FACING DEATH – or the threat of it
By W. G. Guy (published in the Logos Letter July 1996)
Revelation 6:9-11 – And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Could this happen to you and your family? What a shocking question! We just don’t think in those terms; but, perhaps we should. At least consider what the Bible tells us about the threat of death that will be prevalent in the last days so that we can make any necessary attitude adjustments.
Matthew 6:21-22, 28 – And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. ….And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
2 Timothy 3:12 – Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Revelation 12:11 – And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Revelation 13:7 – And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
(Note: Revelation 13:7 is the last time “saints” are referred to as being on the earth prior to Armageddon. All subsequent references to the “saints” are about them in heaven or about the blood they shed throughout history for their faith.)
The Bible tells us that in the last days MANY SAINTS will be killed! We will be the object of war – both physical and spiritual. Many have already been killed for their faith throughout history; however, more are being killed today than ever before. Reports from around the world show us that over 160,000 Christians have been killed in the past year (1995) because of their faith; just being a Christian. These killings have occurred in other countries, particularly in Muslim nations, but the media is not reporting this persecution against Christians.
In America, we have enjoyed the right of religious freedom; that is, up until now. I have been warning for the past several years that major change is coming in our nation. It is now obvious that changes are occurring in our Constitutional rights and freedoms as the evil forces of leftist/progressives are trying to destroy them.
There is coming a time of drastic changes in our society where Christians are labeled the enemy of society because of our belief in the Holy Bible of what standards are recorded that we should live by. Thus what is prophesied in the Bible is coming true for you and me. If you haven’t yet noticed, our society has been gradually changing since the early 1960’s to such a state that this is what will be experienced before long. Our government and society has less and less tolerance or acceptance of Christian values and virtues; and we are on a collision course for conflict with new laws being made that oppose God’s Word, morality and righteousness.
Consider what has happened to the saints that protest abortions; or those pastors who have established Christian schools who refuse to accommodate the decadent federal and state educational programs and controls. We need to be prepared for severe opposition and persecution by being fully grounded in the Word of God, strong in our faith in the Lord, having the right motive for our actions, and the proper attitude in the face of such conflict. Scripture gives us Stephen as an example to this end:
Acts 7:54-60 – When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
If you were facing a situation in which you and your family would only be allowed to live if you were re-programed to deny your Christian beliefs and embrace the new government rule, (likely of the New World Order), what would you do? Would you deny your faith to save your physical life?
Matthew 10:32-34 – Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
(Note: Jesus told us that our belief in Him would bring conflict [sword], both physical and spiritual.)
But just how would you deal with such a circumstance; (which we are all likely to experience before the return of Christ). Scripture gives us an example of those who faced such a challenge. It is in the story of the three Hebrews and the fiery furnace when they refuse to bow down and worship the image (idol) that King Nebuchadnezzaar, (or the government), set up.
Daniel 3:14-15 – Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? …but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
These three were dedicated and committed to God, and they were bold in their stand and testimony.
Daniel 3:16-18 – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
They know that God is able to deliver them out of that dilemma; however, they are not sure it is His will to do so. Nevertheless, they declare their trust and allegiance to Almighty God. Their testimony and faith before a large audience and a powerful king gave God an opportunity to reveal Himself. A great miracle happened as a result of their stand. After that miracle even the king declared:
Daniel 3:28-29 – Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
If these three Hebrews could take such a stand based on their belief in and the terms of their Old Testament Covenant, should we not more so stand since we have a far better New Testament Covenant in Jesus Christ!
Hebrews 8:6 – But now hath he (Christ) obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he (Christ) is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Consider just exactly what it means when the opposition threatens you with death. Sounds terrible initially; but, they actually are threatening you with seeing, meeting and going to be with Jesus! That is not really a threat; that is the ultimate blessing and reward!
