The persecution of God's faithful people by Antiochus Epiphanes was a great trial for them, but aneven greater trial was the betrayal of fellow Jews at that time who turned against the faithful. It is expectedthat there will arise those who despise faithful Christians who stand without compromise for Jesus and Histruth. It is especially painful when those who profess to be Christians turn against faithful Christians becausethey will not be moved from the truth found in God's Word.Our faithful forefathers in the faith suffered in Scotland because they would not acknowledge that theking had lawful authority from Christ to rule over the church or that the king had lawful authority from Christto destroy a faithful covenant made by a nation and its church with Almighty God (the Solemn League andCovenant). The rulers and a majority of the people in Scotland (who were not atheists—they professed to beChristians), and yet they hunted faithful Covenanters down like animals to imprison/kill them. That's painful—yet instructive.Let us not think that God has called us as faithful Christians to an easy, carefree life in following Jesus inthis world (Acts 14:21-22). We face a constant battle in standing for Christ and His truth (but it is worth it). Forin so doing souls are saved, believers are encouraged, the Christ's kingdom grows, and we shall be given acrown of life in heaven to come.

The world is looking for someone/something to believe in. Sadly, what the world believes in is thatwhich changes, that which is temporary, that which passes away (whether we believe in ourselves, ourchildren, our bank account, the economy). What we truly need to believe in is someone that is almighty, thatloves with a perfect love, that does not change, that is eternal, that takes away the fear of death and gives acertain hope in this world and forevermore. He who we need to believe in with all our heart is the God thatcreated us and has sent His Son (Jesus Christ) to save sinners chosen and loved from all eternity. There iswithin us a restlessness to find that someone in which to believe that is ever faithful, loving, just, true, andalmighty, and is able to change our life for good both now and for all eternity. That restlessness to find such aOne in whom to believe only ceases when we find our rest in Jesus Christ.To disbelieve and not receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is at its very core a refusal to receive thelove of God in Christ and a refusal to submit to the authority of Christ and His Word. And this refusal willcontinue even in the face of the most powerful evidence to believe in Christ until He graciously/miraculouslyopens our spiritual eyes to see and gives us faith to embrace Him and His truth.

God's Church throughout history has endured great persecution that would have swallowed it up if He had not intervened to deliver His people. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, sought to greatly diminish the strength of Israel by enslaving them and destroying all the newborn male children. God brought Moses to deliver them. Various Canaanite kingdoms brought Israel into bondage (as judgment from the Lord) after the deaths of Moses and Joshua. God raised up judges like Gideon and Samson to deliver His people. The Assyrians and the Babylonians led Israel and Judah into captivity (once again as judgment from the Lord). God delivered them by a heathen king (Cyrus) and raised up godly leaders like Ezra and Nehemiah to re-establish them in the land in rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple. A great persecution arose against God's people (as we shall see) during the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes of Syria. Once again, the Lord mercifully raised up deliverers to break off the yoke of the oppressor—this time it was the Maccabees. Nero, Domitian, and other emperors of Rome savaged Christians because they acknowledged Jesus (not Caesar) to be Lord.The Lord Jesus prophesied that we would face persecution (and that certainly has been the case as we observe in history). In fact, persecution is used by the Lord to purify us and to separate the wheat from the chaff. The Lord has delivered His Church throughout history and will continue to do so through Jesus, our great and mighty King (at times using even leaders that are far from being godly princes, like Cyrus). As we study thetime of persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes, let us look with hope to our deliverance that is always around the corner.