sufferingaffliction

Suffering, Persecution & Affliction Scriptures

Lamentations 3:37-50 Amplified

Who is he who spoke and it came to pass, when the Lord has not authorized and commanded it ? Is it not out of the mouth of the Most High that evil and good both proceed adversity and prosperity, physical evil or misfortune and physical good or happiness ? Why does a living man sigh [One who is still in this life's school of discipline] ? Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord ! Let us lift up our hearts to our hands [and then with them mount up to prayer] to God in heaven; We have transgressed and rebelled, and You have not pardoned. You have covered Yourself with wrath, and pursued and afflicted us; You have slain without pity. You have covered Yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can pass through. You have made us an offscouring and refuse among the nations. All our enemies gape at us and rail against us. Fear and pitfall have come upon us, devastation and destruction. My eyes overflow continually and will not cease until the Lord looks down and beholds from heaven.

2 Corinthians 12:10 Amplified

So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions perplexities and distresses ; for when I am weak(in human strength) , then I am [truly] strong able, powerful in divine strength.

Luke 21:12-19 Amp.

But previous to all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, turning you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be led away before kings and governors for My name's sake. This will be a time (an opportunity) for you to bear testimony. Resolve and settle it in your minds, not to meditate and prepare beforehand how you are to make your defense and how you will answer. For I Myself will give you a mouth, and such utterance and wisdom as all of your foes combined will be unable to stand against or refute. You will be delivered up and betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and [some] of you they will put to death. And you will be hated and despised by everyone because [you bear] My name for its sake. But not a hair of your head shall perish. [ 1 Samuel 14: 45 ] By your steadfastness and patient endurance , you shall win the true life of your souls.

Luke 6:22-24 NAS

Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full.

Mark 8:35 Amp

For whoever wants to save his [higher, spiritual, eternal] life, will lose [the lower, natural, temporal life which is lived only on earth]; and whoever gives up his life [ which is lived only on earth] , for My sake and the Gospel's, will save [his higher spiritual life in the eternal kingdom of God].

Colossians 1:24 Amp

[Even] now I rejoice in the midst of my suffering on your behalf, and in my own person I am making up whatever is still lacking and remains to be completed [on our part] of Christ's afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church.

Romans 8:17, 35-37 Amp

And [if] we are His children, then we are His heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ sharing His inheritance with Him; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory. Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love ? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation ? Or calamity and distress ? Or persecution, or hunger, or destitution, or peril, or sword ? Even as it is written, ' For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long, we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. (Psalm 44:22) Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.

Matthew 7:13-14, 19-20 NKJV

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate an difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal."

Matthew 19: 23-24, 27-30 NKJV

Then Jesus said to His disciples, " Assuredly, I say to you, that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you , it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."Then Peter answered and said to Him, " See, we have left all and followed You,. Therefore what shall we have ?" So Jesus said to them, " Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, or brothers or sisters or father or mother, or wife, or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit everlasting life. But many who are first will be last and the last first.

James 2:2-4 Amp

You are jealous, and covet what others have and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [ to hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. [ Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil selfish motives. Your intention is, [when you get what you desire to spend it in sensual pleasures. You are like unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world] and breaking your marriage vow to God ! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy ? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.

1 Corinthians 4: 9-13 Amp

For it seems to me that God has made an exhibit of us apostles, exposing us to view last [ of all, like men in a triumphal procession who are] sentenced to death and displayed at the end of the line. For we have become a spectacle to the world a show in the world's amphitheater with both men and angels as spectators. We are looked upon as fools on account of Christ and for His sake, but you are [supposedly] so amazingly wise and prudent in Christ ~ We are weak, but you are [so very] strong! You are highly esteemed but we are in disrepute and contempt !

To this hour we have gone both hungry and thirsty; we habitually wear but one undergarment [and shiver in the cold]: we are roughly knocked about and wander around homeless. And we still toil unto weariness [for our living], working hard with our own hands. When men revile us - that is, wound us with and accursed sting we bless them. When we are persecuted, we take it patiently and endure it. When we are slandered and defamed, we [try to] answer softly and bring comfort. We have been made and are now the rubbish and filth of the world - the offscouring of all things, the scum of the earth.

1 Corinthians 13:3 Amp

Even if I dole out al that I have to the poor in providing food, and if I surrender my body to be burned [or in order that I may glory], but have not love [God's love in me], I gain nothing.

