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REVELATION 17:6-7 “THE BLOOD OF SAINTS AND MARTYRS”
HALLOWEEN 1. WHO ARE WE TO BE LIKE AS CHRISTIANS? Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (KJV) 1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (KJV)
2.WHAT SPIRIT IS OUR GUIDE? 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (KJV)
3.WHAT ARE WE TO AVOID ANY CONTACT WITH? Deuteronomy 18:9-12 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you [any one] that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, [or] that useth divination, [or] an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things [are] an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. (KJV)
INTRODUCTION TO MARTYRS:
1. WHY HAVE CHRISTIANS ALWAYS SUFFERED? Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; (KJV) 2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (KJV) 2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (KJV) James 1:12 Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (KJV) Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (KJV)
2. CAN WE LEARN FROM THOSE WHO WENT BEFORE?
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FOXES BOOK OF MARTYRS
1. ROMANS 16 HAS 25 NAMED INDIVIDUALS. MOST CERTAINLY SOME OF THESE ENDED THEIR EARTHLY LIVES IN THE ARENA AND GARDENS OF NERO. [QUOTE FOXES’]
2.ARISTARCHUS AND TROPHIMUS
Acts 19:29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. (KJV) Acts 20:4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. (KJV) Acts 27:2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; [one] Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. (KJV) Colossians 4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) (KJV) Acts 21:29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) (KJV) 2 Timothy 4:20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. (KJV)
FOXES ENDING 2 Timothy 3:10-17 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of [them] all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned [them]; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (KJV)
ROMAN PERSECUTIONS NEW TESTAMENT MARTYRS If these displays might in some sense have given a certain impression of magnificence, the EXECUTION OF CRIMINALS, which also took place among the shows in the amphitheatre, could offer only the exhibition of the horrible and vulgar. Bound to stakes, the condemned were completely defenseless against starving wild beasts. Sometimes they were allowed weapons, but only to the prolonging of their torment. Robbers, hanging on crosses, were torn limb from limb by bears. Often these executions were given a theatrical mythological and dramatic form, wherein the condemned played the part of some dying hero of heathen legend or stories of the gods. One saw Mucius Scaevola hold his hand over a bowl of burning coal or Hercules mount the pyre and burn. MARTYRS Later, very possibly in the time of Nero, and so of Paul, this dramatic, mythological form of execution was applied also to Christians. The crowd delighted when the martyrs were made to play the part of HERCULES, who was burnt, or of IXION, who was broken on the wheel, or of MARSYAS, whose skin was stripped from his living body. Women must appear as Dirce, who according to tradition was tied by the hair to a bull and dragged to death. Such suffering is reported of the renowned martyr Perpetua near Carthage [A.D. 202]. Others had to represent
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the DANAIDS who must ceaselessly pour water into leaky vessels, driven on by the lash until they collapsed and died.