Will Some True Christians be “Put to Death”
Before Jesus Returns?
(Or is this yet another mistranslation?)
by Lorraine Day, M.D.
In the King James Bible (KJV), Luke 21: 16-18 reads as follows:
“And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
“But there shall not an hair of your head perish.”
“In your patience possess ye your souls.”
Is there a problem here?
There is a very real problem with this text as it is translated. If the enemies of the righteous are going to be “put to death,” why does God follow that revelation with
“But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
“In your patience possess ye your souls.”
If your hair follicles on your head have NOT perished, then you are alive.
Also, you “possess your soul.”
The word “soul” means any animal or human being that has the five senses: a living creature. One must be alive to have the five senses.
The word “some” in this verse in the KJV is in italics, meaning it has been added by the translators. But other words, that are not in italics, have also been added by the translators.
Here is the way that same text reads in the Concordant literal translation:
“Yet you shall be given up by parents also, and brothers and relatives and friends, and they shall be putting some of you to death.
“And you shall be hated by all because of My name
And hair of your head should by no means be perishing.
By your endurance shall you be acquiring your souls.”
The words, or parts of words that are NOT in ‘bold” have been added by the translators. So, here is how the text would read in the original:
“Yet you shall be given up by parents also, and brothers and relatives and friends, and they shall be ing of you death.”
It could just as easily read:
“Yet you shall be given up by parents also, and brothers and relatives and friends, and they shall be wanting of you, death.”
This makes much more sense, since it is followed by:
“And you shall be hated by all because of My name.
“And the hair of your head should by no means be perishing.
“By your endurance shall you be acquiring your souls.”
When you read the passage in context, it appears to be saying that they will WANT to kill true Christians because they HATE them, but that God will protect them because
“. . .not even a hair of your head shall be perishing
“By your endurance, you shall be acquiring your souls.”
With the literal translation, the passage now makes sense. It appears to say that God will save the True Christians from their enemies who want to put them to death.
“Not a hair of your head shall be perishing, and by your endurance, you shall be acquiring your souls – your physical life.”
Are the Bible Translators at it again? Changing God’s Word to suit themselves, and to make God look weak?
But what does this passage really mean?
Aren’t there going to be a lot of Christian martyrs at the end, just like there were during the Dark Ages?
Weren’t ALL of the disciples martyred, except John, who was banished to the Isle of Patmos?
This couldn’t possible be a promise for ALL Christians living near the end of time, could it?
But if God is only going to save some and let others be martyred, is He up in heaven flipping a coin to arbitrarily make the decision on who lives and who dies?
God promises to “heal ALL our diseases.” Psalm 103:3 – but ONLY if we really trust Him, and know Him personally, and follow His “laws, commandments and decrees.” Deut 7:11-15
So this promise of healing is for EVERYONE. But very few are willing to trust God with everything in his life, and very few are willing to “follow His laws, commandments and decrees.”
So the promise is for everyone who truly knows – and follows – the Lord! But the number who are willing to do all that – is very small.
When Jesus Comes
When Jesus returns, the Bible tells us that the earth will be destroyed by fire. In 2 Peter, Chapter 3, the apostle Peter is talking about the second coming of Christ. But first he likens the end times, when virtually the whole world will be wicked – having chosen to follow “man” (Satan), rather than following Jesus Christ and standing against all odds to witness for Him, to the time of the flood, when virtually the whole world was wicked, and there were only 8 souls who actually believed in God.
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
“And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
“Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
“But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one things, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:3-10
The Flood
At the time of the Flood, it is estimated that there were 3 Billion people on the earth because people lived to be almost 1,000 years old, and had many, many children. Yet, because all of these people were so desperately wicked, only EIGHT people were saved in the ark from the flood. There were no others who believed in God. Just EIGHT people out of 3 Billion!
The Crucifixion of Christ
It is estimated that there were 300 million people on the entire earth at the time of Christ, The estimates for the population of Jerusalem during Christ’s time vary between 600,000 and about 2 Million.
Even though Jesus had healed probably hundreds of people, maybe thousands, of crippling and life-threatening diseases, how many were with Christ at the time of His crucifixion? Everyone left Him except 5 people: His mother, just one disciple, John, Mary Magdalene, and two other women. Even His other 10 disciples left Him after one disciple, Judas Iscariot, betrayed Him to His death.
Out of the 600,000 to possibly 2 million people in Jerusalem, only five had the courage to stand by Jesus during His crucifixion. Other than His mother, there were only four!
When Jesus Returns
Jesus was appalled at how little faith their was in Israel even when He was on earth. He likened that situation to the last days by saying:
“When the Son of man returns, will He find (any) faith on earth?” Luke 8:8
The Bible tells us that God’s spirit will lead the true Christian “into ALL truth.”
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into ALL truth. . .” John 16:13
That means not only spiritual truth, but political and health truth as well.
But how many Christians know the truth of what is really happening in this country?
The truth about the New World Order and Ten Kingdoms that are being assembled right now?
About the real identity of the two Beast Powers of Revelation 13?
About who runs America and the world from behind the scenes?
About False Flag operations and Mind Control in America?
How many understand and embrace Universal Restoration?
The truth about the supposed “Trinity”?
The truth about there being no literal hellfire?