2 Corinthians 4:8-18 Amp

We are hedged in (pressed) on every side- troubled and oppressed in every way; but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; We are persecuted and hard-driven, pursued, but not deserted-to stand alone; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed; always carrying about in the body the liability and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown forth by and in our bodies.

For we who live are constantly [experiencing] being handed over to death for Christ's sake, that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced through our flesh which is liable to death.

Thus death is actively at work in us, but [ it is in order that our] life [may be actively at work] in you. Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, I have believed, and therefore I have spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak. (Psalm 116:10) Assured that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and bring us along with you into His presence. For all those things are taking place for your sake, so that, the more the grace ( God's empowering presence)

extends to more and more people, and multiplies through the many, the more the thanksgiving may increase [ and rebound] to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not become discouragedutterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear. Though our outer man is progressively decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being progressively renewed day after day.

For our light momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glorybeyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!

Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.

AMEN!

2 Corinthians 6:4-10 Amp

But we commend ourselves in every way as [true] servants or God: through great endurance, in tribulation and suffering, in hardships and privations, in sore straits and calamities, in beatings and imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless watching, hunger; by innocence and purity, knowledge and spiritual insight, longsuffering and patience, kindness in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love; by speaking the word of truth in the power of God with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend]; mid honor and dishonor, in defaming and evil report and in praise and good report. [We are branded] as deceivers (imposters), and yet vindicated as truthful and honest.

We are treated as unknown and ignored [by the world], and [yet we are] well-known and recognized [by God and His people]; as dying, and yet here we are alive; as chastened by suffering and [yet] not killed; as grieved and mourning, yet [we are] always rejoicing; as poor [ourselves, yet] bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, and [yet in reality] possessing all things.

2 Corinthians 11:23-30 Amp

Are they ministering servants of Christ, the Messiah? I am talking like one beside himself ( insane), but I am more, with far more extensive and abundant labors, with far more imprisonments, beaten with countless stripes, and frequently at the point of death. Five times I received from the hands of the Jews 40 lashes all but one; [Deuteronomy 25:3] Three times I have been beaten with rods; Once I was stoned, and three times I have been aboard a ship wrecked at sea; a [whole] night and day I have spent adrift on the deep;

Many times on journeys , exposed to perils from rivers, perils from bandits, perils from my own nation, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the desert places, perils in the sea, perils from those posing as believers but destitute of Christian knowledge and piety; In toil and hardship, watching often through sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, frequently driven to fasting by want, in cold and exposure and lack of clothing.

And besides those things that are without, there is the daily inescapable pressure of my care and anxiety for all the churches ! Who is weak, and I do not feel [his] weakness ? Who is made to stumble and fall, and have his faith hurt, and I am not on fire with sorrow or indignation ?

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my infirmity of things by which I am made weak and contemptible in the eyes of my opponents.

James 5:10 Amp

[As] an example of suffering and ill-treatment together with patience, brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lordas His messengers.

1 Thess 1:6 NIV

You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

1 Thess 2:2, 14-15 Amp

But though we had already suffered and been outrageously treated at Philippi, as you know, yet in the strength of our God we summoned courage to proclaim to you unfalteringly the good news (the Gospel) with earnest contention, much conflict and great opposition.

For you, brethren, became imitators of the assemblies of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea, for you too have suffered the same treatment from your own fellow countrymen as they did [who were persecuted at the hands] of the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and harassed and drove us out; and continue to make themselves hateful and offensive to God and to show themselves foes of all men

1 Thess 3:3-4 Amp

That no one of your should be disturbed and beguiled and led astray by these afflictions and difficulties [to which I have referred] For you yourselves know that this is [unavoidable in our position, and must be recognized as] our appointed lot.

For even when we were with you [you know] we warned you plainly beforehand that we were to be pressed with difficulties and made to suffer affliction, just as to your own knowledge has [since happened].

2 Timothy 3 : 2-3, 11, 13 NAS

An overseer, then , must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious , free from the love of money. ..

Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. .For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 4:16-17 Amp

At my first trial no one acted in my defense (as my advocate) or took my part or even stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them!

But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the (Gospel) message might be fully proclaimed and all of the Gentiles might hear it. So I was delivered out of the jaws of the lion.

v. 18 [And indeed] the Lord will certainly deliver and draw me to Himself from every assault of evil. He will preserve and bring [me] safe unto His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 11:25-27, 33-38 Amp

(of Moses) Because he preferred rather to share the oppression (suffer the hardships) and bear the shame of the people of God than to have the fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life. He considered the contempt and abuse and shame [borne for] the Christ the Messiah [Who was to come], to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt, for he looked forward and away to the reward (recompense).

