Last Words of Polycarp before burned at the Stake: “Eighty six years I have served him and he has done me no wrong! How can I blaspheme my King and Savior? You threaten men with a fire that burns for a season, and after a little while is quenched; but you are ignorant of the fire of everlasting punishment that is prepared for the wicked.” Bishop Polycarp of Smyrna. (69-155 A.D.)
Tag: martyred
He That Overcometh! Revelation 2:11
Comment: Jesus repeated this over and over again to the church! He that overcometh I will give the crown of life! He that overcometh will escape the second death! What does the word really mean? Let us go to the Greek root word. The word is “Nikao”. The word means to subdue and conquer! To have success in victory! The Greek root word also has a root word! It is the word “Niki”. You got it! It is the athletic foot wear company named Nike! It means conquest! If you are in the body of Christ and believe you will never have a fight with the devil in this life you are in denial! You are in “La La” Land! This life in your generation just as in all preceding generations is a battle between good and evil! You can try to ignore it but it will not go away! You can wish it away? You can try to isolate it away? You can try to spend it away? However you have to join a team and play! Your team can win but you must fight the good fight of faith and face your enemy! Jesus has given you the tools to overcome! To win the victory! His Word! His Spirit! His power! His love! We conquer in Christ’s name! Satan was conquered on the Cross! However in his stupidity he thinks he can still win! He will try to take as many down as he can in defeat! This week a young man went on a mission trip to a remote island where a remote tribe lived! He was martyred! Others will follow to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth! This missionary gave his all to take the Gospel into all the world! If I live my life sheltered, protected, financially secure, and die of old age in this condition I have wasted my life for nothing! The church of Jesus Christ is a conquering army! It is an offensive army! We have real sacrifices and we take some casualties in this war against evil! But we win and will eat of the Tree of Life forever! Remember you are using the blood of a martyr to conquer! The blood of God shed on a Cross for you! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Hour of Temptation! Revelation 3:10
Greek Translation: “Because thou has kept the spoken word of my cheerful endurance, I will also keep thee from the hour, time and season of one’s virtues which shall come to pass upon all the world specifically the Roman Empire, to try them that dwell on the whole earth.” Comment: The Greek word for our English word “world”, used here refers to the Roman Empire. From the Roman Empire the temptation is spread into the whole earth. So what temptation is Jesus keeping you from that is spread to the whole earth from the Roman Empire? The temptation to deny Christ! The world at this time in history was the Roman Empire! They had conquered most of the known world! Jesus and all the disciples except John and many of the early church Father’s were martyred by the Roman Empire! The Apostle John at the time of the writing of this Book of Revelation was exiled on the Isle of Patmos working as a slave in a stone quarry because of Caesar’s sentencing of John! Christian persecution of the Church began in 64 A.D. with Nero and the great fire of Rome. The persecution of the Church ceased in 313 A.D. with the Edict of Milan with Emperor Constatine. It has been estimated that there were at least 100 thousand martyrs during this period. Remember in previous postings we talked about the unpardonable sin? What was blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? Remember to mock one part of the Trinity is to mock all. The unpardonable sin was to deny Jesus! God can forgive every sin except denying Jesus because He is the only one who can forgive sin! Remember the 21 Coptic Christians who were beheaded by ISIS last year? In their hour of temptation they did not deny Jesus! Rome became Christian under Emperor Constatine and became the Holy Roman Empire! Jesus knew what the believers were going to face under Roman Rule for 200 years! He was preparing them for the hour of temptation! So how did the preparation come about for the hour of temptation for the whole earth? When Roman Empire became Christian all the roads they had built throughout their entire Empire were used to take the Gospel to all the known world! I will give you a historical quote on the Roman Empire from Wikipedia: “By means of European Colonialism following the Renaissance, and the descendant states, Greco-Roman and Judaeo-Christian culture was exported on a world wide scale, playing a crucial role in the development of the modern world.” Now where are we at 21 Centuries later today? The pressure upon Christian culture today is to deny Christ! The popular culture, Hollywood, liberal media, atheistic teachings such as evolution, abortion promoters, white supremacy haters, anti-colonialism, gays, lesbian, and transgender promoters all apply pressure against us to deny Christ! Even in the church the denial of Christ exists! Many believers do not tithe their income! Many make a 7 day work week and skip Sunday services! Worship of money over God! The list goes on but we can either deny Christ one small step at a time but when push comes to shove and you have to make a choice between your life or Christ God’s grace will not be their to confess His name! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Christmas Message from the Martyred! 150 A.D.
