As a child I got persecuted at school. Not bullied. Persecuted for being a Christian. They made it clear that as long as I insulted Christ and denied him any honour they would stop harassing me. I had a dream in those days in which I saw Jesus. I was being persecuted on the school bus, as they tried to scare me into denying Christ, perhaps scaring me into blaspheming him, and suddenly Jesus was stood there in the aisle on the bus and they all stopped. I was close to Christ after completing my school years. I think maybe I never gave in to them no matter what they did to me. I always felt a strong bond with him throughout my life because of that. He keeps me from the severest trials ever since. It is like you suffer so much and stay faithful and after a point he knows you are really for him and he shields you from it getting like that too much again. You stand the test and get his honour. I think the pretrib dogma gets this wrong regarding Revelation chapter 3 verse 10. He says to those who have already suffered for his honour without denying him that in some cases it is enough and he will keep them from the worst that is to come. Not remove them. Keep them faithful through it so they see the flames but feel no pain or harm. Then when he comes, we can meet him without shame.
