In this daily Bible reading the Apostle John sees a ‘sea of glass’ in Heaven. On the glass stood a myriad of people: “Those who had come off victorious from the beast and from his image and from the number of his name standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.” They were praising God who had brought them to Heaven.
The Bible says, during the Great Tribulation, many who believe in Jesus will be killed. Christianity will be outlawed. Christians will be arrested and killed unless they deny their Christianity.
I believe these times will be similar to the environment in Rome in 70 A.D. During this period, Nero was Emperor of Rome, and he outlawed Christianity, making Christianity punishable by death. Many Christians were killed by fire and by lions in the Roman Coliseum. I believe ‘the beast’ of the end times will create a similar spectacle to influence others to turn from Christianity and worship him.
I think that some will deny their Christianity and obey ‘the beast.’ However, the Bible indicates that many will accept death rather than recant and deny Jesus Christ. These people will die physically, but they will survive spiritually and be allowed into Heaven.
