Posted on 09/28/2011 3:56:28 PM PDT by wmfights
WASHINGTON (BP) -- Iran is under increasing pressure from leaders around the world to halt the execution of Iranian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, who on Wednesday refused for the fourth and final time to recant his faith and could be executed at any time.
In the U.S., Speaker of the House John Boehner released a statement urging Iran to spare the pastor's life and release him. Overseas, British Foreign Secretary William Hague also called on Iran to overturn the sentence.
Observers say external pressure could be critical in preventing the Iranian government from performing its first apostasy execution since 1990.
Arrested in 2009, Nadarkhani was told by an Iranian court this year that he would be executed unless he converted to Islam. The court gave him four chances to recant Christianity, and he refused to do so on four consecutive days this week, the final being Wednesday, Compass Direct News reported.
"I'm in contact with Iran," a source close to Nadarkhani’s family told Compass Direct, "but the news isn’t very good. We’ll see. If they really want to they can kill him, because he hasn’t renounced his faith. It finished today. We have left everything in the hands of God."
The American Center for Law and Justice reported one of Nadarkhani's court exchanges.
"Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?" he asked.
"To the religion of your ancestors, Islam," the judge reportedly replied.
"I cannot," Nadarkhani responded.
Firouz Sadegh-Khandjani, a friend of Nadarkhani's and a member of the council of elders for the Church of Iran, said Tuesday that his friend could be executed at any time after he refuses to recant a fourth time.
"We need the prayers of Christians," Sadegh-Khandjani said on the Jordan Sekulow radio show.
Compass Direct quoted a source close to Nadarkhani as saying it is critical that foreign governments negotiate and engage in diplomacy with Iranian authorities.
"They need to start negotiating," the source said. "It's the moment to negotiate, because if they do, the situation could be regulated."
The source and advocates in the international community fear that authorities may kill Nadarkhani as early as midnight tonight (Sept. 28) or any time in the coming week.
"They probably won’t kill him today, but they can do it whenever they want," the source told Compass Direct. "They can hang him in the middle of the night or in 10 days. Sometimes in Iran they call the family and deliver the body with the verdict. They have gone outside the borders of law. This is not in the Iranian law, this is sharia. Sometimes they don’t even give the body."
Sadegh-Khandjani gave details of the incident that led to Nadarkhani's 2009 arrest.
"He protested to the decision of the government to teach the Quran to his son," Sadegh-Khandjani said. "He told them, 'I'm Christian and I would like that my children [to] receive Christian teachings -- not Muslim teachings.' So they arrested him and they condemned him to death for apostasy."
Earlier this year the Iranian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence but ordered a lower court to examine whether Nadarkhani was ever a Muslim -- a fact essential to determine whether he left Islam for Christianity. But that lower court in Rasht, Iran, found that although Nadarkhani was never a practicing Muslim "he remains guilty of apostasy because he has Muslim ancestry," the British-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) which monitors religious freedom reported.
Christians have rights under the Iranian constitution but not under Sharia law, which according to the Iranian courts supersedes the constitution, Sadegh-Khandjani said. He called the situation "religion apartheid."
"The tendency is not to respect the right of minorities," Sadegh-Khandjani said. "Minorities are not considered as citizens."
Leonard Leo, chair of the United States Council on International Religious Freedom, criticized the Iranian court system for not following Iranian law or international law.
"Despite the finding that Mr. Nadarkhani did not convert to Christianity as an adult, the court continues to demand that he recant his faith or otherwise be executed," Leo said. "The most recent court proceedings are not only a sham, but are contrary to Iranian law and international human rights standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party."
Supporters of the Iranian pastor applauded the statements from Boehner in the U.S. and Hague in Britain.
"Religious freedom is a universal human right," Boehner's statement said. "The reports that Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani will be sentenced to death by the Iranian government unless he disavows his Christian faith are distressing for people of every country and creed. While Iran's government claims to promote tolerance, it continues to imprison many of its people because of their faith. This goes beyond the law to an issue of fundamental respect for human dignity. I urge Iran's leaders to abandon this dark path, spare Yousef Nadarkhani's life, and grant him a full and unconditional release."
Said Hague, "I deplore reports that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian Church leader, could be executed imminently after refusing an order by the Supreme Court of Iran to recant his faith. This demonstrates the Iranian regime's continued unwillingness to abide by its constitutional and international obligations to respect religious freedom. I pay tribute to the courage shown by Pastor Nadarkhani who has no case to answer and call on the Iranian authorities to overturn his sentence."
