| The fist of the pacifist is not in his hand but in the | | | | waiting for you to right all wrongs but we do not see it |
| mouth of Jesus. The Bible states that at the last battle, | | | | yet." And Revelation reveals God's thought: "I am |
| one word from Jesus will destroy his enemies. "Done!" | | | | waiting until the last martyr dies and then I shall move; |
| will come out of his mouth like a sword and slay those | | | | trust my timing. I shall not forget your situation." Daniel, |
| arrayed against him. Many patriots and Christians | | | | Jesus and the martyrs are three examples of God's |
| cannot seem to wait for this final battle. They plan and | | | | timing. He rescued Daniel by shutting the lions' mouths. |
| execute their own death-dealing blows. | | | | He did not get a scratch. Jesus was three days down. |
| God is full full full of steadfast love and longsuffering. | | | | His death had to be so final that his resurrection would |
| But he does not plan to be forever-suffering. The | | | | reveal the miraculous power of God. But the martyrs |
| unclean will be banished from his presence and locked | | | | seem to shout that God is unjust. But it's not over till it's |
| in hell where they can no longer harm lovers of God. | | | | over! |
| God will protect his own! His plan also includes | | | | If we wish to walk humbly with God, we will seek to |
| pay-back for the wrongs suffered by the followers of | | | | be like Him so that His love will enable us to triumph |
| Christ in a way that allows the persecutors to be | | | | over evil by doing good. We may have to die for it but |
| forgiven and go entirely free. How champion! He plans | | | | so do those who spray agent orange on the world. |
| to give back the stolen years of his martyred saints. | | | | The longer we follow an eternal Master, the more we |
| Only the Creator of life has this kind of power. The | | | | will understand his wisdom. He wants to guard us from |
| Bible teaches this as "the thousand year reign." In other | | | | the stress and weariness of hunting down the driver |
| words, if you were drowned for your actions of faith | | | | who killed our relative on the road and then sped |
| in God at the age of 24, you will be given another | | | | away to avoid detection. One man spent the rest of |
| thousand years of life somewhere on the earth, with | | | | his life searching and searching until he finally put the |
| Christ as the King. But enemies of Christ will still | | | | driver behind bars for a while. Instead of love, both of |
| abound because two of the forces of our flesh will still | | | | them reaped pain and loss of sleep. But consider the |
| be very alive: Pride and lust. The Devil will be chained | | | | man who was spitefully refused a job by the manager |
| for that thousand years but we will still be our own | | | | of a factory so he started his own business. Years |
| worst enemy. The image of God in us entices us to | | | | later the factory closed and the former manager |
| run the show even though dreams, love and death | | | | began to starve. One day he came begging for a job. |
| remind us that we cannot control our earth-bound lives, | | | | He was given work because a man who was once |
| let alone our eternal destinies. | | | | wronged had learned to live love by daily growing rich |
| So, why not follow the plan of the Judge of all the | | | | toward God. Jesus demonstrated that Life is after life. |
| earth? The martyrs had the faith to accept the sword | | | | This is not all there is. Get the big picture that our |
| of others on their necks but they now are asking for | | | | Creator has drawn and enjoy coloring in your small |
| vengeance. They say, "We followed your plan of | | | | space with vibrant vitality! |