SLAIN FOR THEIR FAITH

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matt.25:40

     Every five minutes a Christian dies at the hands of men. This hatred of Christ has a long and brutal history. The work of GOD for the salvation of His children has been the special target of Satan from the beginning. First with Adam and Eve; then Abraham and his children. Followed by the supreme target, “the Son of God.” Then there came the long brutal history of Rome against the apostolic church. And now in our day atheists and Islam now focus their attention to remove the godly among men. So be it! This is the warfare that is waged on the Earth, and it will continue to the close of time in this sinful world.

     The Apostle Paul, in the book of Hebrews, reviewed the experience of the saints through the ages and how their faith was steadfast in the love of GOD and His salvation. They “were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” Heb.11:35-40.

     Man's unethical and illogical course to self-destruction was inevitable from the moment sin took dominion of the Earth. But we do not have to perish with this present world. The Creator has made a way of escape! And just how this is accomplished deserves to be explored logically, ethically, and Biblically.

     One day the LORD will come. But He will come in a manner the world does not expect. And this includes the church, as Peter said, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” II Pet.3:10. “And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Rev.6:14-17. This is the reality of the 2nd Advent! There is no peaceful transition to the coming of the LORD.

     Until Christ’s return becomes a reality at “the end of the age” every believer is called to exercise prayerful service toward GOD & our fellow man. With GOD'S Presence in our lives, inspiring wise decisions for both our personal growth & ability to bless others our best legacy can be achieved. To discover that man's desire for perfect justice and GOD'S virtuous judgment is in perfect agreement is a precious thought. Everything we desire but have been denied in this world is included in the prophetic promises of Jesus Christ. He has given His assurance that every hope for utopian life will be fulfilled in the “new earth.” And He has provided sufficient evidence: through nature, common sense, our universal desire for justice, mercy & love, and the Book we employ in our investigation: the beloved King James Version of the Holy Bible.