MARTYRDOM

I am not frightened nor is anyone I know who believes in a mid-trib or post-trib rapture.

I am excited… we are excited. We have full faith in God that He will be with us and in us through whatever happens:
• He will fully protect us from tribulation when He finds that to be useful to the cause.
• If we suffer hunger, thirst or deprivation, He will be with us… strengthening us and empowering us.
• If we are to die, He will be with us and we will die with utter and unshakable peace in our hearts and minds… and we will go on to great glory with him.
• There is a special place in Heaven for those who lose their heads for the Gospel.

When God called Paul, He said:

“I WILL SHOW HIM HOW MUCH HE MUST SUFFER FOR MY NAME!” (Acts 9:16)

Paul would write:

“But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith. My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings,
BEING CONFORMED TO HIS DEATH,
assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.” (Philippians 3:7-11)

God is not so small or so limited that He must Rapture us in order to protect us. He is big enough to go with us. There is no fear in Love for Love casts out all fear. The Love of Christ constrains us and casts out all fear. God loves me. I love God. There is no fear.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

The salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of His Messiah
have now come,
because the accuser of our brothers
has been thrown out:
the one who accuses them
before our God day and night.
They conquered him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony,

>>FOR THEY DID NOT LOVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE FACE OF DEATH.<<
(Revelation 12:10,11)

THE GREEK WORD FOR Witness/Testify IS MARTYR. “This high commitment to witness/testify exemplified by Christ resulted in His persecution and death. Likewise, with His followers there would be persecution for their witness (John 15:20 ). Thus, early in the Book of Acts (Acts 7:1 ), Stephen became the first martyr. That very word comes from martureo and really states that Stephen was first and foremost a witness, giving testimony. Ironically, the witness was put to death by witnesses to his testimony ( Acts 7:58 ).

The death of Stephen serves as a stark reminder that true and faithful testimony to Christ requires total commitment, even one’s life.”

David…

Author: davidrice1951

I am a vile sinner. I have been a soldier and a sailor. I have been a student and a teacher. I taught English in Mexico. I started and taught in a Bible College in Venezuela. I am married to Cathy, a beautiful lady from Guyana. We have two children, Christopher and Amanda. I am saved by Grace, washed in the Blood and filled with the Spirit. I love Jesus, my wife, my kids and you... View all posts by davidrice1951