Revelation Quotes

“Long ago a brother in Christ wrote to Diognetus about Christians:   They love everyone, and by everyone they are persecuted. They are unknown, yet they are condemned; they are put to death, yet they are brought to life. They are poor, yet they make many rich; they are in need of everything, yet they abound in everything. They are dishonored, yet they are glorified in their dishonor; they are slandered, yet they are vindicated. They are cursed, yet they bless; they are insulted, yet they offer respect. When they do good, they are punished as evildoers; when they are punished, they rejoice as though brought to life . . . and so Christians when punished daily increase more and more. (Diognetus 5:11–16; 6:9b)   Don’t miss what that quotation communicates: these Christians live in a way that says that knowing God is better than freedom from persecution. Knowing God is better than avoiding martyrdom by denying him. Knowing God is better than money. Knowing God is better than worldly fame. Knowing God is better than doing evil to avoid persecution from a criminal government.”
― James M. Hamilton Jr., Revelation: The Spirit Speaks to the Churches