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 - Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (for we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
How can they intimidate you with heaven? It’s all in how you look at it; it’s your attitude and perception; it’s your view of eternity. It’s knowing that they really can’t kill you because from the time you accepted Jesus as Savior, you were made alive eternally and will never “feel” the pain of physical death because it is an immediate translation from the physical to the eternal/spiritual realm of heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 – So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
They threaten you with death; but you perceive it as heaven. Their plan to terrorize you fails. They, and others, wonder at your peace and composure, (like Stephen). Why and how can this be like that? You then give God another opportunity to reveal Himself as He did for the three Hebrews. Then watch the revival begin as the power of God is seen.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 – And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
However, suppose it is not God’s plan to deliver you as He did the three Hebrews? Will you still stand as did Stephen and be a mighty witness and testimony at the end? There is a special eternal reward, or crown of glory, for those who do.
Knowing the degradation of man, the enemy may see that he can’t get to you with the threat of death so he may threaten to kill your children in front of you. Did you prepare them for such a time? As horrible as this thought seems to be initially, it too, can be seen as a blessing. “My kids get to see and be with Jesus before I do; isn’t that wonderful!”
Suppose they decide that torture instead of death will be how they will get to you; will you still stand strong in faith; in your testimony, and in His Word? After all, consider what Jesus endured for you. Scripture says you will not be tested beyond what you can endure; He will see to that.
1 Corinthians 10:13 – There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
As you can see, it is your perspective, your view and your attitude of this life that is challenged. If you view life as just this physical and material existence, then it is precious to you and death is a real threat. However, if you have the eternal view of life, as all Christians should have, then death is of no consequence and holds no real threat to your existence; it merely marks a graduation to a better life. Thus the threat of death is not a terror.
Psalm 116:15 – Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
To true Christians, there is no death, just a putting off of this corruptible fleshly body with all of its problems, weaknesses and vulnerability. Death does end your physical and personal relationship; however, if your family and friends are true saints of God, those relationships are only briefly interrupted and will resume later in far greater glory.
I’m writing all this to accomplish two things: 1) to prepare you for what Jesus said was coming upon the earth before His return for us; and 2) to encourage you to stand strong in your Christian testimony and never let your faith and belief diminish or be hid; even if they threaten you with death, (with being with Jesus and your departed family in Christ).
By W. G. Guy (published in the Logos Letter July 1996)
Revelation 6:9-11 – And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Could this happen to you and your family? What a shocking question! We just don’t think in those terms; but, perhaps we should. At least consider what the Bible tells us about the threat of death that will be prevalent in the last days so that we can make any necessary attitude adjustments.
Matthew 6:21-22, 28 – And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. ….And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
2 Timothy 3:12 – Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Revelation 12:11 – And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Revelation 13:7 – And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
(Note: Revelation 13:7 is the last time “saints” are referred to as being on the earth prior to Armageddon. All subsequent references to the “saints” are about them in heaven or about the blood they shed throughout history for their faith.)
The Bible tells us that in the last days MANY SAINTS will be killed! We will be the object of war – both physical and spiritual. Many have already been killed for their faith throughout history; however, more are being killed today than ever before. Reports from around the world show us that over 160,000 Christians have been killed in the past year (1995) because of their faith; just being a Christian. These killings have occurred in other countries, particularly in Muslim nations, but the media is not reporting this persecution against Christians.
In America, we have enjoyed the right of religious freedom; that is, up until now. I have been warning for the past several years that major change is coming in our nation. It is now obvious that changes are occurring in our Constitutional rights and freedoms as the evil forces of leftist/progressives are trying to destroy them.
There is coming a time of drastic changes in our society where Christians are labeled the enemy of society because of our belief in the Holy Bible of what standards are recorded that we should live by. Thus what is prophesied in the Bible is coming true for you and me. If you haven’t yet noticed, our society has been gradually changing since the early 1960’s to such a state that this is what will be experienced before long. Our government and society has less and less tolerance or acceptance of Christian values and virtues; and we are on a collision course for conflict with new laws being made that oppose God’s Word, morality and righteousness.