The truth about humanity not having “Freewill”? The truth of the Seventh-day, Saturday, Sabbath?
You can almost count the number on your own two hands!
Jesus, when He was on earth, spoke of the terrible apostasy that would have taken over the Christian church when He returns:
“Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.
“Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in they name done many wonderful works?
“And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” Matt 7:21-23
At the time of the flood, God saved ALL who believed in Him – only 8 people on the whole earth.
At the time of Christ’s return, almost everyone will have chosen to follow the Adversary. There will be precious few who will stand on the side of the Lord. Satan’s goal is to wipe out all Christians and any vestige of the power of Jesus Christ from the face of the earth, a goal he is rapidly achieving. But Jesus Christ will not let that happen. He will have His few as witnesses for Him.
“Many are called, few are chosen.” Matt 22:14
“Narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it.” Matt 7:14
The Lord has a “little flock.” Luke 12:32
The majority of those on the earth who call themselves Christians have no real relationship with Jesus Christ as manifested by their belief in “man” – pastors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and doctors in general – even though Jesus Christ has PROMISED to “heal ALL our diseases” (Psalm 103:3) IF we “follow His laws, commandments and decrees.” Deut 7:11-15
That promise is for ALL who will follow Christ’s way.
How did the Twelve Apostles Die?
James, the brother of John (sons of Zebedee)
According to the Book of Acts in the New Testament, James was killed by Herod:
Acts 12:1 And at that time Herod the king threw on his hands to oppress some of those of the ecclesia.
Acts 12:2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
Simon Peter
Jesus predicted how Peter would die. After Peter denied Christ three times at His trial, and after Jesus was crucified and resurrected and appeared to the disciples, Jesus asked Peter three times, “Simon, son of Jonas, do you love Me?” Peter realized Jesus was affirming Peter’s love because of Peter’s previous denial.
Jesus told Peter three times, “Feed My sheep.” Then Jesus added:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, when you were young, you clothed yourself and walked wherever you wanted. But when you are old, you will stretch forth your hands and another will clothe you and take you where you don’t want to go.
This spoke He (Jesus), signifying by what type of death he (Peter) should glorify God.” John 21:18,19
Jesus was predicting Peter’s death by crucifixion.
Both Hippolytus (170-235 A.D.), the most important 3rd century theologian among the Christian believers in Rome, and Eusebius (263-339 A.D.), a Roman historian who became Bishop of Caeserea in 314 A.D., confirm that Peter was indeed, crucified. Peter reportedly requested to be crucified upside-down because he didn’t feel worthy to be crucified as Christ was.
Judas Iscariot
We all know what happened to him.
Andrew
According to Hippolytus, Andrew was crucified, suspended on an olive tree at Patrae, a town of Achaia (Greece) and was buried there.
James, Son of Alphaeus
Hippolytus states that James was stoned to death in Jerusalem and buried there beside the temple.
Thomas
History suggests that Thomas was martyred about 70 A.D.
Philip
History suggests that Philip was crucified in Phrygia around 54 A.D.
Matthew
History suggests that Matthew was beheaded at Nad-Davar sometime between 60-70 A.D.
Nathanael (Bartholomew)
According to Hippolytus, Bartholomew preached in India. He was crucified with his head downward and was buried in Allanum, a town in what is modern day southern Georgia.
Thaddeus/Judas, son of James
History suggests that Thaddeus was preaching in Mesopotamia in the midst of pagan priests who beat him to death around 72 A.D.
Simon, the Zealot
Historians tell of the many different places that Simon proclaimed the good news of Christ’s resurrection: Egypt, Cyrene, Africa, Mauritania, Britain, Lybia, and Persia. History suggests that he was crucified by a governor in Syria around 74 A.D.
Matthias
Matthias was the one picked by the other disciples to replace Judas Iscariot. Eusebius tells us that Matthias preached in Ethiopia and was later stoned while hanging on a cross around 70 A.D.
John, the beloved
John was not martyred. The Bible tells us he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos (Rev 1:9) where he wrote the book of Revelation containing wonderful prophecies of Christ’s return.
It is significant that John appears to be the only disciple who as NOT martyred because we know that John was the only disciple who did NOT abandon Christ during His trial and crucifixion. All the other disciples ran away, in fear for their own life.
It was John – and only John – of ALL the disciples, who had the courage to stay close to Christ, at the risk of his own life, all during Christ’s trial and His death by crucifixion.
Could it be that the apostle John, who stood by Christ through all His sufferings, is the example of those who will have the courage to risk their own life to stand for Christ, who, in the end, will NOT by martyred?
“Not an hair of your head will perish. . .”
In Luke 21:16-18, Jesus promises that even though the enemies of Christ will want to kill true Christians,
“. . .there shall not an hair of your head perish. By your endurance shall you be acquiring your souls (your physical life).”
Is that promise only for some True Christians, and not for others? Just as it was at the time of the Flood, there will be few Christians who truly believe the Lord, and stand for truth.
But won’t He save ALL of those true believers, just like He saved ALL of Noah’s family from the Flood – the only true believers at that time?
Will those true Christians who stand for the Lord in the end, at the risk of their life, like the apostle John – escape martyrdom?
“It is impossible for God to lie.” Hebrews 6:18
“Is there anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:14
