Ready to Die for the Word?

I love it when reading scripture casts new light on old truths.  I was raised in a Calvary Chapel in the '80's, a time when the rapture of the church and the coming of Jesus Christ was often discussed.  As I child I would hears adults say things like, "God knows everyone that will be saved.  When the gospel is shared with the last person and they make a decision for Christ, it will swing into motion the end time events we read about in scripture.  Won't that be amazing?"  It was an interesting thought, but one I didn't ponder much.  This viewpoint may encourage some people to spread the gospel.  Throughout my life, however, this has never been my personal impetus for sharing Christ with those who are lost.

The fact is, Jesus will someday return to set up His kingdom on earth.  I believe we are living in the last days, and the catching up of the church is not far off.  But the other day I read something in Revelation that floored me, a twist on that old suggestion about "the last person being saved" I have heard many times.  Revelation 6:9-11 reads, "When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. ¹⁰ And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" ¹¹ Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed."  The number that needs to be completed is not those who are born again, but rather those who are martyred for the sake of Jesus Christ and the gospel!  What a game changer this is!

In all my life, I have never once heard someone say:  “As soon as that last Christian is martyred for their faith and testimony, then the church will be caught up or Jesus will return.”  Wouldn't it be far more profitable, instead of asking questions about the "last one being saved," we asked if we are those willing to die for Christ today?  Isn't it a fitting question?  As Christians, are we willing to die for our Saviour?  Unless we are ready to die for Him, it is likely we will never live for Him as we should.  Many people have died for their faith in Jesus Christ.  Countless Christians have suffered ruthless torments and embraced death, rejoicing they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ's name sake, even as He suffered for them.  All of these martyrs died in faith, and their full tale has been added before the throne of God.  It appears more are appointed to be "slain for the Word of God and their testimony" before God will send His judgments upon the earth.  It is not the lack of converts which stays Christ's hand, but martyrs.

The question that came to my mind when I read this Revelation passage was, "Am I ready to die?  Am I willing?"  As Christians we are not called to wait around hoping that someone will kill us, God forbid!  Instead we are to die to self, dying daily in obedience to God as faithful disciples of Christ.  If we count our lives as precious to ourselves we will lose them, yet if we lose our lives for Christ's sake we will find them.  What peace, joy, and rest we find in this paradoxical Christian walk!  2 Corinthians 4:8-11 says, "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-- ¹⁰ always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh."

Jesus spoke in John 11:25-26:  "...I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. ²⁶ And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?  Those who are born again should not fear death, because it is through Christ's death we live.  Our bodies will perish and decay, but our souls will never die.  Even as Christ rose from the dead we will rise glorified and live with Him forever.  Rejoice, o believer, for death has lost its sting!