Motivated by FAITH he left Egypt behind him, being unawed and undismayed by the wrath of the king; for he never flinched but held staunchly to his purpose and endured steadfastly as one who gazed on Him Who is invisible. [Ex. 2:15]

(speaking of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel and other prophets)

Who by the help of faith subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessing, closed the mouth of lions, [Dan 6] Extinguished the power of raging fire, escaped the devourings of the sword, out of frailty and weakness won strength and became stalwart even mighty and resistless in battle, routing alien hosts. [Dan 3].

[Some] women received again their dead by a resurrection. Others were tortured to death with clubs, refusing to accept release [offered on terms of denying their faith], that they might be resurrected to a better life.

Others had to suffer the trial of mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death; they were lured with tempting offers [to renounce their faith]; they were sawn asunder; they were slaughtered by the sword; [while they were yet alive] they had to go about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated, men of whom the world was not worthy, roaming over the desolate places and the mountains, and living in caves and caverns and holes of the earth.

Hebrews 10:32-34 Amp

v. 31 It is a fearful (formidable and terrible) thing to incur the divine penalties and be cast into the hands of the living God! But be ever mindful of the days gone by in which, after you were first spiritually enlightened, you endured a great and painful struggle, sometimes begin yourselves a gazingstock, publicly exposed to insults and abuse and distress, and sometimes claiming fellowship and making common cause with others who were so treated. For you did sympathize and suffer along with those who were imprisoned, and you bore cheerfully the plundering of your belongins and the confiscation of your property, in the knowledge and consciousness that you yourselves had a better and lasting possession.

Hebrews 12:1-4 NIV

Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

AMOS 5:10 AMP

They hate him who reproves in the [city] gate-holding him as an abomination and rejecting his rebuke and they abhor him who speaks rightly.

Habakkuk 1:13 NAS

Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil, (speaking of God). And Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor Why dost Thou look with favor on those who deal treacherously? Why art Thou silent when the wicked swallow up those more righteous than they?

Jeremiah 11:19 NAS

But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; And I did not know that they had devised plots against me, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more."

Jer. 15:18-19 Amp

Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you indeed be to me as a deceitful brook, like waters that fail and are uncertain?

Therefore thus says the Lord [to Jeremiah], if you return (give up this mistaken tone of distrust and despair), then I will give you again a settled place of quiet and safety, and you shall be My minister; and if you separate the precious from the vile [cleansing your own heart from unworthy suspicions concerning God's faithfulness], you shall be as My mouthpiece. [But do not yield to them.] Let them return to younot you to the people.

2 Thess 1:4-7 Amp

And this is a cause of our mentioning you with pride among the churches (assemblies) of God for your steadfastnessyour unflinching endurance and patienceand your firm faith in the midst of all the persecutions and crushing distresses and afflictions under which you are holding up.

This is positive proof of the judgment of God to the end that your may be deemed deserving of His kindoma plain token of His fair verdict [which designs] that you should be made and counted worthy of the kingdom of Godfor the sake of which you are also suffering.

[It is a fair decision] since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with distress and affliction those who distress and afflict you, and to [recompense] you who are so distressed and afflicted [by granting you] relief and rest along with usyour fellow suffererswhen the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in a flame of fire;

2 Tim 1:8,12 NAS

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God.For this reason I also suffer these things but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

2 Tim 2:9-12 Amp

For that [Gospel] I am suffering affliction and even wearing chains, like a criminal. But the Word of God is not chained or imprisoned! Therefore I am ready to persevere and stand my ground with patience and endure everything for the sake of the elect [God's Chosen], so that they too may obtain [the] salvation which is in Christ Jesus with [the reward of] eternal glory.

The saying is worthy of confidence and sure: If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him.

If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny and disown and reject him, He will also deny and disown and reject us.

John 10:11,15 Amp

I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd risks and lays down his [own] life for the sheep [Ps 23]Even as [truly as] the Father known Me I also know the Father; and I am giving My [very own] life and laying it down in behalf of the sheep.

John 15:13 Amp

No one has greater loveno one has shown stronger affectionthan to lay down [give up] his own life for his friends.

John 16: 1-3,33 Amp

I have told you all these things so that you should not be offendedtaken unawares and falter, or be caused to stumble and fall away, and to keep you from being scandalized and repelled. They will put you out of the synagoguesexpel you. But an hour is coming when whoever kills you will thing and claim that he has offered service to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father nor Me.

