Scripture Reading: Revelation 7:9-17
Since 1996, one Sunday in November has been designated the "International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church." Exact statistics are hard to determine, but continuing into the 21st century, worldwide, even on the low end of estimates, tens of thousands of Christians are killed every year for the Christian faith … in places like Pakistan, Sudan, North Korea, China, Indonesia, and Iran.
Revelation 7 reveals yet another scene in heaven where there is a great assembly of people "from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne" (Rev 7:9). They are "the ones coming out of the great tribulation" (Rev 7:14). Presumably, many of these are martyrs, similar to the descriptions we find in Revelation 6:9 and 13:5-7.
We are commanded in the Bible to "Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body" (Heb 13:3). There are great benefits in considering, with both mind and heart, that the church elsewhere is suffering.
First, it makes us bolder to share our faith with others (Phil 1:14). Second, it broadens our perspective concerning what God is doing in our world and how He is doing it. Third, it sobers us about our own faith, reminding us that we are in a deadly war and must live disciplined lives (2 Tim 1:8; 2:3).
"The Voice of the Martyrs" is a free monthly magazine designed to inform us about the suffering church the world over. For a free subscription, call 1-800-747-0085. There are videos for adults in our church library produced by Voice of the Martyrs on the persecuted church in Sudan and also videos for children. The Voice of the Martyrs website address is www.persecution.com
