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A
CHRISTIAN MARTYR IS ONE WHO CHOOSES TO SUFFER DEATH RATHER THAN TO
DENY CHRIST, OR HIS WORK...SACRIFICES SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO
FURTHER THE
KINGDOM OF GOD...
ENDURES GREAT SUFFERING FOR CHRISTIAN WITNESST
The New Testament
tells the end of only two apostles: Judas, who betrayed Jesus and then
killed himself; and James the son of Zebedee, who was executed by
Herod. Even though there are numerous reports and legends of how their
lives ended, they did suffer greatly for their witness. (Note: In
Greek, "martyr" means "witness".)
Matthias was the
apostle chosen to replace Judas. Tradition claims he went with Andrew
to Syria
and was burned to death. Another account states that he was stoned at
Jerusalem and then beheaded. Some write that he would not sacrifice to
the false god Jupiter, and therefore was put to death. Others state
that for the blasphemy that the Jews said he committed against God,
Moses, and the law, he was sentenced by their high priest first to be
hung on a cross and stoned, and later beheaded with an ax.
Thomas was probably
the most active in the area east of Syria. Tradition tells he preached
as far east as
India,
where the ancient Marthoma Christians revere him as their founder.
They claim he died there when he was pierced with spears. It is also
recorded that he preached in Persia and Parthia and was tormented with
red-hot plates, cast into a furnace, and his side was pierced with
spears by savages at Calamina, India, about 70 A.D.
Philip reportedly had
a powerful ministry in Carthage in North Africa and then in Asia
Minor, where he converted the wife of a Roman proconsul. The proconsul
retaliated by having Philip arrested and cruelly put to death.
Matthew, the tax
collector and writer of a Gospel, ministered in Persia and Ethiopia.
Some of the oldest reports say he was not martyred, while others say
he was stabbed to death in Ethiopia. Some writings say he was nailed
to the ground and beheaded.
Andrew went to the
former Soviet Union, where Christians claim him as the first to bring
the Gospel to their land. He also preached in Asia Minor, modern-day
Turkey,
and in Greece. According to one account, he was crucified on X-shaped
cross in Edessa. Another claims the governor of Edessa caused him to
be crucified in the city of
Patras, in Achaia, about 70 A.D.
Bartholomew traveled
to India
with Thomas, back to Armenia, and also to Ethiopia and Southern
Arabia, per tradition. One source states that he translated the Gospel
of Matthew into the language of East-Indian, and taught in that
country. There are various accounts of how he meets his death as a
martyr for the gospel. One says that he was tortured, then flayed
alive and finally beheaded in Armenia, by King Astyages about 70 A.D.
James, the son of
Alpheus, is one of at least three men named James mentioned in the New
Testament. There is some confusion as to which is which, but this
James is considered to have ministered in Syria. The Jewish historian
Josephus reported that he was stoned and clubbed to death.
Simon the Zealot
ministered in Persia and was killed after refusing to sacrifice to the
sun god. One reference states that he was crucified in a very painful
way by a governor in Syria, also about 70 A.D.
Peter was crucified
upside down in
Rome
about 66 A.D., during the persecution under Emperor Nero. He did not
feel worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord. The early Christian
writer Hegesippus wrote that Peter saw Christ appear to him. Peter
asked Christ, "Lord, where are you going?" He answered, "I've come to
be crucified again." Peter understood that it was his time to die.
John is the only one
of the group thought to have died of old age. He was the leader of the
church in the
Ephesus
area and is said to have taken care of Mary the mother of Jesus in his
home. An early Latin tradition has him escaping unhurt after being
cast into boiling oil at Rome. He was then exiled to the island of
Patmos. There he is credited with writing the last book of the New
Testament, Revelation.
After the death of
the apostles, the Gospel continued to spread-even though Christianity
was declared an illegal religion as it is today in communist, Islamic
and many other nations hostile to Christ. May we be like Christ's
disciples and heed His final words, "But
you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and
you shall be witnesses (martyrs) to Me in
Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth"
(Acts 1:8)
AFTERTHOUGHT
Rev Joe
Hildebrandt Sr.
On a personal note, I
would encourage every one who reads these words to examine for
themselves, not just the sacrifices of the 12 apostles, but the
sacrifices of so many early Christians. I would encourage you to read
Foxes book of Martyrs, and an excellent book by D.C. Talk called
"Jesus Freaks". In it they tell of so many current day martyrs. We
seem to think that the persecution of Christians ended with the fall
of the Roman empire, but as mentioned briefly above, Christians are
still being "tortured for Christ" in this day and age. Among the
biggest offenders are China, Viet Nam, North Korea, all too many
Islamic countries, and even in
Columbia.
Why would the 12
disciples, go through so much suffering and trials, if Jesus was a
fraud? Why would they have given up everything if they were not
absolutely convinced that Jesus was who He said He was? It is not
normal, and I know of no other case where men and women freely
sacrificed their lives for something that was not convinced of. I am
told of a church in the former Soviet Union, where armed soldiers
broke through the doors and announced that they were going to kill
every one inside if they did not leave the church at once. Most
"Christians" fled for their lives; however, many remained in spite of
the soldiers threats. To the surprise of the Pastor and remaining
Christians, the soldiers, laid down their weapons, removed their
uniform jackets and announced that they only wanted to worship with
real Christians! Those folks who remained were convinced that Jesus is
who He said He was. They were willing to lay down their lives rather
then reject the Living Savior. I wonder how many of us in a similar
situation would have remained seated in that church?
I pray that we may
have that same boldness, to be
STILL willing to die
for the Gospel. The day is coming and quite soon, when many, many
Christians will be asked to abandon their faith by no less than the
anti-christ himself, those who will not abandon their faith face
certain death in the form of beheadings. I pray for that boldness to
be as the disciples, and spread the Good News to every creature in
spite of harm or death, as the Bible says "Precious
in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints"
(Psalm 116:5) And as Paul writes
" But as it is written, eye has not seen, nor has ear heard. nor have
entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for
those who love Him" (1Corintians 2:9) Jesus loved me so
much that He willingly gave up His life for me, I can do no less for
Him, how about you?
Please see Voice of
the Martyrs website and pray for our Christian brothers and sisters
who are still being persecuted for Christ.
www.persecution.com May God richly Bless you.
Rev Joe Hildebrandt
Sr.
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