Something from 2006 from Michael Boldea Jr.'s writings..
The warning goes out to all who would hear
September 14, 2006
Since I have never done this before, I feel an explanation is in order. The following excerpt is from a study on the church of Smyrna, the second of the seven churches to which Christ wrote personal letters in the book of Revelation. For some months now we have been going through Revelation, verse by verse, and in keeping to my promise of posting something as often as possible, I use every spare minute in this endeavor.
Being in Romania, and going into the villages to pass out food, and clothes, to deliver cows and pigs, as well as check up on some building projects, I realized I had fallen behind on my writing. I would leave early in the morning, and return late enough into the night, too exhausted to put anything on paper. Finally one night as I returned home, I decided I would sit down and write until I either finished the study on Smyrna, or fell asleep doing it.
A couple days later, I was reading what had been written in the early hours of the morning, when I came upon the following passage. I do not remember having written it, but it affected me in such a way that I decided to post it as a stand-alone article for those who do not have the time, or inclination to read the entire study on Revelation.
The Excerpt
"The warning goes out to all who would hear, that times of tribulation are soon to come, but faithfulness will incur the crown of life as just recompense. Suffering is linked to this present life, as smoke is to fire. Though the earthly vessel in which God placed some of his roses might be broken, though this present life may end in persecution and suffering, the fragrance lingers long after we are gone, a sweet, and well received sacrifice.
There is only one way to walk with Christ in this present life, and that is the way of the cross, and there can be no substitutions or deviations. That which we must inevitably suffer for the cause of Christ, is a grace, a gift, and a badge of honor that all who are integrated into His body must suffer at the hands of the world. If the head, namely Christ, suffered on this earth, what makes His body immune from suffering?
Luke 24:26, "Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?"