I have told you these things so that you may have perfect peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheertake courage, be confident, certain, undauntedfor I have overcome the world. I have deprived it of power to harm, have conquered it [for you].

1 Peter 4:12-14 Amp

I have given and delivered to them Your Word (message); and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world do not belong to the world [just] as I am not of the world.

I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them, purify, consecrate, separate them for yourself, make them holy by the Truth. Your Word is Truth.

1 Peter 4:12-14 Amp

For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteousthose who are upright and in right standing with Godand His ears are attentive to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evilto oppose them, to frustrate and defeat them. (Ps 34:12-16). Now who is there to hurt you if you are zealous followers of that which is good? But even in case you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, [you are] blessedhappy, to be envied. Do not dread or be afraid of their threats, nor be disturbed [by their opposition].

1 Peter 5:10 NAS

And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

Ephesians 5:2,25 Amp

And walk in loveesteeming and delighting in one anotheras Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. (Ezek 24:1). Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.

Hebrews 5:8-9 NAS

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.

Hebrews 2:8-10, 14, 18 Amp

For You have put everything in subjection under His feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to man, He left nothing outside of man's control. But at present we do not yet see all things subjected to him [man]. But we are able to see Jesus, Who was ranked lower than the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honor because of His having suffered death, in order that by the grace of God [to us sinners] He might experience death for every individual person. For it was an act worthy [of God] and fitting to their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the divine nature that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect [that is, should bring to maturity the human experience necessary for a perfect equipment for His office as High Priest], through suffering.. Since therefore, His children share in flesh and blood that is, in the physical nature of human beings, He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same nature, that by [going through] death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able (immediately to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [And who therefore are being exposed to suffering].

1 Peter 2:20-24 Amp

After all, what kind of glory [is there in it] if when you do wrong and are punished for it you take it patiently? But, if you bear patiently with suffering [which results] when you do right and that is undeserved, it is acceptable and well-pleasing to God. For even to this you were called it is inseparable from your vocation. For Christ also suffered for you, leaving you [His personal] example so that you should follow on in His footsteps. He was guilty of no sin; neither was deceit (guile) ever found on His lips. [Is 53:9]. When He was reviled and insulted, he did not revile or offer insult in return; [when] He was abused and suffered, He made no threats of vengeance; but He trusted [Himself and everything] to Him who judges fairly. He personally bore our sins in His own body to the tree [as to an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have healed.

1 Peter 3:16-18 Amp

[And see to it that] your conscience is entirely clear, so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile our right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed [of slandering your good lives]. For it is better to suffer unjustly for doing right, if that should be God's will, than to suffer justly for doing wrong. For Christ, the Messiah, [Himself] died for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous, the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty that He might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the spirit.

1 Peter 4: 1,3-4,16,19 Amp

So since Christ suffered in the flesh [for us, for you], arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having the mind of Christ] has done with intentional sin has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God. For the time that is past already suffices for doing what the Gentiles like to do, living as you have done, in shameless, insolent, wantonness, in lustful desires, drunkenness, reveling, drinking bouts and abominable, lawless idolatries. They are astonished and think it very queer that you do not now run hand in hand with them in the same excesses of dissipation, and they abuse [you] But if one is ill-treated and suffers as a Christian [which he is contemptuously called], let him not be ashamed, but give glory to God that he is deemed worthy to suffer in this name

Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in accordance with God's will must do right, and commit their souls (in charge as a deposit) to the One Who created them and will never fail [them].

Galatians 6:17 Amp

From now on let no person trouble me [by making it necessary for me to vindicate my apostolic authority and the divine truth of my Gospel]; for I bear on my body the brand marks of the Lord Jesus, [the wounds, scars, and other outward evidence of persecutions].These testify to His ownership of me.

1 John 3:1, 13, 16 NAS

See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Do not marvel brethren if the world hates you. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Revelation 12:11 Amp

And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death holding their lives cheap till they had to die [for their witnessing].

Rev. 20:4 NKJ

And I saw thrones and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their foreheads or their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Rev. 6:9-11 NKJ

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" And a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was complete.

Rev. 2:3, 10, 13 NKJ

"and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you in prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."..."I know you works and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you where Satan dwells."

Philippians 2:27-30 NAS

For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on Him only but also on me, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly in order that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. Therefore receive him in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.