I realize this doesn’t sound very Christian of me, but if there’s no action taken against this behavior it will embolden them, and more and more Christians will die.
Jesus knew he was leaving his apostles and would not be there to feed, provide for and protect them. He said if you don’t have a purse, get a purse, and if you don’t have a sword, buy a sword. Not to attack your brothers, but to defend yourself from evil-doers.
He also said, I did not come to bring you peace, but a sword...to use against evil. Of course he meant that sword to be his Word and grace. But, He knew there would never be peace on earth because man is flawed and that’s why he called it a sword.
I will pray for the Iranian priest’s earthly life to be spared so he can continue his work and purpose. The priest has already picked up his sword and placed himself in God’s hands.
This calls to mind Daniel Chapter 3, which is preached in the Traditional Latin Mass on Holy Saturday. The Iranian pastor is a modern day Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago (take your pick).
[1] King Nabuchodonosor made a statue of gold, of sixty cubits high, and six cubits broad, and he set it up in the plain of Dura of the province of Babylon. [2] Then Nabuchodonosor the king sent to call together the nobles, the magistrates, and the judges, the captains, the rulers, and governors, and all the chief men of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the statue which king Nabuchodonosor had set up. [3] Then the nobles, the magistrates, and the judges, the captains, and rulers, and the great men that were placed in authority, and all the princes of the provinces, were gathered together to come to the dedication of the statue, which king Nabuchodonosor had set up. And they stood before the statue which king Nabuchodonosor had set up. [4] Then a herald cried with a strong voice: To you it is commanded, O nations, tribes, and languages: [5] That in the hour that you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, and of the flute, and of the harp, of the sackbut, and of the psaltery, and of the symphony, and of all kind of music; ye fall down and adore the golden statue which king Nabuchodonosor hath set up.
[6] But if any man shall not fall down and adore, he shall the same hour be cast into a furnace of burning fire. [7] Upon this therefore, at the time when all the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the flute, and the harp, of the sackbut, and the psaltery, of the symphony, and of all kind of music: all the nations, tribes, and languages fell down and adored the golden statue which king Nabuchodonosor had set up. [8] And presently at that very time some Chaldeans came and accused the Jews, [9] And said to king Nabuchodonosor: O king, live for ever: [10] Thou, O king, hast made a decree that every man that shall hear the sound of the trumpet, the flute, and the harp, of the sackbut, and the psaltery, of the symphony, and of all kind of music, shall prostrate himself, and adore the golden statue:
[11] And that if any man shall not fall down and adore, he should be cast into a furnace of burning fire. [12] Now there are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the works of the province of Babylon, Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago: these men, O king, have slighted thy decree: they worship not thy gods, nor do they adore the golden statue which thou hast set up. [13] Then Nabuchodonosor in fury, and in wrath, commanded that Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago should be brought: who immediately were brought before the king. [14] And Nabuchodonosor the king spoke to them, and said: Is it true, O Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, that you do not worship my gods, nor adore the golden statue that I have set up? [15] Now therefore if you be ready at what hour soever you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, harp, sackbut, and psaltery, and symphony, and of all kind of music, prostrate yourselves, and adore the statue which I have made: but if you do not adore, you shall be cast the same hour into the furnace of burning fire: and who is the God that shall deliver you out of my hand?
[16] Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago answered and said to king Nabuchodonosor: We have no occasion to answer thee concerning this matter. [17] For behold our God, whom we worship, is able to save us from the furnace of burning fire, and to deliver us out of thy hands, O king. [18] But if he will not, be it known to thee, O king, that we will not worship thy gods, nor adore the golden statue which thou hast set up. [19] Then was Nabuchodonosor filled with fury: and the countenance of his face was changed against Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, and he commanded that the furnace should be heated seven times more than it had been accustomed to be heated. [20] And he commanded the strongest men that were in his army, to bind the feet of Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, and to cast them into the furnace of burning fire.
[21] And immediately these men were bound and were cast into the furnace of burning fire, with their coats, and their caps, and their shoes, and their garments. [22] For the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace was heated exceedingly. And the flame of the fire slew those men that had cast in Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago. [23] But these three men, that is, Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, fell down bound in the midst of the furnace of burning fire. [24] And they walked in the midst of the flame, praising God and blessing the Lord. [25] Then Azarias standing up prayed in this manner, and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, he said:
[24] “And they walked”... Here St. Jerome takes notice, that from this verse, to ver. 91, was not in the Hebrew in his time. But as it was in all the Greek Bibles, (which were originally translated from the Hebrew,) it is more than probable that it had been formerly in the Hebrew or rather in the Chaldaic, in which the book of Daniel was written. But this is certain: that it is, and has been of old, received by the church, and read as canonical scripture in her liturgy, and divine offices.
