“So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”—Neh. 8:8.
Lesson X.—Sabbath, December 7, 1895.
WHO PERSECUTE, AND WHY?
1. What is the meaning of the term “persecute”? PERSECUTE.—“(1) To pursue in a manner to injure, vex, or afflict; to cause to suffer pain from hatred or malignity; to harass; to beset in an annoying way. (2) Especially to afflict, harass, or punish for adherence to a particular creed or system of religious principles, or to a mode of worship.”—Webster. The punishment of criminals through the enforcement of right laws can never be persecution. To hang murderers or imprison thieves is not persecution. From the very nature of the case, persecution implies an injustice done by one person to another.
2. Have the professed people of God ever persecuted? “Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.” Acts 7:52.
3. By what parable does Christ show the same thing? Parable of the vineyard. See Matt. 21:33–39.
4. What charge did he bring against Jerusalem? “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Matt. 23:37.
5. What was the result of such a course? “But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.” 2 Chron. 36:16.
6. Can a true child of God persecute? “And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” John 12:47. “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Rom. 8:9.
7. By what principles are such governed? Ans.—Love, forgiveness, forbearance, patience, kindness. 2 Cor. 5:14.
8. How will love lead us to treat a neighbor? “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Rom. 13:10. “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Matt. 22:39.
9. What instructions, in this respect, will true Christians follow? “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matt. 5:44. “And as we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Gal. 6:10. See Rom. 12:14, 19, 20 and note .
10. Who is it, then, that persecutes? “But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.” Gal. 4:29.
11. And who are the persecuted?—Id. See note .
12. Can the persecutor, therefore, ever be right? Whatever the circumstances may be, the persecutor can not be right, for persecution itself is wrong. Even though the persecutor were defending the truth, his persecution would be wrong. Thomas Clarke, an English writer, has well said, “There are many who do not seem to be sensible that all violence in religion is irreligious, and that, whoever is wrong, the persecutor can not be right.”
13. By what spirit are those led who persecute? “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” Eph. 2:1, 2.
14. What did Christ say of those who were seeking to take his life? “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44.
15. What is said of Satan in Rev. 12:13? “And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.” Compare with verse 9.
16. What was he from the beginning? See question 14.
17. Why do men persecute? “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” 1 John 3:11, 12. See note .
18. Upon what class does Satan make war? “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev. 12:17.
19. How long will persecution exist? “I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.” Dan. 7:21, 22. See note .
20. How many are to suffer persecution? “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Tim. 3:12.
21. What has been left as a divine legacy to the followers of Christ? “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” Phil. 1:29.
22. What is the promise to those who suffer thus? “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us.” 2 Tim. 2:12. See also Rom. 8:17 and Matt. 5:10.
23. What spirit should we manifest under persecution? “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matt. 5:11, 12. See also 1 Peter 2:19, 20; Phil. 1:28.
24. How did the apostles regard it? “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” Acts 5:41. See also 2 Cor. 12:10.
25. Why does God permit persecution to come on his people? “And they that understand among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.” “And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for a time appointed.” Dan. 11:33, 35. See note .
26. What do those who persecute God’s people bring on themselves? “As for me, behold, I am in your hand; do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you. But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof; for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.” Jer. 26:14, 15. “Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city; that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.” Matt. 23:34, 35.
27. Has God promised to vindicate his people? “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:7, 8.
