World War 3
Refinement of OT Saints
Heb 11:35-37 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—
When the OT saints were tested with the possibility of death, they knew that if they keep faith in God and His words and reject all types of deliverance they will receive a higher position (better resurrection) in heaven.
Thank God that our Lord Jesus willingly suffered the most when He bored the sins of all mankind on the cross. He even tasted the pain and horror of death for our sake.
Heb 11:35-37 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—
When the OT saints were tested with the possibility of death, they knew that if they keep faith in God and His words and reject all types of deliverance they will receive a higher position (better resurrection) in heaven.
Thank God that our Lord Jesus willingly suffered the most when He bored the sins of all mankind on the cross. He even tasted the pain and horror of death for our sake.
Refining of NT Apostles
Romans 8:35-37 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
The first generation of Christians suffered persecutions and martyrdoms from the Priesthood and then the Roman Emperors until the 3rd Century.
From church history, Christians were martyred by crucifixion, burned on stacks, beheaded and even sent to the lions. All the Apostles (except John) were martyred.
It was believed that John survived his martyrdom when he was thrown into the boiling oil. Later he was banned to the island of Patmos where he wrote the book of Revelation.
Refinement of Apostles Paul
2 Cor 11:24-27 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
With the testimony of Paul, we have a good idea of God's protection and empowerment to enable Paul to overcome all these extreme trials with peace and contentment.
Refinement of Endtime Christians
Dan 11:35 “And some of those of understanding shall fall (killed), to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.”
In these last days, Christians too will have to go through great tribulations or the Wrath of Satan during the 5th Seal or Mat 24:9-27.
Endtime Christians, having understood the gospel of Jesus, the blood of the Lamb, the truth in His words, the crucifixion of their flesh, the blessed hope in their heavenly home, and the empowering of the Spirit of truth having kept His words during the fourth Seal (World War 3), will be ready to face the wrath of the Antichrist in the fifth Seal.
Disciples of Jesus are tested, refined and purified for their perfection and better rewards in heaven.
I Pet 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
Mat 24:21-22 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
The great tribulation will be so intense and severed that our Lord shortened this period to possibly a month or so.