[26] Blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and thy name is worthy of praise, and glorious for ever: [27] For thou art just in all that thou hast done to us, and all thy works are true, and thy ways right, and all thy judgments true. [28] For thou hast executed true judgments in all the things that thou hast brought upon us, and upon Jerusalem the holy city of our fathers: for according to truth and judgment, thou hast brought all these things upon us for our sins. [29] For we have sinned, and committed iniquity, departing from thee: and we have trespassed in all things: [30] And we have not hearkened to thy commandments, nor have we observed nor done as thou hadst commanded us, that it might go well with us.
[31] Wherefore all that thou hast brought upon us, and every thing that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment: [32] And thou hast delivered us into the hands of our enemies that are unjust, and most wicked, and prevaricators, and to a king unjust, and most wicked beyond all that are upon the earth. [33] And now we cannot open our mouths: we are become a shame and reproach to thy servants, and to them that worship thee. [34] Deliver us not up for ever, we beseech thee, for thy name’s sake, and abolish not thy covenant. [35] And take not away thy mercy from us for the sake of Abraham thy beloved, and Isaac thy servant, and Israel thy holy one:
[36] To whom thou hast spoken, promising that thou wouldst multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is on the sea shore. [37] For we, O Lord, are diminished more than any nation, and are brought low in all the earth this day for our sins. [38] Neither is there at this time prince, or leader, or prophet, or holocaust, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place of firstfruits before thee, [39] That we may find thy mercy: nevertheless in a contrite heart and humble spirit let us be accepted. [40] As in holocausts of rams, and bullocks, and as in thousands of fat lambs: so let our sacrifice be made in thy sight this day, that it may please thee: for there is no confusion to them that trust in thee.
[41] And now we follow thee with all our heart, and we fear thee, and seek thy face. [42] Put us not to confusion, but deal. with us according to thy meekness, and according to the multitude of thy mercies. [43] And deliver us according to thy wonderful works, and give glory to thy name, O Lord: [44] And let all them be confounded that shew evils to thy servants, let them be confounded in all thy might, and let their strength be broken. [45] And let them know that thou art the Lord, the only God, and glorious over all the world.
[46] Now the king’s servants that had cast them in, ceased not to heat the furnace with brimstone, and tow, and pitch, and dry sticks, [47] And the flame mounted up above the furnace nine and forty cubits: [48] And it broke forth, and burnt such of the Chaldeans as it found near the furnace. [49] But the angel of the Lord went down with Azarias and his companions into the furnace: and he drove the flame of the fire out of the furnace, [50] And made the midst of the furnace like the blowing of a wind bringing dew, and the fire touched them not at all, nor troubled them, nor did them any harm.
[51] Then these three as with one mouth praised, and glorified, and blessed God in the furnace, saying: [52] Blessed art thou, O Lord the God of our fathers: and worthy to be praised, and glorified, and exalted above all for ever: and blessed is the holy name of thy glory: and worthy to be praised, and exalted above all in all ages. [53] Blessed art thou in the holy temple of thy glory: and exceedingly to be praised, and exceeding glorious for ever. [54] Blessed art thou on the throne of thy kingdom, and exceedingly to be praised, and exalted above all for ever. [55] Blessed art thou, that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the cherubims: and worthy to be praised and exalted above all for ever.
[56] Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and worthy of praise, and glorious for ever. [57] All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [58] O ye angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [59] O ye heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [60] O all ye waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever.
[61] O all ye powers of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [62] O ye sun and moon, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [63] O ye stars of heaven, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [64] O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [65] O all ye spirits of God, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
[66] O ye fire and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [67] O ye cold and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [68] O ye dews and hoar frosts, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [69] O ye frost and cold, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [70] O ye ice and snow, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
[71] O ye nights and days, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [72] O ye light and darkness, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [73] O ye lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [74] O let the earth bless the Lord: let it praise and exalt him above all for ever. [75] O ye mountains and hills, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
[76] O all ye things that spring up in the earth, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [77] O ye fountains, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [78] O ye seas and rivers, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [79] O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [80] O all ye fowls of the air, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
[81] O all ye beasts and cattle, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [82] O ye sons of men, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all for ever. [83] O let Israel bless the Lord: let them praise and exalt him above all for ever. [84] O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [85] O ye servants of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
[86] O ye spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [87] O ye holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [88] O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. For he hath delivered us from hell, and saved us out of the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the burning flame, and saved us out of the midst of the fire. [89] O give thanks to the Lord, because he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever and ever. [90] O all ye religious, bless the Lord the God of gods: praise him and give him thanks, because his mercy endureth for ever and ever.
