Christians aren't excluded from hardships in life

Though God loves His people - He doesn't exclude them from hardships in this life. Though sometimes, through prayer, hardships are overcome or removed. But not for all. Some Christians think it's God's will to overcome all hardships or poor health. But I feel the scriptures and evidence I see in Christians in daily life - that this is not so.

It's amazing the amount of suffering some Christians have to go through, in parts of the world. Not only persecution, but in some places - great poverty, too. This year, I hear some are starving to death in poor countries such as Africa, due to the tyrannical business shutdowns that governments have imposed upon their people.

Of course, some of those more severe hardships may become more common here in the USA, too, whenever the one-world system comes, and Anti-christ will rule. None of us know when exactly - this may happen, as God doesn't want us to know, it sounds like. For example, Jesus said no one will know ahead of time - the day Jesus will return.

We should always pray for His help in hardships - but not be angry, as Job's wife was - in hardships. And prayer is helpful at least in that it helps to strengthen us spiritually and emotionally so that we're better able to endure whatever hardships we may have to go through.

Whist I do not believe Christians will go through THE tribulation , because we are not destined for wrath . We will have suffering in this life . Romans 8 is all about certainty and assurance that a believer cannot be lost .That is how we go through suffering ,knowing our future is certain . That nothing can separate us from God . Not even our selves .

Correct. In fact they are necessary for the sanctification of the saints (as we see throughout the NT). Paul told Timothy to endure "hardness" (hardships) as a good soldier of Christ.

Correct. The Tribulation is primarily for the Jews, and thus called "the time of Jacob's trouble". It has no relationship to the Church, which will be raptured before the appearance of the Antichrist. The Holy Spirit must be "taken out of the way" for the Man of Sin to take total control. Therefore the Church will also be "taken out of the way".

There is no mention of "the Church" or "churches" from Revelation 3 to Revelation 18. In Revelation 19 we see the Marriage of the Lamb, since the Church is the Bride of Christ and will become the Lamb's Wife.

Yes. How to endure hardship was one of the key points in the ministry of Jesus, not escaping it. The teaching about Christians in the great tribulation (Matthew 24) up to the second coming of Christ being the greatest example of enduring hardship and tribulation.

Matthew 10:22 "and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved."

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

John 16:33 "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

And is also an important theme at numerous times elsewhere on scripture. We are encouraged to be tough as nails and ready to endure. Not encouraged to be ready to be swept away at the first sign of trouble.

I don't know about that. Jesus spent a lot of time teaching his disciples how to endure hardship. Jesus decidedly spent very little, if any, time talking about not having to worry about hardships. Jesus prepares us for what to expect.

Hardships and tribulations aren't God's wrath, important to know. God's wrath is damnation which is what Christians are not destined for.

Yes Jesus spoke to the Jews and Israel to warn them about immediate persecution and the great trib to come .

Yes, you're right - and those verses you posted are good verses on the subject! I also think that when "the great falling away" happens - that may be caused by weaker Christians not being willing to endure hardship and persecution - as is described by Jesus in His explanation of the first 2 areas the seeds fell - in the Sower parable.

Yes, and I like your verse on that subject, too! Thanks!

Yes, I know that not all sincere Christians believe the same about the matter of the tribulation. That's not important. But it's important to be willing to endure hardships in this life, as Jesus said we'd have them. And without being willing to endure them - one would be guilty of turning away from God.

It is true that we live in a world that has trouble.

Matt. 5:45 Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike.

But we must remember that God wants only the fruits of the spirit for us

Gal. 5: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

When we are in Christ, these fruits sustain us through the troubles.

We are in a one world system . Took hold when mankind walked out of the garden of Eden. The glory departed. Satan is the god of its kingdoms .

Mathew 4: 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

The father gave Jesus the apostles words to rebuke Satan Three times he prophesied "as it is written " .According to that source of faith alone .

It is the father of lies goal that we wrestles against flesh and blood. Abel the martyr was the first murdered victims. Satan he is a murder as a serial killer from the beginning.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Christians are not to wrestle brother against brother , nation against nation, or denomination against denomination As if we did study to seek the approval of man seen . Rather than the approval of our God nor seen who works in us with us. as instructed in the loving commandment (2 Timothy 2:15

The wisdom of God is not of this world . The kingdoms of the god of this world will become the one kingdom of God on the last day under the Sun

True, this world is the kingdom of the devil. All unbelievers belong to that kingdom. But all true believers belong to God's heavenly kingdom. As you say, the Bible says our real enemy in this world is not people - but the evil forces, and we are to wrestle against then through prayer and through leading holy lives. As for the term, 'one-world system' I use that to describe the Anti-christ there will be in the very end times, and he'll persecute Christians throughout the world during his reign. Of course, the power behind the anti-christ is the devil. The anti-christ will yield to him - that's why.

Yes, you're right!

3¶Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6¶Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: This is simply encouragement towards those that are going through intense persecution and suffering . All is not in vain . God is not punishing them ,this is a comfort. How ?
3¶Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Peter was describing the tribulation period, which will be a testing time for Israel, to see whether they are worthy for their salvation to be revealed to them when Christ returns

God Meant It For Good!

The truth is that most times those who are esteemed of men are rejected by God, and those who are chosen by God are typically rejected by men. The patriarch Joseph was no exception to this truth, chosen and anointed of God, but ostracized and rejected by his brethren.

Joseph was seventeen years old and yet the Lord had his hands on his life. The scripture tells us that despite his age, he was a young man full of wisdom far beyond his years. Joseph was chosen by the Lord to receive the birthright, hence, his Father made him a coat of many colors. This caused great jealousy among his brothers, which lead to utter hatred for their brother, which ultimately lead them to plot Joseph's death. They threw him in a pit with no food or water, left him there, then sold him into slavery which was a life worse than death. He was then sold to Potiphar, falsely accused of attempted rape by Potiphar's wife, thrown into prison, and left there for a few years. BUT, through all of this, the scripture repeatedly says that God was with him.

As believers we must understand that the Lord has a plan for our lives, and despite the hardships and difficulties, we must realize that they are all either caused or allowed by the Lord. Although unseen to the natural eye, the hidden hand of God is orchestrating events in our lives and he's working everything out for our good! Despite all the negatives, Joseph ultimately became the second most powerful man in the world. From the pit to the palace, and that without one ounce of bitterness towards his brothers. And as well, he blessed his brothers and was the reason for their survival. So, this should be a lesson to us all. Be encouraged child of God, for what the devil meant for evil, God meant it for your good!

Genesis 50:20 But as for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Evangelist Torrance Nash
Evangelist Torrance Nash

I agree with you.

And when God does not remove the problem, He gives us the grace and strength to go through the challenge that we are facing.

We can read in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 about the experience that the Apostle Paul had, which says:

“For this thing, I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”( KJV)

We are not destined for the wrath of God.
Persecution under The Beast's reign is another matter. We are warned specifically in scripture to prepare to endure that time.