Bp. Strickland: Christians Need ‘to be Ready for a New Age of Martyrdom’

Agreed. Like Patton said, my job is not to die for my country, it is to make that other poor b- die for his.

JoMa

So, is the Bishop willing to be a martyr too or is he one of them zealots that sends others out to give their lives for “the cause”?

“Not as long as a Christian can hold an AK47 or an AR15.”

Then you better start organizing. That rifle isn’t going to help one bit when a bus of 20 fully armed SWAT agents show up at your door.

The kingdom of antichrist is being built before our eyes. It’s not hard to see how you won’t be able to buy or sell if you don’t give your allegiance to that kingdom. Jesus told us that during that time (the time of the beast empire) that the antichrist will make war with the saints and overcome them. It’s not wrong to defend your family or yourself if you or they are being attacked or someone is trying to break into your home, or harm a family member. But throughout history God has allowed ungodly men to exercise control over nations for his purposes - just look at what happened to the nation of Israel during their decent into sin. With the number of abortions exceeding deaths by other means can we really blame God if America is being judged?

I don’t know but perhaps God’s purposes for Trump were fulfilled in all that he did in moving the capital to Jerusalem and in some of the peace accords that have followed. We just don’t know.

Remember Peter with his sword when the Jews came for Jesus and what Jesus told Peter at that time. Jesus was going to the cross to die for us. If his disciples had mounted a gorilla campaign to prevent that from happening they would have been working against God’s purposes. The word ‘witness’ can and often does mean martyr. Look at those recently in the middle east who had their head cut off because they would not ‘convert’ to Islam. In any revolution, things can get messy and discerning right and wrong is not always easy. Emotions can often dictate actions that are not wise or godly. I’m not telling anyone what to do. I’m just saying, if you call yourself a Christian, be careful that what you do lines up with the Word of God and not your own desires. We are entering a very difficult time. Believers will strive to honor the Lord no matter the consequences to themselves.

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Matthew 24:9-11

9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Matthew 10

And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

Daniel 7:25
25And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 26But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. 27And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

In the end, Jesus wins and it is Jesus who puts down our enemies. Remember the souls under the alter in heaven asking God ‘how long’ until he vindicates them.

You don’t have to take-out all 20; only one or two.

Then, if the next house they hit takes out one or two more ...

Eventually, their enthusiasm will ... wane.

There’s a lot more of “us” than there are of “them”; they can’t win a war of attrition.

“You don’t have to take-out all 20; only one or two.”

But you will die in the process, thus becoming one of the very martyrs the bishop speaks of.

Then you’ve got two choices: martyr or slave.

Choose wisely.

Why would you think martyr and slave are mutually exclusive?