My heart is heavy as I pause from listening to the Audible version of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs narrated in modern language. I had to stop for a moment of silence to revere the memory of Master John Hooper. He lived a life of conviction and godly conduct, and died a long and gruesome death during the reign of Bloody Mary in England. If the blood of Abel cries from the earth (Genesis 4:10), so too does the blood of Master John Hooper.
Until this morning, I had not heard of Hooper. Of one thing I am certain, God knows his name. Every drop of blood he shed has been recorded in God’s ledger. Every ounce of suffering he went through in his long drawn out experience of being slowly burned alive at the stake – all of it has been weighed by God. It has been added to the account beginning with the blood of Abel. God is keeping track of it all.
We must not forget that every atrocity incurred by the Son of God during His crucifixion has not been forgotten either. That, my friend, is why we break the Body, and drink the cup of His blood. We remember that all of it must be avenged when the day of reckoning comes. The thief must pay back seven times what they have stolen (Proverbs 6:31), and the murderer must receive seven times the retribution for their crime (Genesis 4:15).
When saints like John Hooper are burned at the stake, it is my belief that the Lake of Fire becomes seven times hotter. It is not merely a physical fire, but an eternal one, that torments the soul, even as it consumes all that is unlike God.
As the nameless saints, through the ages, suffered and died for their faith, the wrath of God was adding fuel to the fire. When the Lord Himself returns as Judge and King, His reward will be with Him (Revelation 22:12), to bless His own, and to avenge their blood (Revelation 6:10).
Leviticus 25:25 says that if someone becomes so poor that they have to sell the title deed to their property, their kinsman redeemer may buy it back for them. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve lost the property rights to planet Earth. However, God Himself became our Kinsman Redeemer and bought it back. This may seem like a tangent, but stay with me.
In my study of the Hebrew word for “redeemer,” I discovered that it was also translated in some verses as, “the avenger of blood.” Not only did God the Son redeem the rights to the earth, but He also took on Himself the responsibility as our nearest kin, to avenge our blood.
Song of Songs 4:9 calls us His “sister,” His “bride.” If He, as our Brother, will avenge our blood, how much more, as His sister, should we avenge His precious Blood in spiritual warfare. No more is there grace for lukewarm religion. The blood of the martyrs, and the very Blood of God Himself, should kindle a fire of passion in our hearts to put on the armour of God and invade the darkness, bringing destruction to the destroyer.
As we remember the broken Body of our Lord, and the Blood He spilled to unite it again, let us march in step, shoulder to shoulder, redeeming one another in love. The Blood that speaks better things than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:24) has a Voice. I pray that your ears are opened to hear the cry of the Voice of Blood.
As Michael gathers the angels of Heaven (Revelation 12:7), that Voice will gather His bride, here on earth. We will fight this war on two fronts. As in Heaven, so on earth. I conclude with these lyrics I wrote:
There’s a war fought on two fronts – within me and without
As the Word holds back the devil, there’s no need to scream and shout
But I may not hold the glory – that’s the war we wage within
The moment we take credit, we enter into sin
Our minds must be in order, our choices must be right
Subjected to the Word of God, projecting Him, we fight
At peace with one another, not judging with our eyes
For all will be rewarded, when He comes in the skies
Yes, day and night will separate
So come into the light
Choose to follow Jesus now
And be prepared to fight
Hoist your cross up on your back
And praise with every breath
The One Who framed the universe
And love Him to the death
At His coming, He’ll divide the pure from the profane
From His eyes, nothing is hidden, when He comes to rule and reign
If we stand as overcomers, we shall sit with Him to rule
But those whose minds are evil, the lake of fire will fuel
He’ll cast there every demon, and all demonic souls
The wrath that God was holding back will empty from its bowls
And every prayer He’ll answer for vengeance on the blood
Not only of those martyred, but of the Blood of God
Yes, day and night will separate
So come into the light
Choose to follow Jesus now
And be prepared to fight
Hoist your cross up on your back
And praise with every breath
The One Who framed the universe
And love Him to the death
The armies are assembled. It’s time to choose your side
There’s a horse here with your name on it
Are you ready now to ride?
Hoist your cross up on your back
And praise with every breath
The One Who framed the universe
And love Him to the death
Yes, love Him to the death
