent to the gospel itself wayoflife.org.
        4. Confusion Among Interpretations: Due to the complexity of his writings and the various eschatological views attributed to him, there is some confusion regarding Spurgeon’s exact position. Some scholars have claimed him as a pre-millennialist, while others have suggested he leaned towards amillennialism or postmillennialism. However, it is clear that he believed in a literal return of Christ and a rapture event romans45.org+1.
          In summary, while Spurgeon did believe in the rapture, his views were nuanced and intertwined with his broader eschatological beliefs, emphasizing the church’s current tribulations and the imminent return of Christ.

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        Even if Spurgeon believed as you say he did I would not come into agreement with him on it. I won’t argue with you on this. I won’t further comment on your comment. You won’t make me a convert to your way of thinking. Jesus told us this in Luke 21:36:

        Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

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      • Thanks Sherry, I appreciate that you don’t want to argue. I don’t either. However I don’t consider discussing scripture argument. I also know from scripture that we will be delivered from the wrath promised and it will be done by Ressurection and Rapture. And a passage for your consideration would involve what Jesus said about this age and the resurrection to the Jews in Luke
        Luke 20:34 Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, (NASB1995)
        Pay attention to what Jesus said about ages here: So a question one must ask as we read Jesus answer is what is He saying concerning the time of the tribulation. Does marriage occur in the Tribulation, and What does Jesus say concerning getting to the age to come and what that age is, for He does not describe it as the Tribulation as we hear it to be.
        Luke 20:35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. (NASB1995)
        Jesus here makes even those who are dead from among Israel to be sons of God as we will be if they are worthy of the resurrection. Should you read the post that I sent you earlier it describes how the Jews are the providers of the new covenant. Jesus is their Christ, and ours. We are grafted into Israel’s Christ. He is the only way to be worthy of salvation. He delivered the dead from the belly of the earth (paradise) where He and The Thief went and moved all of the dead there to the third heaven when He assended. This is why Paul tells us that we are one new man. They the dead in paradise were the first fruits of Christ’s Church. Theirs is the New Covenant. We are grafted in. If these things not be true; then you can consider me to be arguing and just ignore me. Man’s interpretation of Scripture says the saved of Israel come another way then the new covenant; they say there is a Church age (you can’t find “Church age” anywhere in Scripture). The Church encompasses all men as Spurgeon obviously taught here putting Able in Jesus Church. Why because Paul taught that all men even from Adam must come to Christ. Read 1 Cor. 15 concerning the resurrection. If I’m arguing and not pointing you to the truth of Scripture ignore me. Love you in Christ, my sister.

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  2. I see that Spurgeon believes as Charles Hodge did that the OT saints are also called the Church. I want to note that Spurgeon was not one who believed the Church replaced Israel as Hodge did. I am in agreement with Spurgeon who acknowledged the future nation of Israel which we see has come to pass in our day.

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