But others were tortured, NOTaccepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection(Hebrews 11:35)
There were those who overcame (conquered) through faith,
(Hebrews 11:33), but there were also those
who were overcome (suffered) on account of faith (Hebrews 10:36-39)
The word "tortured" (Greek, "tympanizo"
= "beat on a tympanum (drum)"
The stretching out on a drum (wooden frame) and the
beating of a drum to muffle the cries of the sufferer
A reference to "Eleazar, one of the principal
scribes" during the time of Antiochus Epiphanes":
"A man already stricken in years, and of a noble
countenance, was compelled to open his mouth to eat swine's flesh which had been offered to a false god. But he,
welcoming death with renown rather than life with pollution, advanced of his own accord to the instrument of torture
(the tympanum), but first spat forth the flesh. When his friends had besought him to spare his life, he steadfastly
refused and went straightway to the instrument of torture." (II Maccabees 6:19-31) -
Apocrypha reference
John refers to this period of time as the winter "feast
of the dedication" (renewal)" (John 10:22) when Ezra's temple was cleansed after its defilement by Antiochus Epiphanes (I
Maccabees 4:52-59) - Apocrypha reference
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings(Hebrews 11:36)
Israel's history during the time of the prophets is epitomized
in these words: "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets,
until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy." (II Chronicles 36:16)
The Lord's parable of the vineyard (Matthew 21:33) describes those who "beat,
kill, and stone" His servants (Matthew 21:35)
The nation of Israel is the Lord's vineyard (Isaiah 5:7)
The prophet Jeremiah in his willingness to endure the
mockings (derision) of his people for the Lord's Word (Jeremiah 20:7-9) is a striking type of the
Messiah (Psalms 22:6-8)
The word "deceived" (Jeremiah 20:7) means to be persuaded in
a good way as in the Lord "enlarging" Japheth (Genesis 9:27)
This was indeed the case with Jeremiah as he confesses
in the same breath, "His Word was in my heart as a burning fire" (Jeremiah 20:9)
The prophet Micaiah is another example of suffering
as the lone faithful prophet in Israel amidst all the lying prophets (I Kings 22:23-25) and was fed the "bread
and water" of affliction by Israel's apostate king (I Kings 22:26-27)
Israel's scoffers will continue until the Lord's return
(II Peter 3:3-4; Jude 17-18), when He shall judge them for their "ungodly deeds" and "hard
speeches" (Jude 15)
Yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonments(Hebrews 11:36)
Israel's prophets suffered bonds and imprisonment at
the hands of Israel's kings for their faithfulness to the Lord's Word against them and the people
Ahab put Micaiah in prison and fed him with the "bread
and water" of affliction for the Lord's Word against the king (I Kings 22:26-28)
Asa, in a fit of rage, put Hannani in prison for the
Lord's Word against the king (II Chronicles 16:7-10)
Israel's princes during the reign of Zedekiah put Jeremiah
in a dungeon to sink in the mire for the Lord's Word against the people (Jeremiah 38:4-6)
It was an Ethiopian eunuch in the same king's house
who fetched Jeremiah out of the dungeon "before he die" (Jeremiah 38:7-10)
This same eunuch was spared Israel's fate for his trust
in the Lord (Jeremiah 39:15-18)
Israel's faithful remnant became separate from their
apostate brethren in time past
The Levites left Israel to serve the Lord in the land
of Judah during the idolatrous reign of Jeroboam (II Chronicles 11:14-16)
A remnant of the tribes of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulon
left Israel to participate in the revival under Hezekiah (II Chronicles 30:1-13)
Israel's faithful Tribulation remnant will suffer bonds
and imprisonment at the hands of the Devil (Revelation 2:10) AFTER he is cast down from heaven to the earth (Revelation 12:9,12 cf.I Peter 5:8)
The Devil will accomplish this in the person of the
"Son of Perdition" (John 6:70-71; John 17:12)