Page 77 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2011

“…REJOICE AND BE EXCEEDINGLY GLAD, 77

FOR GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN,
FOR SO THEY PERSECUTED THE PROPHETS WHO WERE BEFORE YOU.”
Matt. 5:12
The prophets

were not persecuted for WHERE they lived,

but rather for HOW they lived.

For the most part, the prophets were not persecuted by the godless
heathen, but rather by their own carnally-minded brethren who resented

any message that placed responsibility or correction for their actions.
Isaiah was such a prophet sent from God.
Consider how his peers treated him:

“…THIS IS A REBELLIOUS PEOPLE, LYING CHILDREN, CHILDREN WHO WILL NOT HEAR
THE LAW OF THE LORD; WHO SAY TO THE SEERS, "DO NOT SEE,"AND TO THE PROPHETS,

"DO NOT PROPHESY TO US RIGHT THINGS; SPEAK TO US SMOOTH THINGS,
PROPHESY DECEITS. GET OUT OF THE WAY,TURN ASIDE FROM THE PATH,

CAUSE THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL TO CEASE FROM BEFORE US!”

Isa 30:9-11

Yes, God’s people were brutal with the prophets. In this last Beatitude, Jesus lumps the persecuted
believer together with the prophets. That is pretty good company! In saying, “GREAT IS YOUR
REWARD IN HEAVEN” we must look to how greatly the prophets are rewarded in heaven. We have
such an illustration set before us. The apostle John is being shown the unfolding of the contents of
Revelation, not by God Himself, but rather by a glorified prophet that John mistakes for God Himself:

“THEN HE SAID TO ME, "WRITE:'BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO THE
MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB!'" AND HE SAID TO ME,"THESE ARE THE TRUE
SAYINGS OF GOD."
AND I FELL AT HIS FEET TO WORSHIP HIM. BUT HE SAID TO ME,
"SEE THAT YOU DO NOT DO THAT! I AM YOUR FELLOW SERVANT,
AND OF YOUR BRETHREN WHO HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS.
WORSHIP GOD!”
Rev 19:9-10

“NOW I, JOHN, SAW AND HEARD THESE THINGS.
AND WHEN I HEARD AND SAW,

I FELL DOWN TO WORSHIP BEFORE THE FEET OF

THE ANGEL (“messenger”) WHO SHOWED ME THESE THINGS.

THEN HE SAID TO ME,
"SEE THAT YOU DO NOT DO THAT.
FOR I AM YOUR FELLOW SERVANT,
AND OF YOUR BRETHREN THE PROPHETS,
AND OF THOSE WHO KEEP THE WORDS OF THIS BOOK.

WORSHIP GOD." Rev 22:8-9

John is no idolater. He mistakes this glorified prophet for God Himself! Neither does John fall at the
feet of every being he sees in Heaven for not all are glorified as was this prophet! Such great
“glorification” is part of the “great reward” that awaits the persecuted when they get to Heaven! In this
life it is the promise of persecution. Consider Jesus’ words of “great reward” that is to come to this
persecuted church because of how they lived:

"I KNOW YOUR WORKS. SEE, I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU AN OPEN DOOR, AND NO ONE CAN SHUT IT;
FOR YOU HAVE A LITTLE STRENGTH, HAVE KEPT MY WORD, AND HAVE NOT DENIED MY NAME.

INDEED I WILL MAKE THOSE OF THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN, WHO SAY THEY ARE JEWS AND ARE NOT,
BUT LIE -- INDEED I WILL MAKE THEM COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOUR FEET, AND TO KNOW THAT
I HAVE LOVED YOU. BECAUSE YOU HAVE KEPT MY COMMAND TO PERSEVERE, I ALSO WILL KEEP YOU

FROM THE HOUR OF TRIAL WHICH SHALL COME UPON THE WHOLE WORLD, TO TEST THOSE WHO
DWELL ON THE EARTH.BEHOLD, I AM COMING QUICKLY! HOLD FAST WHAT YOU HAVE, THAT NO ONE

MAY TAKE YOUR CROWN. HE WHO OVERCOMES, I WILL MAKE HIM A PILLAR IN THE TEMPLE OF MY
GOD, AND HE SHALL GO OUT NO MORE. I WILL WRITE ON HIM THE NAME OF MY GOD AND THE

NAME OF THE CITY OF MY GOD, THE NEW JERUSALEM, WHICH COMES DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN FROM
MY GOD. AND I WILL WRITE ON HIM MY NEW NAME.

"HE WHO HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES."‘ Rev 3:8-13