Consider what has happened to the saints that protest abortions; or those pastors who have established Christian schools who refuse to accommodate the decadent federal and state educational programs and controls. We need to be prepared for severe opposition and persecution by being fully grounded in the Word of God, strong in our faith in the Lord, having the right motive for our actions, and the proper attitude in the face of such conflict. Scripture gives us Stephen as an example to this end:
Acts 7:54-60 – When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
If you were facing a situation in which you and your family would only be allowed to live if you were re-programed to deny your Christian beliefs and embrace the new government rule, (likely of the New World Order), what would you do? Would you deny your faith to save your physical life?
Matthew 10:32-34 – Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
(Note: Jesus told us that our belief in Him would bring conflict [sword], both physical and spiritual.)
But just how would you deal with such a circumstance; (which we are all likely to experience before the return of Christ). Scripture gives us an example of those who faced such a challenge. It is in the story of the three Hebrews and the fiery furnace when they refuse to bow down and worship the image (idol) that King Nebuchadnezzaar, (or the government), set up.
Daniel 3:14-15 – Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? …but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
These three were dedicated and committed to God, and they were bold in their stand and testimony.
Daniel 3:16-18 – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
They know that God is able to deliver them out of that dilemma; however, they are not sure it is His will to do so. Nevertheless, they declare their trust and allegiance to Almighty God. Their testimony and faith before a large audience and a powerful king gave God an opportunity to reveal Himself. A great miracle happened as a result of their stand. After that miracle even the king declared:
Daniel 3:28-29 – Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
If these three Hebrews could take such a stand based on their belief in and the terms of their Old Testament Covenant, should we not more so stand since we have a far better New Testament Covenant in Jesus Christ!
Hebrews 8:6 – But now hath he (Christ) obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he (Christ) is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Consider just exactly what it means when the opposition threatens you with death. Sounds terrible initially; but, they actually are threatening you with seeing, meeting and going to be with Jesus! That is not really a threat; that is the ultimate blessing and reward!
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 - Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (for we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
How can they intimidate you with heaven? It’s all in how you look at it; it’s your attitude and perception; it’s your view of eternity. It’s knowing that they really can’t kill you because from the time you accepted Jesus as Savior, you were made alive eternally and will never “feel” the pain of physical death because it is an immediate translation from the physical to the eternal/spiritual realm of heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 – So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
They threaten you with death; but you perceive it as heaven. Their plan to terrorize you fails. They, and others, wonder at your peace and composure, (like Stephen). Why and how can this be like that? You then give God another opportunity to reveal Himself as He did for the three Hebrews. Then watch the revival begin as the power of God is seen.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 – And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
However, suppose it is not God’s plan to deliver you as He did the three Hebrews? Will you still stand as did Stephen and be a mighty witness and testimony at the end? There is a special eternal reward, or crown of glory, for those who do.
Knowing the degradation of man, the enemy may see that he can’t get to you with the threat of death so he may threaten to kill your children in front of you. Did you prepare them for such a time? As horrible as this thought seems to be initially, it too, can be seen as a blessing. “My kids get to see and be with Jesus before I do; isn’t that wonderful!”
Suppose they decide that torture instead of death will be how they will get to you; will you still stand strong in faith; in your testimony, and in His Word? After all, consider what Jesus endured for you. Scripture says you will not be tested beyond what you can endure; He will see to that.
1 Corinthians 10:13 – There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
As you can see, it is your perspective, your view and your attitude of this life that is challenged. If you view life as just this physical and material existence, then it is precious to you and death is a real threat. However, if you have the eternal view of life, as all Christians should have, then death is of no consequence and holds no real threat to your existence; it merely marks a graduation to a better life. Thus the threat of death is not a terror.
Psalm 116:15 – Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
To true Christians, there is no death, just a putting off of this corruptible fleshly body with all of its problems, weaknesses and vulnerability. Death does end your physical and personal relationship; however, if your family and friends are true saints of God, those relationships are only briefly interrupted and will resume later in far greater glory.
I’m writing all this to accomplish two things: 1) to prepare you for what Jesus said was coming upon the earth before His return for us; and 2) to encourage you to stand strong in your Christian testimony and never let your faith and belief diminish or be hid; even if they threaten you with death, (with being with Jesus and your departed family in Christ).
