The Roman Emperor Diocletian (A.D. 284-305) was determined to destroy Christians and the Christian faith. He made two monuments with the following inscriptions: 1) Diocletian Jovian Maximian Herculeus Caesares Augusti for having extended the Roman Empire in the east and the west and for having extinguished the name of Christians who brought the Republic to ruin.2) Diocletian Jovian Maximian Herculeus Caesares Augusti for having everywhere abolished the superstition of Christ, for having extended the worship of the gods. However, Diocletian is dead, and the Church exists.
Doubly perish: Diocletian not only perished in this world, but he eternally perished as he rejected the Son of God. (John 3:16) History is full of such arrogant personalities who perished in this world and were banished forever from Heaven.
Asaph’s prayer: Asaph prays for the nation of Israel. He pleads with the Lord not to keep silent in the context of crafty counsel, united consultation to destroy Israel so that the nation does not exist anymore. If God is silent, the nation would be destroyed.
“They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!” (Psalms 83:4) Many kingdoms wanted to destroy the Nation of Israel, so that the Messiah would not come to the world as promised. Yet, God preserved the covenant nation to fulfil His Promise and Prophecy, the Lord Jesus Christ became incarnate in the nation of Israel and a descendant of David.
My Church: The Lord Jesus Christ declared: I will build my church; the gates of hell will not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18) Satan could exercise all his wicked power to destroy the Church, but he can never prevail. Gates also suggests the place in the town where judgments are pronounced and executed. Satan’s writ or pronouncements have no value and cannot affect the Church.
Persecution: Christians living in many countries of the world are severely persecuted. However, the persecuted are blessed, while the persecutors either repent and become like Paul the Apostle or perish forever. (Matthew 5:10)
Do I realise that the persecuted believers are the triumphant?