The Coming End Times Martyrdom

In the Western world, martyrdom is a foreign idea. Someone dying for their faith to us is an inspiring story, but not our reality. We can meet in public or read the Word of God for ourselves without wondering if doing so will cost us our life. But many who came before us, and many today, can only dream about this safety. However, take heed. The Bible warns that a time is coming where this will change everywhere. That before the Kingdom of Yeshua comes, things will not get much easier. But first, much more difficult. Persecution for believers will come to every corner of of the world. As the Antichrist takes his reign and trial will be worse than ever before. Matthew 24:21 says, for then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now. No, and never will be. Martyrdom is devastating, but God will use even this tragic evil to bring about a great glory. But what glory is there in being unjustly killed for following Jesus? Is there anything to express about that but sadness or even anger? The only way to find out is by looking upon the story of a martyr who has come before us. But to my sensitive viewers, please note that we're going to be having some descriptions surrounding what a martyr can go through. Among the stories of martyrs that we will be discussing today, the first is that of William Tyndale. Tyndale is known as being the first to translate the Bible into English from the original languages of Scripture, Hebrew and Greek. And if you speak English, you've probably used some words that he coined, such as the word Passover, which he got from the Hebrew word Pesach. First, let's get some background of the time that he was living in. In the 1500s, the world's hierarchy was determined by what language you can speak. And the elite language of power was Latin, meaning that the Scriptures which were written in Latin, could only be read by scribes, lawyers or schoolmasters, while English was seen as an inferior language of the common man. Tyndale came as a scholar himself with this great desire to give the gift of the Scriptures to all men, no matter their class or hierarchy, and especially to the least. But in preaching the Scriptures to the common people, he found that they did not know the Scriptures even if they went to church, but they were more familiar with the church traditions of the Catholic Church. He realized the need for the people to be able to read the Scriptures to for themselves in their own home language. This is what he perceived by experience. How that it was impossible to establish the lay people in any truth except the Scripture. Were plainly laid before their eyes in their mother tongue that they might see the process, order and meaning of the text. Which thing only moved me to to translate the New Testament. Many of the Catholic Church's priests of his day knew and upheld the Church traditions over the Scriptures. Listen to this exchange between William Tyndale and a Catholic clergyman around 1522. And I quote and soon after Master Tyndale happened to be in the company of a learned man. While conversing and debating with him, Tyndale pushed him to the point that the learned man said we would be better off without God's law than the Pope's. Hearing that, Master Tyndale answered him, I defy the Pope and all his laws. And added, if God spares my life before many years pass, I will make a boy who drives a plough no more of the Scriptures and than you do. With his passion for God's law and distaste for those who uphold their man made traditions over God's law, Tyndale had a fiery passion to let the young boy who is working in the fields know even more scripture than the clergyman of his day. And that would not be too hard, for the clergyman did not know much scripture themselves. But the Catholic Church did not want the laity reading and interpreting the Scriptures for themselves. They did not trust the people with the Scriptures, but wanted control over how God's words are interpreted. They were concerned that different interpretations of the Scriptures could usurp the Church's authority. If the laity could realize that some of the Catholic traditions are not biblical, they may reject not only those traditions, but the authority of the Church itself. One Catholic priest named Thomas More, in Dialogue concerning Heresies, wrote, it is a dangerous thing to give the Bible to every lewd, unlearned person. By translating the Greek New Testament into English, Tyndale broke the elite monopoly on biblical knowledge. But translating the Bible into English without the approval of the Catholic Church's bishops was illegal in the country. Tyndale knew that he faced burning at the stake for undertaking such a thing. But he decided to do it anyway. For his love for the people that that God had entrusted to him was greater than the love of his own life in this world. And so he lived as a fugitive while doing his ministry work of translating the biblical texts. He fled for 12 years from city to city to evade the agents from King Henry VII and the Catholic Church until Tyndale eventually met his Judas. A young man named Henry Phillips approached Tyndale, became his friend and took interest in his work. But in a Turn very eerily reminiscent of Judas betrayal of Yeshua Jesus. Henry turned Tyndale over to the authorities for money. Tyndale was formally charged by the Catholic Church for his denial of the existence of purgatory and his rejection of the necessity necessity of invoking saints. Now, if you've been with me thus far, you will quickly realize that invoking saints and purgatory haven't been part of the conversation. It's been about his desire to translate and make the Word of God available. Because of course these allegations were side issues in order to get him persecuted by