Did Not Love Their Lives (MA39)

'Period of Tribulation'
 
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
  All men fear death because of the uncertainties after death and hell’s fire caused by their sins.
1 Cor 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
   The Lord compares Christian’s death to sleep so that when he wakes, he rejoices in heaven – so harmonious, serene, peaceful and glorious.
 
Mat 16:28  “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
   When we have faith in Him, we will not taste death, whether at home, hit by a car, crucified or beheaded. He has taken our spirits back with Him long before our actual death.
 
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
   This confirms that our Lord Jesus has taken the pains, fears, anguish and taste of our death. Without the taste of death, our martyrdoms (crucifixion, hanging, burning on the stack) are just peaceful sleep. Thank the Lord for His great love, mercy, comfort, relief and understanding.
 
Heb 2:14-15 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
   Thank God that our Lord Jesus through His death has set us free from the fear of death.
   Hallelujah.
   If we truly have complete faith in Him and His word, then we will no longer fear death, and the devil cannot threaten us with death.
 
Perfection of our faith
James 2:22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
 
There are three levels of faith, with the lowest being:
1. Seeing is believing.
Men only believe what they see, including disciples of Jesus.
2. Not seen and yet believe
John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
3. Faith in His words and not by sight
2 Cor 5:6-8 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
  When we walk by faith and not by sight, we are spiritual and are no longer interested in our earthly lives but set our minds on the eternal future with the Lord.
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
 
Phil 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
  With our faith perfected, we can overcome by rejecting the Antichrist on the mercy seat as god and discount all his signs and lying wonders as demonic.
 
John 15:12-14 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”