Originally Posted by
Colonel
On CARM, I discussed Paul's tribulations a lot. I came to the conclusion that they involved what came about as a direct result of his being persecuted by men (who were sometimes in turn motioned by an angel of Satan) specifically for standing up for the name of Jesus. They did not involve anything else. Anything else than that we have release from in the atonement. Including becoming sick because we are preaching in an area where there is malaria etc. God will stop that, according to our faith. I have experienced this myself. He will not necessarily stop men who seek to persecute us for the sake of the name of Jesus. He might but there is no promise to that effect. To the contrary, the reaction of the persecutor becomes part of the contention for and against the gospel, the division between light and darkness. However much faith we have, we will not escape that fully.