This is a common and critical biblical theme that millions of Christians have lived out over the last 2000 years, tens of thousands dying as martyrs for Jesus. The Age of Martyrs is back! Let's be ready to stay faithful to Jesus and not shrink back from Him when challenged by pain or even death. Here is a letter by famous evangelist Corrie Ten Boom that relates to this message. It is quite powerful: http://endtimepilgrim.org/corrie.htm Here is another on the history of the modern doctrine of the Pre-Trib Rapture which did not appear in Christian theology until the 1830's. For 1800 years, Church theologians consistently taught that Christians would go through the Tribulation. I agree! http://www.askelm.com/essentials/ess025.htm

1. Be Ready to Suffer and Die for Jesus
England has published several books that have shaken the Christian world
for centuries
The King James Bible in 1611 is the bestselling English book of all time.
One professor tells his students that the publication of the King James
Bible was the most important event in the history of English and
American literature.
Pilgrims Progress John Bunyan in 1678. It is regarded as one of the most
significant works of religious English literature and has been translated into
more than 200 languages, and has never been out of print.
This book still shakes the Christian world in a negative way: On the
Origin of Species, published in 1859 by Charles Darwin is considered to
be the foundation of evolutionary biology—which is the leading scientific
philosophical foundation of atheism worldwide.
But in In 1563, England published another book that has shaken the
Christian world for centuries in a very godly way. It is now called Fox’s
Book of Martyrs. It was huge in size and in its impact upon England.
Their product was a single volume book, a bit over a foot long, two
palms-span wide, too deep to lift with only one hand, and weighed
about the same as a small infant
You can get a Kindle copy for $1 on Amazon and it makes for fascinating
reading if you have never read of the 2000 years of persecution and
murders of Christians by governments and by Christian leaders.
For instance, in England, hundreds of English citizens were hanged or
beheaded for things as simple as just possessing a Bible in the English
language instead of the Catholic Latin translation which few could
read. The translator of one such Bible, John Wycliffe, was burned at the
stake by Catholic bishops of that era.

2. Be Ready to Suffer and Die for Jesus
Or, if you were a Quaker in 17th century England or America, you
could be whipped and imprisoned just because you would not take and
oath in court or pray your tithes to the Church of England.
I encourage you to read the stories of Christians who were willing to suffer
and even die in order to say true to Jesus. We need to be challenged and
inspired by them so we can be willing to do the same for Jesus if God
allows that to happen to us. I grew up reading such stories from Catholic
sources. People like St. Stephen, who was being roasted on a grill and
reportedly said to his captors, “Turn me in the other side now. I think I am
done on this side.”
as a young boy, I determined to act like that if tortured for my faith. I
believe every Christian must be willing to suffer for Jesus—even if he
never has to.
The Age of Martyrs is Back for Christians
The early Christian period before the Roman Emperor Constantine I was
called the "Age of Martyrs” so many Christians were killed just for being a
follower of Jesus.
Time Magazine: 2100 Christian killed in Syria in 2013.
Hundreds of Christians have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan just since
we invaded both countries. Betsy’s friends were murdered in their home by
Muslims just a few weeks ago—not far from where she works in Kabul.
The devil has a revival going on—and so does God
~~Bob Fox
One does not have to be a prophet to believe that martyrdom is
coming to the western nations again. A clash between Islam and all
non-Muslims, even in America, is coming closer each year—as it is now
happening in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Nigeria and in multiple other places

3. Be Ready to Suffer and Die for Jesus
at this very moment. But remember—Our God is still King of the
Universe. He is still in charge and He knows how to take care of His kids
—even when they are being persecuted. Fear not—what the enemy means
for evil, God means for good ( Gen. 50:20)
Secondly, America’s media and government leaders are turning
America’s culture against Christianity.
For example: In October of 2013, The Secretary of the Army ordered
military leaders to halt all briefings on extremist organizations that labeled
Evangelical Christian groups as domestic hate groups. (Fox News Oct
24) Wow! If the Secretary of the Army has to officially step in to correct
that, think how widespread that error was—even though thousands of
loyal Army personnel are Evangelical Christians!
To stand for traditional marriage, protection of unborn children, the
sinfulness of homosexual acts, intelligent design as the source of creation
in science classes, etc. is to invoke the distain and mockery by our
culture, media and even by our government now.
Definition
The dictionary defines a martyr as “a person who is killed because of his
religious or other beliefs.”
Interestingly enough, the English word martyr is really a word transliterated
from the original Greek marturios, which simply means “witness.”
Witness: Someone who testifies to the truth of what they have seen
or know.
All Christians are called to be witnesses to the reality of Jesus as Savior
and His Gospel—as in Acts 1:8—“…you shall be My witnesses in
Jerusalem, Judea and even to the ends of the earth.”