Philippians 1:12-214, 28-29 Amp

Now I want you to know and continue to rest assured, brethren, that what [has happened] to me [this imprisonment] has actually only served to advance and give a renewed impetus to the [spreading of the] good news of the gospel. So much is this a fact that throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest here, my imprisonment has become generally to be know to be in Christ in that I am a prisoner in His service and for Him. And also most of the brethren have derived fresh confidence in the Lord because of my chains, and are much more bold to speak and publish fearlessly the Word of God acting with more freedom and indifference to the consequences.

And do not for a moment be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of their impending destruction; but [a sure token and evidence of] your deliverance and salvation, and that from God. For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ's sake not only to believe adhere to, rely on, and trust in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf.

Philippians 3 : 10-11 Amp

For my determined purpose is that I may know Him that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His Person] more strongly and more clearly. And that I may in the same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers]; and that I may share in his sufferings as to be continually transformed [ in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, {in the hope], that if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moreal] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [ even while in the body.]

PERSECUTIONS

Matthew 10:16-18,21-23,28 Amp

Lo, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; be wary and wise as serpents, and be innocent, harmless, guileless, and without falsity as doves. [Gen 3:1] Be on guard against the men [whose way or nature is to act in opposition to God]; for they will deliver you up to councils and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a witness to bear testimony before them and to the Gentiles (the nations).

Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will take a stand against their parents, and will have them put to death; And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who perseveres and endures to the end will be saved [from spiritual disease and death in the world to come]. When they persecute you in one town [that is pursue you in a manner to injure you and cause you to suffer because of your belief], flee to another town; for truly, I tell you, you will not have gone through all the town of Israel before the Son of man comes.

And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, but rather be afraid of him who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Gehenna).

Matt. 20:20-23 Amp

Then the mother of Zebedee's children came up to Him with her sons, and kneeling, worshipped Him and asked a favor of Him.

And he asked her, What do you wish? She answered Him, Give orders that these two sons of mine may sit, one at Your right hand, and one at Your left in Your kingdom.

But Jesus replied, You do not realize what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink and to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? They answered, We are able. He said to them, you will drink My cup, but seats at My right hand and My left are not Mine to give, but they are for thosefor whom they have been ordained and prepared by My Father.

Matthew 24:8-10 Amp

And then many will be offended and repelled and begin to distrust and desert Him Whom they ought to trust and obey, and will stumble and fall away, and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred.

Luke 6:26-28 NKJ

"Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets. But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.

Acts 5:17-19 NAS

But the high priest rose up with his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with JEALOUSY; and they laid hands on the apostles, and put them in a public jail. But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, "Go your way, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life."

Acts 5:29, 40-42 Amp

Then Peter and the apostles replied, We must obey GOD rather than men. So convinced by him they took his advice, and summoning the apostles they flogged them and sternly forbade them to speak in or about the name of Jesus, and allowed them to go. So they went out from the presence of the council (Sanhedrin), rejoicing that they were being counted worth-dignified by the indignity to suffer shame and be exposed to disgrace for [the sake of] His name. Yet [in spite of threats] they never ceased for a single day both in the temple area and at home to teach and proclaim the good news (Gospel) of Jesus [as] the Christ, the Messiah.

Acts 7:52 Amp Which of the prophets did your forefathers not persecute? And they slew those who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, Whom you now have betrayed and murdered.

Acts 8:3-4 NAS

But Saul shamefully treated and laid waste the church continuously,--with cruelty and violence; and entering house after house, he dragged out men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered abroad went about through the land from place to place preaching the glad tidings, the Word [that is the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the Kingdom of God.]

Acts 14:22 AMP

Establishing and strengthening the souls and the hearts of the disciples, urging `and warning and encouraging them to stand firm in the faith, and telling them that it is through many hardships and tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God.

2 Tim 3:12 NKJV Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Persecution:

NT:1375 diogmos (dee-ogue-mos'); from NT:1377; persecution: KJV-persecution.

NT:1377 dioko (dee-o'-ko); a prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb dio (to flee; compare the base of NT:1169 and NT:1249); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute: KJV-ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer) persecute (-ion), press forward.

Affliction

NT:2347 thlipsis (thlip'-sis); from NT:2346; pressure (literally or figuratively): KJV-afflicted (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

NT:2346

thlibo (thlee'-bo); akin to the base of NT:5147; to crowd (literally or figuratively):

KJV-afflict, narrow, throng, suffer tribulation, trouble.

NT:5147 tribos (tree'-bos); from tribo (to "rub"; akin to teiro, truo, and the

base of NT:5131, NT:5134); a rut or worn track: KJV-path.

NT:5131 tragos (trag'-os); from the base of NT:5176; a he-goat (as a gnawer): KJV-goat.