Yes.
Yes. Some will suffer VIA DISHONOR.
(They have NO Comfort WITH the Lord.)
Yes. Some will suffer VIA HONOR VIA FAITH.
(They Have Comfort WITH the Lord)
Yes. Christ Jesus, our Example, Suffered, so shall those with Him, and have the same outcome AS Jesus, risen UP, BEFORE Wrath upon the World comes UPON the world.
Yes. Present sufferings are not comparable BAD, as GREAT as peace shall be in Glorified men.
Yes. Jesus (our Example) Maintained Faithfulness, while SUFFERING for Gods SAKE, so also shall those in faithfulness to JESUS, SUFFER for Christ Jesus' SAKE.
Yes. NATURAL LIFE of a man AND Tangent Material things a man accumulates and LOSES "IS OF NO ACCOUNT/WORTH", should a man GAIN Faithfulness IN Christ.
Already noted in my response.
No, the Faithful do not SEEK suffering. They have SOUGHT after the Lord, and thereafter EXPECT suffering, BECAUSE above ALL IS their Choice to Have THEE Lord God, First and Foremost ABOVE "ALL" things.
No, I'think you mistaked my purpose. I meant to say that some 'could', and sadly do...assume that because Christians accept that suffering is a part of life...indeed, part and parcel of following Christ, that we in fact seek it out and enjoy it. That is a mistaken and twisted view on their part and not a faithful understanding on what we do or are called to.
Agree. And I never said otherwise.
Sure. And I never said otherwise.
Sure.
I would Disagree here.
EVERYONE experiences "Persecution"/HARD TIMES.
Some experience "Persecution" FOR their FAITHFULNESS...."IN THE Lord God".
Some experience "Persecution/Hard TIMES" for REJECTING FAITH..."IN THE Lord God".
Persecution is not the same as 'hard times'. Persecution is specific....torment....in direct correlation to ones faith in Christ.
Hard times, on the other hand, can come from any direction; natural disaster, financial hardship, health, family disharmony, bad work environment. And none of those may have anything to do with your faith.
I think you are attempting to break it all down into categories to describe what goes on in the world, and that's not a bad thing, but the bible has already done it for us:
Common grace is the good things that everyone receives, Christian or not: rain on the crops, sun rising in the morning, the passing of seasons, money in the bank, health, the love of family...that sort of thing.
The bad that everyone...even Christians experience, is due to the fallen nature of the world...natural disasters, sickness and death, fractured families, poverty.
Persecution is what Christians experience because of their faith.
Judgement is what unbelievers experience because of their hard-hearted stance. But here's the thing....the bible tells us that in his forebearance and love...and his desire that 'all might come to God', he will withhold his hand of judgement until the Day of the Lord.
So, that is why there are so many verses...especially in Revelation, that speak to Christians having patience and faith in the face of persecution, knowing that there will come a day that the Lord WILL repay all the affliction that has been put upon his children.
I have not heard anyone "joking" about one claiming being taken up.
I have, and more than one of them. Phrases like "bye, see ya, wouldn't want to be ya!" And: "I'm gonna be going up and just say to them, nah, told ya!"
Real mature, sober things, on the topic at hand, as you can see.
Yes. Many gather together in Faith to Worship the Lord God, then dispurse After the gathering, and make plans to enjoy their day.
Yes, and there is nothing inherently sinful in that, unless we either take it for granted that this ease and blessing is due to us, or that we cannot or should not have that comfort taken away.
Doesn't it just smack a little to you...sitting in comfort thinking "Oh Lord, thank you for taking me out of this world before I have to suffer like those other Christians".....a little like the Pharisee who prayed "Oh Lord, thank you I am not like those other people"....?
What EXPECTATION? They shall NOT be confronted by A terrorist that Hates their faithfulness? They shall NOT return to their home buring down? They shall NOT be killed in an auto accident on their way home? They shall NOT return home and FIND a family member has been murdered?
All true. And everyone, if asked would acknowledge that those things COULD happen to them. But, if being honest, they would answer that as things stood, they would not EXPECT them to happen. Why? Because we don't live in a Country where it is normal to EXPECT death to knock on your door daily. To expect food to run out, for your partner, father, mother to not come home. To be raped on your way to work. To be shot in the street because someone whispered to someone else that you might be a Jesus follower.
You are Speaking "THIER MINDS" for them.
So what people MAKE plans after a Church gathering? So what IF "their" PLANS come to PASS or IF "their" PLANS DO NOT come to PASS?
Frankly MY POINT IS; I agree with "them".
I "make" PLANS, I "enjoy" my life. I have a "Comforter" WITH ME, when hardships and strife "affect" my life, and "GO THROUGH" the hardship, "WITH" the Lord God "WITH ME".
Does that mean I do not "make Plans" ? No.
Does that mean I am IMMUNE from "Hardships"? No.
Does that mean I should EXPECT SUBJECTION to THE LAMBS "WRATH" ? No.
To GODS "WRATH"? No.
Does that mean "I AM PREPARED" for the Lord God to Lift me Up unto Him? Yes.
You totally miss my point. In fact, it flew past you so fast, I don't find much enthusiasm repeating it.