the state. Tyndale's true crime was he threatened the power of the religious institution of his day. Tyndale was sent to jail. In his final days he was lonely. He spent 16 months in a dank, cold and dark cell. And in a heart wrenching letter he wrote to the governor of the castle and he begged for, I quote, a warmer cap, for I suffer greatly from cold in the head. A warmer coat also for that which I have is very thin. But above all, I beg and entreat your clemency to be urgent with the procurer that he may kindly permit me to have my Hebrew Bible, Hebrew grammar and Hebrew dictionary, that I may spend my time with that study. Thereafter, Tyndale was sentenced to be burned at the stake. It was a drawn out process of being stripped of his clothing, his hands being cut with knives to symbolize how the Catholic Church is stripping him from his anointing. He was then strangled and burned before all. In October of 1536, Tyndale uttered his last words as his final dying prayer. He cried out with a loud voice, lord, open the King of England's eyes. And this reminds me so much of what we read in the book of Acts with Stephen in Acts 7:60, where he cried out just before he breathed his last, as he was being stoned by the mob. He said, lord, do not hold this sin against them. And then he fell asleep. This also reminds me of the words of Jesus himself in Luke 23:34, where he said, father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. We know that in the case of Yeshua and in the case of Stephen, our Father in heaven heard their prayer and forgave their enemies. But did Tyndale's prayer come to pass for the king? Well, 10 months later, in August of 1537, Tyndale's friend John Rogers printed a complete English Bible with all of Tyndale's translation work. It was then presented to the King, the king whom Tyndale prayed for and the King's eyes were opened and he approved this Bible for use in England. We see this pattern of mercy now where the extension of mercy and forgiveness from the martyr, either Tyndale, whether Stephen or whether Jesus, it has great power. We must understand that the Lord has of course, a special soft heart for the prayers of the righteous and the martyr. And we see that the Lord puts his spirit in them to forgive their enemies even as they are being murdered. May we ask for that Holy Spirit? 75 years later the King James Version was published in 1611. And the average percentage of William Tyndale's words retained in the King James Version throughout the portions that he Translated is approximately 80%. This not only shows us how good Tyndale's initial translation was, but also that he would tragically never come to understand in his own life how impactful his work would be. For today, over 6 billion copies of the King James Version have been published. Tyndale didn't even know that his translation work would make it to become part of the best selling book in history. He died burned on a stake, rejected and alone. God's callings to us, brothers and sisters, are impactful. God does not allow a righteous man's sacrifices to be in vain. But at the same time we should also recognize that we may never ourselves see how impactful or meaningful our life on this earth was while we were upon this earth. When the new kingdom comes, we will see its true impact and Tyndale will see the impact of his life also. Tyndale could have chosen a comfortable life. He was a scholar and he was learned in eight different languages. Instead of using his scholarship to become as wealthy as his potential allowed. Instead he faced alienation from his country, loss of his friends, poverty, imprisonment and torture. Living in pleasure seems preferable. But if he did not stand up against the evil of his day that he saw, we would not be uttering Tyndale's memory today. Tyndale was willing to give up his life for others to hear the Gospel and the truth of his father. I want you to remember this, that when God calls us, that path can seem difficult while we can today look back at the life of Tyndale and see the glory of his martyrdom, of how billions of people have been exposed to the gospel through his work. From Tyndale's own perspective, on his last day, it may have seemed like his life was a failure. I mean, think about it. He's there, bound before all about to be burned. And his English Bible translation is bound with him. But he had a prayer. All that he had hope in was that God had the power to work, even after his death, to cause his life and his death to produce something bigger than himself. And therefore, in the midst of our own life, we may at times feel depressed, confused, like things are failing in our calling. But we must continue in righteousness, continue in God's call and trust in him to produce glory from ashes. That's what he did for Tyndale and that's what he did for the next martyr that we are about to read about. Our next story is one that is not as high profile, but about a lesser known martyr who was not a theologian, but an unknown young slave girl. In Lyons, France, 177 A.D. The Romans were persecuting the minority followers of the Way for what they called impiety, which simply means not honoring the Roman gods. Blandina was one of these persecuted believers who for she refused to honor the Roman gods, but rather honored the one true God of Abram, Isaac and Jacob. We are not 100% sure of her age, but scholars estimate her age to be between 13 and 15 years old. Eusebius of Caesarea, the ancient historian, describes Blandina in his work the Ecclesiastical History. And she was described as having this weakness, frail appearance, so much so in fact, that her mistress or her slave master was in fear lest she should not be able to even make a bold confession of her faith on account of the weakness of her body. End quote. It is quite a thing to be known as someone who has a weak appearance, but that's how she was known as tragically. And this was in stark contrast to the Roman society that she was a part of, which glorified power and strength and offices and authority. But Blandina's human weakness and her position of slavery, God used and God made her stronger than anyone else in Rome. Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius stated, and I quote, that Christians should be tortured to death, but if any should recant, they should be let go. Typically, believers subjected to Rome's tortures either renounced their confession of Christ so they can be let go, or they died quickly of torture. But to the surprise of everyone, Blandina did neither. The torturers could not kill her nor get her to renounce. Yeshua Eusebius writes, blandina was filled with so much strength that she was released. And those who tortured her in relays in every manner from morning until evening, became exhausted, even confessing of their own accord that they had been beaten, since they had nothing further to do to her and they marveled at the fact that she was still alive, for her whole body was broken and opened, and that they testified that one form of torture was enough to drive out life, to say nothing of the different nature and number of the tortures that they imposed upon her. Her torturers were experts in killing, and they were carrying out their duties to kill according to the Emperor Marcus decree. But they failed. She was then sent to a Roman amphitheater. And Eusebius writes that Blandina was hung on a stake and was offered as food for the wild beasts that were let in. Since she seemed to be hanging in the form of a cross, and by her firmly intoned prayer, she inspired the believers with great zeal as they looked on during the contest, and with their outward eyes saw through their sister him who was crucified for them, that he might persuade those who believe in him that everyone who suffers for the glory of Christ always has fellowship with the living God. And when none of the wild beasts then touched her, she was taken down from the stake and again cast into the prison, being saved for another contest. When the believers looked up at her as she was hung over this amphitheater with wild beasts below her, and she was hung in the form of a cross, they looked upon her and saw Christ in her, and they reminded of his suffering and what happened subsequently. Because of this, the believers knew it to be impossible for this weak young slave girl to be filled with such strength, unless it be by the hand of God. This brought forth a great inspiration. Most of those who had at first denied Christ out of fear of persecution, torture and death, death by Rome. They were so inspired by Blandina that they reaffirmed that they were believers. I mean, think about this as she is suffering, as she is stretched out in a similar manner as how Christ was stretched out, and the people were looking upon her, and they were recommitting their lives to God because they saw the power of God upon her. She was having a hand in bringing the gospel to them through Christ. So this is a terrible moment, a terrible situation in which no one but the pagans take pleasure in. And yet in the midst of it, God's Spirit works mightily and brings people to Him. Eusebius writes, what happens to her next? After the scourging after the wild beasts, after being placed in a roasting seed, she finally was placed in a net and thrown to a bull. She was tossed about for some time by the animal, but was insensitive to what was happening to her because of her hope and hold upon what had been entrusted to her and her communion with Christ. And she also was sacrificed. And the heathen themselves confessed that never had a woman among them suffered so many and such horrible tortures, when, after everything that happened to her, she still did not renounce Christ, she still did not die. And finally, the Roman pagans sent someone to kill her with a dagger. This is what is meant by Eusebius writing of she was sacrificed. Blandina, according to the world, was no one important, uneducated, young, a slave, her body small and weak. And yet we remember her today because it's not about how important the world thinks you are, it's about who you are in Christ. She is most important in the kingdom of God. Blandina's incredible faith and empowerment in her suffering inspired other believers who previously denied Christ out of fear to come back to him and reaffirm their faith. As Eusebius wrote, their outward eye saw through their sister, him who was crucified for them. To be clear, she was saving souls for Christ even whilst suffering, even whilst feeling helpless. And so, brothers and sisters, in light of this story, it's just made me realize something. It's become so easy for us to complain when life becomes difficult. And surely there are many difficulties we experience in life. Maybe you have an unruly child, maybe you're unhappy with your spouse, maybe you feel undervalued at your job. Maybe you are depressed because you thought that your life would turn out differently at the time of life that you're at. But let us just for a moment compare our concerns to. To the concerns of the martyr. The martyr is not worrying about why things in his life aren't better. He cherishes the life that he had, for he is about to suffer a complete loss of his life and all that is in it. He's not worried about a naughty child, for he cherishes the child that he has. For death means that he won't see his child in this life ever again. He's not worried about feeling undervalued at his job. Rather, he cherishes the opportunity that he had, even with all of its flaws. For his death means that he won't ever get a chance to do his