8/24 Devotions From God’s Word

Being a Martyr in witnessing!

Revelation 20:4 (KJV) “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

These that are to reign with Christ in the thousand year period will be those that are in tribulation period. This is the primary definition of this passage (v4-6)

There some qualifiers as we see in verse 4

• Those that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God,
• And which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image,
• Neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands

Martyr is:

1. One who, by his death, bears witness to the truth of the gospel. Stephen was the first Christian martyr.

2. To put to death for adhering to what one believes to be the truth; to sacrifice one on account of his faith or profession.

Understanding that this passage is dealing with the Tribulation Saints, I do believe that we can get our lives in order if we were to adhere to this prescription:

 

The Qualifiers:

1. Being a witness

a. Those that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God

Isaiah 43:12 (KJV) “I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.”

Luke 24:48 (KJV) “And ye are witnesses of these things.”

John 1:7-8 (KJV) “The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.”

Acts 1:8 (KJV) “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Acts 2:32 (KJV) “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.”

Acts 3:15 (KJV) “And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.”
Acts 5:32 (KJV) “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”