4. Be Ready to Suffer and Die for Jesus
Bible calls all Christians to be prepared to give a defense of the hope
within us (1 Peter 3:15)
The reason why this word became synonymous with dying for one’s
religious beliefs is that the early Christian witnesses were often
persecuted and/or killed for their witness.
In fact, ever since Deacon Stephen was stoned to death outside Jerusalem
(Acts 7), millions of Christians around the world have suffered and died
for the sake of Christ.
Christians of every age can expect some suffering for following Jesus
Jesus prophesied that His followers would be treated as He was.
"If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. (John 15:18).
The world hated the 12 Apostles so much that 11 of the 12 died as
martyrs.
“In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have
overcome the world.” (Matt. 16:33)
In the end times in which we now live, Jesus warned us: "You will be
hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end,
he will be saved.
Paul’s disciple, Pastor Timothy writes in the Bible: “everyone who wants to
live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12).
Blessings of Persecution and Martyrdom
The apostle Peter, who wrote the most about martyrdom and suffering for
one’s faith, said, “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you
are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you... However, if

5. Be Ready to Suffer and Die for Jesus
you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you
bear that name” (1 Peter 4:14, 16).
Jesus agrees: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and
falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:11).
1Peter 4:12-13: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among
you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange
thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the
sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of
His glory you may rejoice with exultation.…
Rom. 8:18: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth
comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
2 Cor. 4:17: “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an
eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.”
Rev. 12:11: “They triumphed over him (Devil) by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.”
Story of Russian Christians transported by the Holy Spirit. Richard
Wurmbrand dancing with Jesus in solitary confinement
Corrie Ten Boom Story of why the Pre-Trib Rapture doctrine is not
correct and dangerous to teach believers.
So, be ready to suffer for Jesus! We must endure to the end to be
saved. Jesus said that a couple of times, one in Matt. 10:22: “You will be
hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end
will be saved.”

6. Be Ready to Suffer and Die for Jesus
This is really critical to know: God is very merciful but it seems from
scriptures like this one that if you can renounce Jesus to save yourself
from suffering, you cannot expect to get to heaven.
Jesus clearly warned us: “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will
also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me
before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven” (Matthew
10:32–33).
How To Prepare Ourselves to Suffer for God in Any Form
1. Be continually filled with the Holy Spirit—no matter what you
have to do or look like to stay filled. Seek to experience His Presence,
His power and truth every day. Take advantage of meetings where the
Holy Spirit is allowed to move on the people in any way He wishes.
1. A friend just lost his position as pastor at a church he served for 23
years because he was associated with charismatics. He is even more
committed to being filled with the Spirit.
2. God is allowing people to experience Him so easily today. The
internet is filled with free worship videos from Bethel and other
great ministries. Entire conferences that highlight the works of the
Spirit are free online.
2. Know the Bible well. God’s word will strengthen and guide you in hard
times. Memorize key scriptures that speak to weaknesses you have so you
will not give into them when you are tested by difficult times.
3. Deepen your friendships with some believers so you can rely on each
other in tough times. Have a list ready to call for prayer when you are being
tested by depression, anger, lust, fear, persecution or sickness. Agree to
watch over each other.

7. Be Ready to Suffer and Die for Jesus
4. Toughen up! Practice doing something hard each day for the Lord that
He shows you to do. Fast. Get up really early sometimes to pray. Turn off
the TV and computer and give God that time for whatever He wants. Keep
your body in shape so you can follow the Lord even when it gets physically
difficult. Paul the Apostle said it: “I discipline my body like an athlete,
training it to do what it should.” (1 Cor. 9:27)
5. Read about Christian martyrs. Their examples will help us all to
follow in their footsteps and in the footsteps of our Suffering Savior,
should God allow to suffer for Him.
Closing
Daniel 11:32: “…but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and
do exploits.”