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Suffering, Martyrdom, and Rewards in Heaven

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Joseph Ton's book, Suffering, Martyrdom, and Rewards in Heaven, is a rare jewel. This book is nearly 500 pages, and is not light reading, or a devotional. In this book, Mr. Ton presents the an in-depth study of the biblical and historical doctrines of suffering for Christ. He begins in the Old Testament and comes forward to the modern era. He recognizes this subject is rarely taught. While many authors like to present the promises of God, Mr. Ton clearly points out that many of those promises are presented in the context of a persecuted church. This book is so rich, I had to frequently stop after several pages to digest what was being taught.

This book is different from other books on suffering. Most dwell on the suffering and types of persecution used against faithful Christians. Mr. Ton focuses upon the eternal results, rather than the temporal challenges. For those interested in this subject, or in preparing for the trials to come, this book is a must read.

As one whose profession is that of working with those suffering religious persecution, I have looked in vain for a book that dealt with the issue of persecution from a strictly biblical perspective. It was quite by accident (or was it providence) that I came across this incredibly valuable book. While I differ with Ton on certain doctrinal perspectives (e.g. predestination and election), the significance of this research cannot be underestimated. It is the ONLY Protestant theology of persecution that I am aware of. And it is well-done at that.

I don't think I can overstate the impact this book had on my own view of Christianity and ministry. Josef Ton has presented a study of Scripture, theology and Christian ethics that has been lacking in my experience of studies. It is truly profound and shed so much light on my own experience of being in ministry.

In his book, Ton summarizes this thesis: "A Christian's zeal for good works and his aim to prove himself worthy of God and of his calling have a great impact upon the nature of his eternal state. The practices of self-denial, of serving God and other peole, of striving for perfection and holiness, of persevering and enduring hardship for the cause of Christ all matter with respect to what a Christian's position in heaven will be."

He continues, "One of the purposes of this dissertation is to logically and organically integrate into our Protestant thinking a theology of good works on earth and of rewards in heaven without losing our distinctive belief in the grace of God that is at work in all things, at every stage in our lives, from start to finish."

Ton thoroughly examines Scripture and early Church writings regarding the life of a disciples that includes suffering and often martyrdom and leads to rewards in heaven. Throughout the book, he does well to hold the seemingly paradoxical views of God's sovereignty and man's responsibility to act and respond. Ton presents them both without diminishing God sovereign assertiveness and grace or man's call to submit and act in God's grace with faith and commitment.

Ton sees two "planes of action" at work, that of the saving and enabling grace of God and that of man's actions--both equally true and important. He emphatically exalts the grace of God as always at work and always saving and enabling so that man cannot boast in his salvation or good works except in the grace of the cross. He also presents to call of God to man to follow the master in suffering and bearing witness for the kingdom of God that the world might know the salvation of Christ.

Ton asserts that by God's grace we can go through suffering and even death by his strength, and he asserts that for those who are faithful, even unto death, there are rewards in heaven correlational to a Christian's faithfulness and good works on earth. The rewards in heaven include ruling and reigning with Christ for eternity.

This book was especially helpful for me to see that being a disciple and minister of Christ does necessarily entail suffering and persecution for his sake. Ton believes that Christ died for sins once and for all for the salvation of the world, and Christians are called to suffer for Christ that the world might learn of that salvation as Christians bear witness to it by laying down their lives for Jesus.

This book is instructive and encouraging. I know many would balk at any talk of rewards in heaven or even doing good works for Christ; however, what Ton asserts he proves its congruence with Scripture and the writing of the Church Fathers.

I heartily recommend this book for all Christians.

Only one who has endured torture and suffering whether physical, psychological or both, could have written such a book. Ton reviews suffering for God first in Scripture and then by the church fathers. Sober reading.