"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." Daniel 11:35 (Read Psalm 74)
Before it came to pass, God revealed to Daniel the terrible suffering and persecution which would come upon His people during the Hellenistic Period and the wars between the Greek kingdoms following the death of Alexander the Great.
Not only would there be continual warfare between the Greek kings, the war would spill over into the Holy Land, and God's people would suffer greatly, with Jews slaughtered and the temple desecrated (cf. v. 15-16; v. 30ff.).
Why would God let His people be persecuted, suffer and even be killed for their faith? Verse 35 answers that with the words: "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." God allowed His own people to suffer and even die for their faith and the true doctrine to test, purge and purify their faith.
And what about today? Could God allow Christians to suffer and even be put to death for their faith as nations and rulers struggle for power and to advance their worldly agendas?
Consider what Peter wrote to the believers scattered across parts of the Roman Empire because of persecution: "...Now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ..." (1 Pet. 1:6-7; Read v. 1-9; cf. Psalm 74; 1 Cor. 11:19; Deut. 8:2; 13:3; 2 Tim. 3:12ff.).
Persecution and suffering serves to test and purify our faith in Christ Jesus. Those who profess Christ for worldly reasons are rooted out and the faith of true believers is purified and strengthened -- focused solely upon Christ and the eternal inheritance He won for us in heaven by the shedding of His holy and precious blood for the sins of all the world.
Should God permit such testing to come upon us, we can rest assured He is working for our good, that we might hold fast to Christ and His Word and take comfort in the salvation He has provided for us with His death and resurrection.
O gracious and merciful God, guard and protect us from all the assaults of the devil upon us and preserve us in the true faith in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture Quoted from the King James Version of the Bible. More devotions at www.goodshepherdrogers.org.]
Editorial on 09/10/2014