The Martyrs Of The End Times

(I Thessalonians 4:16).

But, these martyrs are specifically “beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God”. The word beheaded literally means “to behead with an axe” which will be the method of execution of these saints in that day when martyrdom appears to be the rule rather than the exception.

It is significant to note the fact that even though they are young in the faith, having been redeemed after the Rapture, during the Day of the Lord, they will not recant their faith in the face of sure and certain death! The redemption of these faithful martyrs could well be the result of the Redemption Ministry of the 144 Thousand which is chronicled in the book of Daniel:

“And such as do wickedly against the [holy] covenant shall he [Antichrist] corrupt by flatteries; but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil many days. Now when they shall fall they shall be helped with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.” (Daniel 11:32-35)

“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament: and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever…Many shall be purified and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. (Daniel 12:3, 10)

Beheading, is presently [2009] being used by the avowed enemy of the Jews and Christians, the radical Muslims. This could well be the religious system in world control after Romanism is destroyed by God, through the agency of the “ten horns [kings]” which is indicated in Revelation 17:16.

Recent statistics reveal that the number of martyrs in the last century totaled more than all of the previous nineteen centuries combined during the Church’s history. This points to the fact that many faithful saints are living in “great tribulation” at this very moment in time. The word “tribulation” in the New Testament only appears three times with the adjective “great”.

Once the Lord describes the time after “the abomination of desolation” (Matthew 24:15) which occurs at the middle of the 70th Week of Daniel as “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21) which comes upon the elect/saints.

The second time it appears is in the Lord’s message to the church in Thyatira when he pronounces His warning to the adulterers:

“Behold I will cast her [Jezebel] into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.” (Revelation 2:22)

The last time it appears is when “the great multitude” appears before the throne in heaven and the elder tells John exactly when they came:

“And he said to me, These are they which came out of [the] great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14)