Since we find it recorded in the memoirs of the Apostles that he is the Son of God, and since we call him the Son, we have understood that he proceeded before all creatures from the Father by the power of his will…. and that he became man by the virgin, in order that the disobedient which proceeded from the serpent might receive its destruction in the same way it devised its origin. For Eve, who was a virgin and undefiled, have conceived by the word of the serpent, brought forth disobedience and death. But the virgin received faith and joy when the Angel Gabriel announced the good news to her that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon her and the power of the highest would overshadow her. Therefore, also, that which was begotten by her is the Son of God. Justin Martyr (100-165 A.D.), Early Church Father and Apologist, Martyred in Rome 165 A.D. Comment: This is why Jesus said we must be born again! We as descendants of Eve can never live right before men and God! It is impossible because we were conceived by our ancestors who believed the word of Satan rather than the Word of God! Sin produces sin! We cannot just be born once! The virgin birth makes it possible to be born again! The choice is up to you! You can believe your ancestors or you can believe the Word of God! Why not choose the best Christmas gift this Christmas and receive the Savior born in a manger and sacrificed to redeem your life from Hell and separation from God forever! Justin Martyr paid the ultimate sacrifice to get this good news to you! The truth is costly! Never forget it! Merry Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Prayer! Matthew 21:13
Some people think that prayer means asking for things, and if they fail to receive exactly what they ask for, then they think the whole thing is a fraud! Gerald Vann (1906-1963), British Catholic Theologian, Author of 24 Books. Comment: Prayer is really fellowship with God! Fellowship with the Father through His Son! You remember some of Jesus words! Father forgive them for they know not what they do! Father if possible let this cup pass from me nevertheless not my will but Thy will be done! We can pray for the stuff but it will perish one day! I can pray for the sick which is good but they will die one day! The fellowship with our Father through Jesus will last forever! We pray expecting but according to the will of God! All Jesus disciples were martyred except John who was boiled in oil and sentenced to a slave labor camp stone quarry on the island of Patmos where he wrote the Book of Revelation! Some in the church today might think they were out of the will of God because they did not die rich with a lot of stuff? Success is more than stuff! The Gold Standard for success with God is to love others and sacrifice yourself for their benefit! What are our prayers like? Lord I am a sinner forgive me as my Savior! Lord forgive them and forgive me! Do we continue to fellowship and worship God through prayer in Heaven? What is Jesus doing right now in Heaven? He is interceding for the Saints here on earth! Satan has no prayer life and is separated from God! The Old Testament Hebrew word for prayer means to intercede for someone else! Jesus is following this pattern in Heaven today! One of the Greek words for prayer in the New Testament means to ask for a specific benefit from God! Send your Holy Spirit and dwell in me! Whatever the benefit it is to benefit others! Pray more for souls and less for stuff! What will be our prayer in Heaven? Praying for those here on earth! Why not start today? An American Pastor Charity and Ruth Harris ministered to us in a church in Denver Colorado back in the 1970’s for two years. They have spent over 40 years on the Mission field in Africa! They build hundreds of Tabernacle churches in the remote villages of Africa! Charity is now old in a nursing home legally blind. What is he doing today there? Praying for others including my family and preparing himself through prayer for Heaven! No one on earth can bestow a greater honor on you than to lift your name up to the Son and to the Father! Jesus said my House shall be called a House of prayer and not a den of thieves! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Do The Righteous Suffer With The Wicked? Isaiah 6:10-13
