Restoration Ministries

Before the communists had taken over the nation of China, American and British missionaries had done extensive missionary work in that nation and had established many church works. A great majority of these believers were taught that the church would be “raptured” before any persecution and tribulation were unleashed on the earth.

The terrible Maoist revolution spread like wildfire throughout the country in 1949 and the ensuing years, and Christians became a target for elimination. Pastors, church leaders and their families were made “examples” to their communities. They were persecuted, arrested, jailed and killed for their faith in the Lord.

It is a historical fact that many Chinese believers were devastated in their faith in God and His Word, because they believed He had failed them by not delivering them from persecution, tribulation and death. Had He not promised to “rapture” them before any of this happened?

The following are excerpts from a letter Corrie Ten Boom wrote in 1974. Corrie Ten Boom as many of you know was a World War II, concentration camp survivor. She, her sister and father were arrested and imprisoned for protecting, hiding and saving Jews. They literally laid down their lives in protecting the “apple of God’s eye.” That was the exact Biblical expression given by Corrie’s father as his reason for endangering his and his two daughter’s lives.

Mr. Ten Boom and his daughter Betsy died as a result of the harsh conditions and terrible abuse in the concentration camps. Corrie was the only survivor of the Ten Boom family. As a result of her experience in the German Nazi camps and her unwavering faith in God, His Word and her love for His people she was given a ministry to the Church worldwide until the time of her death in 1983.

Excerpts from Corrie’s letter/ 1974
“There are some among us teaching there will be no tribulation; that the Christians will be able to escape all this…Most of them have little knowledge of what is already going on across the world. I have been in countries where the saints are already suffering terrible persecution.”

“In China, the Christians were told, “Don’t worry, before the tribulation comes you will be “translated-raptured.” “Then came a terrible persecution. Millions of Christians were tortured to death. Later I heard a Bishop from China say, sadly;

“We have failed. We should have made the people strong for persecution, rather then telling them Jesus would come first. Tell the people how to be strong in times of persecution, how to stand when the tribulation comes, — to stand and not faint.”

“I feel I have a divine mandate to go and tell the people of this world that it is possible to be strong in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are in training for the tribulation, and more than sixty percent of the Body of Christ across the world has already entered into the tribulation. There is no way to escape it. We are next.” (highlight mine)

“When I was in the concentration camp, a camp where only twenty percent of the women came out alive, we tried to cheer each other up by saying; “Nothing could be any worse than today.” But we would find the next day was even worse. During this time a Bible verse that I had committed to memory gave me great hope and joy.” If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you; on their part evil is spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.” (I Peter 4:14)

“I found myself saying, “Hallelujah! Because I am suffering, Jesus is glorified.”

“In America, the churches sing, “Let the congregation escape the tribulation,” but in China and Africa the tribulation has already arrived. This last year alone more than 200,000 (two-hundred thousand) Christians were martyred in Africa. Now things like that never get into the newspapers because they cause bad political relations. But I know. I have been there. We need to think about that when we sit down in our nice houses with our nice clothes to eat our steak dinners. Many members of the Body of Christ are being tortured to death at this very moment, yet we continue right on as though we are all going to escape tribulation.”

“Several years ago I was in Africa in a nation where a new government had come into power. The first night I was there some of the Christians were commanded to come to the police station to register. When they arrived they were arrested and that same night they were executed. The next day the same thing happened with other Christians. The third day it was the same. All the Christians in the district were being systematically murdered.”

The fourth day I was to speak in a little church. The people came, but they were filled with fear and tension. All during the service they were looking at each other, their eyes asking, “Will this one I am sitting beside me be the next one killed? Will I be the next one?”

“The room was hot and stuffy with insects that came through the screen less windows and swirled around the naked light bulbs over the wooden benches. I told them a story out of my childhood.”

“When I was a little girl,” I said, “I went to my father and said; Daddy, I am afraid that I will never be strong enough to be a martyr for Jesus Christ.” Tell me said father, when you take a train trip to Amsterdam, when I give you the money for the ticket? Three weeks before? No Daddy, you give me the money for the ticket just before we get on the train.”

“That is right,” my father said, “and so it is with God’s strength. Our Father in Heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ. He will supply all you need—just in time…”

“My African friends were nodding and smiling. Suddenly, a spirit of joy descended upon that church and the people began singing… “In that sweet, by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore.”

Later that week, half the congregation of that church was executed. I heard later that the other half was killed some months ago.”

“But I must tell you something. I was so happy that the Lord used me to encourage these people, for unlike many of their leaders, I had the word of God. I had been to the Bible and discovered that Jesus said He had not only overcome the world, but to all those that remained faithful to the end, He would give a crown of life.”

“How can we get ready for the persecution?”

“First we need to feed on the Word of God…Next we need to develop a personal, intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ (through prayer)…We must be filled with the Holy Spirit… We must be ready to help each other and encourage each other. But we must not wait until tribulation comes before starting…”

“Many are fearful of the coming tribulation, they want to run… I too am a little afraid…But then I read the Bible and I am glad. When I am weak, then I shall be strong, the Bible says…No, you will not be strong in yourself when tribulation comes, rather, you will be strong in the power of Him who will not forsake you. For 76 (seventy-six) years I have known the Lord Jesus and not once has He ever left me, or let me down.

“Thought He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (Job 13:15) “…for I know that to all who overcome, He shall give the crown of life. Hallelujah!” -Corrie Ten Boom – 1974

This is the reason why we are urgently publishing the following series of teachings on end-time prophecy. We are now seeing prophecy being fulfilled before our very eyes and it is critically necessary to be able to discern our role as the Church in all of this chaos.

Spiritually responsible Christians must realize that our present religious freedom may not remain forever.

Efraim Valverde II
February, 12, 2009