[91] Then Nabuchodonosor the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and said to his nobles: Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered the king, and said: True, O king. [92] He answered, and said: Behold I see four men loose, and walking in the midst of the fire, and there is no hurt in them, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. [93] Then Nabuchodonosor came to the door of the burning fiery furnace, and said: Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, ye servants of the most high God, go ye forth, and come. And immediately Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago went out from the midst of the fire. [94] And the nobles, and the magistrates, and the judges, and the great men of the king being gathered together, considered these men, that the fire had no power on their bodies, and that not a hair of their head had been singed, nor their garments altered, nor the smell of the fire had passed on them. [95] Then Nabuchodonosor breaking forth, said: Blessed be the God of them, to wit, of Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that believed in him: and they changed the king’s word, and delivered up their bodies that they might not serve, nor adore any god, except their own God.
[96] By me therefore this decree is made, that every people, tribe, and tongue, which shall speak blasphemy against the God of Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, shall be destroyed, and their houses laid waste: for there is no other God that can save in this manner. [97] Then the king promoted Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, in the province of Babylon. [98] Nabuchodonosor the king, to all peoples, nations, and tongues, that dwell in all the earth, peace be multiplied unto you. [99] The most high God hath wrought signs and wonders toward me. It hath seemed good to me therefore to publish [100] His signs, because they are great: and his wonders, because they are mighty: and his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, I and his power to all generations.
Pastor Nadarkhani is heaven bound.
Here is Spirit's intercession promise for us for today's prayers, for this grace believer saint:
Romans 8:26: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Romans 8:27: And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
II Corinthians 1:3: Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
II Corinthians 1:4: Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Ephesians 1:2: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Ephesians 1:4: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Ephesians 1:5: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Ephesians 1:6: To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Ephesians 1:7: In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Ephesians 1:8: Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Ephesians 1:9: Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Ephesians 1:10: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Ephesians 1:11: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Ephesians 1:12: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Ephesians 1:13: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 1:14: Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
NO. Obama is NOT a Christian; he is a Muslim, exactly the same as the [to be] murders and current accusers of Nadarkhani. Obama would just as soon see Nadarkhani murdered for his faith In Christ, which is NOT the faith of Obama, himself being a Muslim. Obama's inaction and silence speaks evidence on this matter; proving that Obama is not a Christian.
NO. Obama is NOT a Christian; he is a Muslim, exactly the same as the [to be] murders and current accusers of Nadarkhani. Obama would just as soon see Nadarkhani murdered for his faith In Christ, which is NOT the faith of Obama, himself being a Muslim. Obama's inaction and silence speaks evidence on this matter; proving that Obama is not a Christian.
I’ve always loved the book of Daniel and in particular this story. But as I studied the history of world I always thought it was to prepare for the Mozlem invasions and the Crusades.
My pastor was preaching it again just a few weeks ago, urging us to study and understand it. In light of today’s events in the march through human history, maybe those of the faith need to be prepared to search the strength of their convictions.
May we all
"Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 2 Cor. 5:5-8.
wmfights, you make a good and timely point.
rev 6:9
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were 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, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11
And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Great observation.
FWIW, I know it does not seem like it, but Christianity is "eating" islam. The Gospel is being preached in these closed countries and people are being saved. If we look at China, as little as, 40 yrs ago we don't see the House Church movement that exists today. Today in China it's believed that as many as 200 million people have become Christians.
This Pastor leads a church of 400. They exist in one of the most repressive regimes on the planet. We have no way to be sure, but I think it's a safe bet that these 400 are influencing a great many more. No matter how hard the devil tries he can not destroy Christianity.
AMEN!
Thank you, Brother.
We know it will come, we just don't know when. If we are here I pray we have just a little of the Faith this Pastor does.
I don’t think Zero’s words could help. He is weak and not respected in the Arab world. I think Putin or Chavez would have more impact in this matter than Zero.
We know it will come, we just don’t know when. If we are here I pray we have just a little of the Faith this Pastor does.
In good times people can proudly call them selves Christians and at the same time look down their nose at others who do not seem so christian to them, but when that time comes it will be so obvious who the real Christians are, i just pray that i have the faith to show enough guts to be one of them.
First religion of his ancestors was paganism and animism. Christ predated the Moon Rock pedophile by nearly 7 centuries
Amen, Brother.
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