Get runtime Permissions in FirebaseInstanceIDService

Question

My program works fine with android < 6.0. The only problem is that newer android versions require runtime permissions in order to access READ_PHONE_STATE. I am trying to register firebase token and phone's IMEI in database. but when I try to request permission READ_PHONE_STATE it gives me error(see below). Is there a way to request permissions in FirebaseInstanceIDService runtime. or what can I do to get around this problem. Thank you.

public class FirebaseInstanceIDService extends FirebaseInstanceIdService {
private static final String TAG = "********";
private static final int MY_PERMISSIONS_REQUEST_READ_PHONE_STATE = 0;
int permissionCheck = ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this, android.Manifest.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE);
Context context = getApplicationContext();
Activity activity = (Activity) context;

//receives token from firebase
public void onTokenRefresh() {
        String token = FirebaseInstanceId.getInstance().getToken();
        Log.d(TAG, token);
    if (permissionCheck != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
        ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(activity, new String[]{android.Manifest.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE}, MY_PERMISSIONS_REQUEST_READ_PHONE_STATE);
        //requestPermissions();
    } else {
        TelephonyManager telephonyManager = (TelephonyManager) getSystemService(Context.TELEPHONY_SERVICE);
        String IMEI = telephonyManager.getDeviceId();
        registerToken(token, IMEI, brand, phone);
    }
}

Logcat

java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to instantiate service com.example.xxxxxx.xxxxxx.
 FirebaseInstanceIDService: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 
'int android.content.Context.checkPermission(java.lang.String, int, int)' on a null object reference
                                                                             at android.app.ActivityThread.handleCreateService(ActivityThread.java:3147)
                                                                             at android.app.ActivityThread.-wrap5(ActivityThread.java)
                                                                             at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1550)
                                                                             at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102)
                                                                             at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:154)
                                                                             at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:6077)
                                                                             at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
                                                                             at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:865)
                                                                             at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:755)
                                                                          Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'int android.content.Context.checkPermission(java.lang.String, int, int)' on a null object reference
                                                                             at android.content.ContextWrapper.checkPermission(ContextWrapper.java:669)
                                                                             at android.support.v4.content.ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(ContextCompat.java:425)
                                                                             at com.example.tiger.mob_tracker.FirebaseInstanceIDService.<init>(FirebaseInstanceIDService.java:33)
                                                                             at java.lang.Class.newInstance(Native Method)
                                                                             at android.app.ActivityThread.handleCreateService(ActivityThread.java:3144)
                                                                             at android.app.ActivityThread.-wrap5(ActivityThread.java) 
                                                                             at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1550) 
                                                                             at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:102) 
                                                                             at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:154) 
                                                                             at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:6077)