Revelation 2:13; Thou Hast Denied Not My Faith

Revelation 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

To live an unashamed life before God and man requires spiritual courage and backbone. We saw yesterday the record of Stephen’s martyrdom in Acts chapter, the longest chapter of the book of Acts, recording what we need to stand as a witnessed in these last days before Christ’s return to take away His church and then to judge rebellious the world.

Stephen was taken to heaven so that he will not see the destruction of the nation of Israel in A.D. 70 and the scattering of the Jews to the 4 corners of the earth for the next 2000 years.

The church will be taken to glory in heaven at the rapture of before God will deal with the rebels as we see in the book of Revelation during the time of the coming Great Tribulation.

Stephen testimony stood as an indictment of God’s judgement upon the unbelieving of those who persecuted His church. Antipas’ testimony was that he was Christ’s faithful witness.

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Amen.