Absolutely! Even one step further they suffer for the wicked! Jesus on the Cross for us is the best example! How about Moses in Egypt? Isaiah was frustrated! He asked the Lord how long shall I preach to a people who have a fat heart, heavy ears, blind eyes and a heart that does not understand? The Lord answered and said, “Until their cities be wasted without an inhabitant, and their houses without men and the land utterly destroyed.” The Lord removed them to a far place (Babylon). After 70 years the Lord said ten percent would return as a Holy Seed! If you could get an accurate account of how many Christians today faithfully give their tithe to the work of the Church most Pastors would probably say about ten percent! It has been said that if every Christian would tithe their income and not rob God there would be enough funds to Evangelize the world in about 30 days! However most cannot even trust God with 10 percent of their income yet the same people claim they are going to trust God with their eternity? Someone is blowing smoke here? Jesus and John both quoted Isaiah 6:10, explaining that the 1st Century Jews were no different than the Jews living in Isaiah’s day 800 years earlier! Remember as Jesus predicted the Romans destroyed their Temple in 70 A.D. and carted off all the wealth of the Temple and burned Jerusalem and carted off one hundred thousand Jewish slaves to build the Roman Coliseum! Then the Christians were martyred in the Coliseum for the next 300 years! Is the 21st Century Church any different from the Jews in 1st Century Palestine? Are you a 10 percenter? God will never forsake the righteous or their seed begging for bread! I share this message with the beggars in the streets as I give alms to them and a testimony of God’s faithfulness! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Stolen Treasure! 2 Kings 24:13
All the treasure of the House of the Lord that King Solomon had spent a lifetime amassing was carried off by Persian King Nebuchadnezzer of Babylon! All the gold, silver and vessels of the Temple and the King’s House were cut in pieces and carried off! What lesson can we learn from this? Hundred of years later Jesus predicted the Temple of Jerusalem would be destroyed again! About 40 years after His death and resurrection during the Roman/Jewish War (66-70A.D.), the Jewish Temple was destroyed and the treasure was carried off back to Rome along with one hundred thousand Jewish slaves! The Jewish slaves and treasure was used to build the Roman Coliseum! Then the early Christian’s were martyred in the same Coliseum! History has shown us that when Jew’s are persecuted so are the Christians! Same holds true today in 2016! The Apostle Paul talked about treasure in earthen vessels! The treasure inside each human was given to us by God! It is a gift and no human can steal it! What we do with this treasure is very important! If we claim it as our own then we are stealing treasure from God! The treasure within you is priceless and has eternal purpose! It will last forever! Our purpose in Christ is found on earth and prepares us for Heaven! Remember after death we come back to earth again with Christ for the one thousand year rule of earth following the seven year tribulation period! If you have been faithful here on the earth with the real treasure then expect greater responsibility later in His Kingdom there and when you return with Him again to earth! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Roman Colosseum 80 A.D.
The largest amphitheater in the world was built in Rome in 80 A.D. The average attendance was 65000 people! Nice but few Christians know how it was funded and who really built it? Emperor Vespasian funded the project from the spoils taken from the destruction of the Jewish Temple in 70 A.D. Remember Jesus prophesized the destruction of the Jewish Temple! Also the Colosseum was constructed by 100000 Jewish prisoners taken to Rome from Jerusalem! So what happens in this Colosseum? Over the next 300 years millions of Christians are martyred including Jesus Disciples who wrote our Holy Bible! Buried under the catacombs of Rome are an estimated 8 million Christians! So what can we conclude from history? Many things but importantly when Jews die Christians die! Whether it be WWII and the Nazi’s or other history. God promises that if we Bless the Jews He will Bless us! If we curse the Jews we will be cursed! Let us keep this in mind as President Obama pushes the Iran Nuke deal that the consequences to Israel and the Jews will have consequences to the Christians here in America and around the world! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Two Kingdoms!
This world and the world to come are two enemies! We cannot therefore be friends to both; but one must decide which we will forsake and which we will enjoy! Pope Clement I (1-99 A.D.) Pope Clement I was successor to the Apostle Peter and was martyred by Emperor Trajan in Rome.
Who was Polycarp? A.D. 69-155
He was a disciple and personal companion of the Apostle John. As a youth he studied at the Apostle’s feet and was ordained as Bishop of Smyrna. Some scholars believe that the Angel of the Church at Smyrna mentioned in the Book of Revelation was referring to Polycarp. Our Lord had no criticism for the Church at Smyrna and told them that they were rich! Their tribulation and poverty was translated into wealth of spirit! Polycarp lived to be about 87 years old and was martyred in 155 A.D. To escape martyrdom he only would have had to say, “Caesar is Lord.” Polycarp was a powerful leader both living and dying! Who is your Lord? Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com