Dad and I were just talking early this morning about what the “martyrs go through” and what it would be like to see our own family (21 of us) threatened with beheadings unless we deny Jesus Christ and God’s Word. I know you don’t want to think about it, but…
What if our family should be dragged before hellish tormentors, like our Christian brothers and sisters in other parts of the world have and will be? What if these God-haters wanted Dad and me, the head of our household, to watch what they do to our grandchildren and then to our children because we will not shrink back, fall away or deny our Savior and King? We know how evil thinks and they would use our grandchildren to get to our children and then to us. This is the purpose of all anti-Christs against the disciples of Jesus Christ: to make us surrender and deny the Lord who bought us with His own precious blood; to make us lose our footing on the Word of God and fall from our HIGH PLACE of our Lord’s truth and love.
I told Dad that I would want to go last after my grandchildren and children so that I could pray them through their martyrdom, calling on my Father to secure His perfect peace in them, VIVIDLY showing them their Savior waiting with open arms, drawing them to Himself with Heaven’s Glory all about Him; that this is all they would feel and see; Father giving them each an outer body reality of the life that lasts forever. You know, like God did for His martyr “Stephen” at his execution by the enemies of the Cross. I wouldn’t want to die first, but last, fighting my own emotions of watching my beloved grandchildren and children beheaded (if it comes to that) while I stand strong as their prayer guard over their spirit and souls – calling out to them all the promises of Christ about His Kingdom that are secure in me, until I be silenced with my tongue cut out.
God’s Word is to be hidden in us. Don’t think that you will be able to hold the open Bible in your hands while you proclaim God’s love and promises to anyone in a time like this, should it happen to you or me. Only what you have hidden IN YOU of God’s Word will you have as your comfort and encouragement and that will be your way to comfort and encourage others.
Do you think I’m crazy for talking like this? Why would we think this could never happen? Who is it that wants you NOT to think about it, or be prepared for it as the Lord told us to be prepared for it? And, when it DOES happen, even in good ole’ America – why would fathers NOT be preparing for it; preparing their families with what God says will happen. (As described in the Gospels and the book of Revelation.) Why do most Christians refuse to study or even read the book of Revelation when God tells us that we will be blessed if we do? How will this bless us? We will be blessed by being prepared as we should, knowing what is to come; being heads not tails like Dad always says! They can cut off our heads, but we are still crowned in GLORY for remaining faithful – to the end.
We really don’t know when the rapture will take place; the greatest theologians still disagree, and I believe that is of the Lord so that we are not living with any false hope and expectations. We need to hear what the Spirit is saying and then follow His lead and instructions! God prepares for His children by means of His Word and Spirit.
May you each, along with each of your own children (our precious grandchildren) grow up and mature in the Word of God being filled with His Spirit – unto Christ’s acts of righteousness that so perfectly clothe His coming Bride, being prepared for great persecution as we journey on with plenty of oil for our lamps (the Spirit for God’s Word) through the dark night.
I pray over you all for the faith, hope and love of Christ!
Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
“Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth fastened around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Is God’s Word in you so that the Spirit can?)
“Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.”