Beautitude number eight is the outcome of living up to the previous beautiudes. If you live for Christ with a Christ-like character, you will be persecuted. Christians who willingly accept persecution, are blessed and happy because they understand that loving God more than self is to take on the resemblence of Christ, even in persecution. Matthew 5:1-12, 2 Timothy 3:12, Acts 5:41, Romans 5:1-5, 1 Peter 1:6-7, 1 Peter 4:13-16, Isaiah 58:6-8, Hosea 6:6