Right now in Afghanistan and parts of Iraq, the Taliban are killing Christians. Two hundred and twenty-nine men, women, and children missionaries are to beheaded today. We are asked to pray for these brothers and sisters in Christ. We are inclined to ask the Lord to deliver them with hosts of angels, armed forces, or perhaps clemency from their captors. We shall pray God’s will and for their deliverance; hoping they will be set free. However, In all likelihood they will die, but do not be discouraged, the beheaded brothers and sisters will reign with Christ in the Millennium, “I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection,” (Revelation 20:4-5), and the number of martyrs must be filled till Jesus enacts retribution, “When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them.” (Revelation 6:9-12). Those martyred shall receive great honor, and the day of reckoning cannot happen till their number is complete.
I would urge we pray for these brothers about to be beheaded and executed; that they stand firm in the faith, have grace to endure, and see Jesus as they go into His loving arms. I also urge prayers for the Taliban. We must remember Paul was like the Taliban, persecuting and killing Christians, “For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it,” (Galatians 1:13), and “I persecuted this Way (Christianity) to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished,” (Acts 22:4-5). And yet Paul became the great apostle to the Gentiles who wrote two thirds of the New Testament and had great revelations like, “I count all things lost but knowing Christ..” (Philippians 3:8). For
Christ is the one who commands we pray for enemies and persecutors like the Taliban, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48)
The plight of our Afghan brethren stirs us, may it stir us to pray for them as well as empathizing with their sufferings as Scripture commands, “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” (Hebrews 13:3), and “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep,” (Romans 12:15). Amen.
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