By Mark Grace, CCCNZ Ambassador
Revelation 6:10
'Nui atu to ratou reo ki te karanga, ki te mea, Kia pehea te roa, e te Ariki, e te tapu, e te pono, a kore ana koe e whakawa, e rapu utu mo o matou toto, i te hunga e noho ana i runga i te whenua?'
'They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”'
'ua latou alalaga foi ma le leo tele, ua faapea atu, Le Alii e, le paia ma le faamaoni e te le faamasino ea ma taui i lo matou toto i e nonofo i le lalolagi seia afea?'
Elisabeth Elliot is described as one of the most influential Christian women of the 20th Century.
In 1953, Elisabeth married Jim Elliot in Quito, Ecuador. Jim and Elisabeth were young missionaries to an unreached Ecudorian tribe, the Waorani, known pejoratively as 'Aucas' (a word for 'savages').
The Waorani were a fierce group whom no one had succeeded in meeting without being killed. After discovering the location of the tribe, Jim and four other missionaries entered Waorani territory. After a friendly contact with three of the tribe, they were speared to death—leaving Elisabeth alone in Ecuador with their 10-month-old daughter.
Loved by the Lamb
In Revelation 6:9-11, Christians slain because of their faithfulness to the word and their faithfulness to Jesus are in heaven under the altar.
Chapter five tells us there are millions of angels around the throne worshiping the Lamb. And yet in chapter six it is the voice of ordinary Christians under the altar who have suffered for Jesus that he lovingly listens to, and responds to.
Theirs is a cry for justice: 'How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?'
History is being led to its conclusion by the Lamb. He hears the cry of his people. He pauses, he listens and he responds. He cares tenderly for each individual by clothing them personally in a white robe.
He then responds by saying in verse 11: wait a little longer until the full number of your fellow servants—brothers and sisters—are killed just as you’ve been.
Sitting behind these verses is the reality that they are with Jesus because in his love entered history and he was slain for their sin.
He reminds them that out of love for them, justice is coming. They have a worth and dignity beyond what they can comprehend. They are made in his image… they have been bought with an unimaginable price.
As the powers of evil and humanity conspire to kill Christians these tragic deaths are not in vain—Jesus lovingly uses these circumstances to bear gospel fruit.
Out of his great love, the Lamb knows who are his.
A Love That Endures
After the death of her husband, and now alone with her 10-month-old daughter, Elisabeth Elliot continued to live among and minister to the nearby Quichua tribe.
Two years later (along with another wife of one of those killed), Elisabeth went as a missionary to serve the Waorani tribe that killed her husband. While there, the people gave Elisabeth the tribal name Gikari, meaning “Woodpecker”.
Eight years later, Elisabeth returned to the USA and started a decades-long career as a writer and speaker. For 13 years, Elisabeth hosted a 12-minute radio program aimed at women called 'Gateway To Joy'. She opened each episode by saying:
'"You are loved with an everlasting love" that's what the Bible says, "and underneath are the everlasting arms". This is your friend, Elisabeth Elliot...”
Elisabeth Elliot’s loss and love lead her to see the love of the Lamb for his people in a profound way. Through God's kindness the tragic circumstances of death and loss bore great gospel fruit.
Revelation assures us: suffering Christians are not the forgotten footnotes of history.
The first readers of the book of Revelation were Christians living under Roman oppression and they hear Jesus' loving reassurance: I am working out all my purposes, you are not at the edge of my purposes but at the centre.
John's vision serves as an encouragement to both the early Christians, and to us, to trust in the transforming work of Jesus Christ.
The Lamb who was for sinners slain. The Lamb who brings about justice. The Lamb who holds the final victory.
The Lamb who loves his people.