job again. He's not worried about his unhappy marriage. He cherishes the marriage he had with all of its flaws, for death will part him from his wife and his family. Your concerns in life are valid and your father knows them all and wants you to bring those concerns to him. But I find that I am aided in gratitude when I get a sort of reality check with what other believers in past times have faced and just how good we have it. Even though there are many things in this life that remain not good and remain difficult through these true stories, I find I am inspired to press on despite the trials I may face day to day, and to press on with even more zeal, never denying the my Master. And when it comes to justice, which is the big question and the big elephant in the room, what about these lives that were innocently lost? We may have peace in that question, for God has told us how he will bring justice to those who died as martyrs. In Revelation 6:9 it says, when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who have been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, o Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. Martyrdom is listed as one of the main reasons God will judge this world one day in fire. Vengeance is his and he will repay. He will bring justice. Let us have peace. God is not taken off guard by any of the stories we read, but turns man's evils against his children around for his glory. A glory that far surpasses even the glories that we have discovered in this teaching today. Things that we one day will even more fully understand when we are with him and will look back upon everything that happened on a spiritual level. Behind the scenes. Martyrdom is a horrible thing done by the enemies of God and at the same time is used by God to purify his body. Today there exists multitudes of lukewarm believers who believe in Christ merely because they have heard a twisted feel good message that promises them prosperity or simply because it's their tradition and it's cultural. Where they live, that's what their family does, that's what their friend does. So that's why they go to church, even if their heart isn't there. But when martyrdom becomes a nationwide reality, as it did in Rome, it immediately filters out anyone not willing to die for believing in Yeshua. Death isn't a feel good message. It's not popular, and it's certainly not been our tradition in the Western modern society. But one day death will accompany a confession of faith for many. That's what the Bible says will happen. We will no longer have people who believe because it's a convenient moral label to put on their life or because we like the blessings of this world that we've been promised by a false shepherd. Rather, we will believe because we actually believe in the resurrected Savior that calls us to pick up our cross just as he did, to die even as he did, if it is what he called us to do, even physically unto eternal life, because we love him and because we want to be with Him. But the question that I have for you today is why do you believe in Him? If your reason is pure, you will be unmovable in the evil day and in the day of persecutions to come. And you will never renounce Christ. Psalm 112:6 says, for the righteous will never be moved. He will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news. His heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady. He will not be afraid until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. He has distributed freely. He has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn is exalted. Honour as we conclude, please pray with me. Father, I thank you for these examples of people who have loved you so deeply even unto their own death. Where Tyndale wanted to see people calm the faith and get your word in their own mother tongue, even laying his life down for that sake. Or Blandina, who was not willing to follow the idols of Rome, not willing to renounce her allegiance to King Yeshua. And she stood strong and you empowered her. So much so that others were saved through the strength that you placed in her. Father, I ask that you would give us such faith one day. That you would give us such strength one day. And you would give us such boldness one day. To stand up when everyone else is silent. To not renounce, but to confirm, to teach your truth, to speak your name forth. Father, when the world hurts us in whichever way or measure, give us the strength to persevere. And when things feel confusing, as it likely felt for Tyndale in his last day, or Blandina when she was in that Roman stadium, I pray, Father, that you would comfort us as you comforted them. I pray that you would give us hope as you gave them hope. And you would help us, Lord, to. To see our trials in light of eternity and the hope of glory, the hope of the resurrection that you have died for us to have. Father, the gospel is written in blood. Your blood first of all, and in the blood of martyrs. Father, we thank you. We thank you. We thank you. We thank you that you, Yeshua, came to die so that we may live eternally with you, even though we don't deserve it based off our own works. I thank you that you saw something more, something deeper, that you saw our identity as your child. And for your child, you say, come home. I love you. I have plans for you. Stand strong. Remain steadfast. You will be unmovable. In the name of Yeshua, the Messiah, I pray this Amen. Thank you so much for joining me with this teaching. It's been a lot of work and research, and I hope that it has been a blessing to you. If you want to help us continue producing these teachings, you can partner with us by going to riseonfire.com/partner. A special thank you to our partners who've made this teaching possible, and we'll see you in the next one.