The Book of Signs: 31 Undeniable Prophecies of the Apocalypse

by David Jeremiah

The Crown of Life is given in recognition of enduring and triumphing over temptations and trials, even to the point of martyrdom. Motivated by our love for Christ, we persevere and never quit until He takes us home. The New Testament Christians lived in days of intense persecution, and almost every New Testament book was written to believers who lived in danger of martyrdom. The apostles counseled them to persevere so they could inherit the Crown of Life. When we think of persecution, we often think of the Roman Empire and the brutal assaults on Christians by emperors like Nero who were determined to eradicate the church. But the most intense period of persecution in the history of the church is occurring around the world today. In 2017, the organization Open Doors, which monitors global persecution, released a report highlighting the top fifty nations where Christians face the most severe persecution. The bottom line: 100 percent of Christians in 21 countries around the world experience persecution for their faith in Christ, and more than 215 million Christians face “high levels” of persecution. “Nearly one in every 12 Christians today lives in an area or culture in which Christianity is illegal, forbidden or punished.”4