War Heroes Remembered

GREATER LOVE

In the city of Melbourne, Australia, there is a very impressive shrine in memory of those from the state of Victoria who gave their lives for their country in times of war. The shrine was built between July 1928 and November 1934 in memory of the thousands from Victoria who served and died in the 1914 -1918 war. It has been a growing monument with other memorials added to the site as Australian soldiers fought in various campaigns. Queen Elizabeth II dedicated the forecourt in 1954 to those who served in the 1939 - 1945 war. There is a prominent inscription that declares, "Let all men know that this is holy ground". This is recognition that there is something very special about those who died on behalf of others.

D Day Landing June 6th

June 6^th was a very special day for the veterans of the D Day landing in Normandy.  The veterans were there to commemorate the invasion of France to defeat the Nazi enemy and to liberate the people of France. Seventy five years ago thousands of young men died on the five beaches where the allied forces landed and today's veterans went back to Sword Beach, Normandy to remember the sacrifice of their comrades on that day.  Two of those veterans, one aged 95 years old, the other 94 years old, who had parachuted into Normandy on D Day jumped again this year (in tandem with an instructor) from the Dakota aircraft to the same area. What memories that would bring back!  

1914 - 1918 War - Love!

In the city of Melbourne, Australia, there is a very impressive shrine in memory of those from the state of Victoria who gave their lives for their country in times of war. The shrine was built between July 1928 and November 1934 in memory of the thousands from Victoria who served and died in the 1914 -1918 war. It has been a growing monument with other memorials added to the site as Australian soldiers fought in various campaigns. Queen Elizabeth II dedicated the forecourt in 1954 to those who served in the 1939 - 1945 war. There is a prominent inscription that declares, "Let all men know that this is holy ground". This is recognition that there is something very special about those who died on behalf of others.

One of the most interesting features is a plaque inside the main building that bears the words "Greater love hath no man". This is a partial quotation of John 15.13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends". A ray of light is directed onto the word ‘love’ at 11.00 am on the 11th of the 11th month marking the hour and day of the armistice that formally ended the second World War. How good to reflect with sincere thanks on the sacrifice of so many that led to the war being over.

To ponder the greatness of love we must really turn away from all that is of man and that may be sentimental, and think of the love of God. As quoted above, these men died for their friends and fellowcitizens, but the contrast with Divine love is immense. "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life" Romans 5.7,8,10. The enmity between God and us was caused by sin. James plainly declares that we can test whether or not we are enemies of God, "know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" James 4.4. If our ambition is wholly for this world; its pleasures, pursuits, power, prestige and popularity, then we are constituted enemies of God. Again Paul wrote, "the carnal mind is enmity against God" Romans 8.7. Thus we are enemies by what we are, what we do and how we think.

Despite this, God loved us and gave His Son to die for us. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" John 3.16.

No man of greater love can boast

Than for his friend to die;

Thou for Thine enemies wast slain:

What love with Thine can vie?

               ... (J Stennett)

This love wrought salvation, leaving the basis for sinners to be reconciled to God, because it was done perfectly and forever. Prior to dismissing His spirit and entering into death, the Lord Jesus Christ said, "It is finished" John 19.30, and the work was completely done. It needs no addition or repetition and certainly there is nothing we can do to assist in the matter. Salvation is offered freely to all mankind and the enemy who accepts Him by faith and rests totally upon Him, that person will be reconciled and rather than being an enemy of God, will be His friend. It is obvious which relationship is best!

Used by permission of Assembly Testimony Magazine

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Victory Europe Day - WW2 Commemoration

As we commemorate the end of WW2 we should remember that early in the war when International opinion predicted the imminent collapse of Britain's will to fight - supposing that the British would be cowed by the threat of invasion, by U-boat blockade or by terror bombing from the huge German airforce. King George VI called for a national day of prayer. The likelihood of Britain surviving the war was minimal but God preserved this land and Europe from the domination of Hitler and the 3rd Reich. We salute the hero's of WW1 and thank God for his sovereign intervention in those dark days. 

The 70th. Anniversary of the end of WW2

This year marks the 70^th. Anniversary of the end of WW2. May 8^th. is known as VE Day, or, Victory in Europe, and three late summer dates chronicle VJ Day. August 14th - Japan surrendered; August 15th – Surrender was announced to the world, and September 2 - Ceremony and formal signing of surrender.

VJ Day marked the end of WWII, and the cessation of fighting against Japan. It is called "Victory In Japan Day or "Victory Over Japan.

I was ten years old when the BBC announced Germany’s surrender on the radio. It was an overwhelming sense of relief, of feeling safe, knowing that there would be no more V2 rockets flying over our house with the possibility of its power cutting out and it plummeting to the ground causing an explosion destroying lives and property.

My relief was small compared to the inmates of the Nazis concentration camps rescued 70 years ago. Those camps included this list supplied by Wikipedia, Auschwitz-Birkenau Belzec Bergen-BelsenChelmno Dachau Ebensee FlossenbürgGross-Rosen Janowska Kaiserwald Majdanek Mauthausen-Gusen Natzweiler-Struthof Neuengamme Nordhausen (Dora-Mittelbau) Sachsenhausen (Oranienburg) PlaszowRavensbrück Sobibor Stutthof Terezin (Theresienstadt) Treblinka Westerbork. Hitler’s programme to exterminate the Jews was halted, but not before six million souls perished in those camps.

There is a rise today of anti-Semitic incidents recorded in the UK, the highest last year since those horrific days seen in Germany decades ago. After the recent Paris attacks on Jews, some Synagogues in the UK have put barbed wire around their buildings, anticipating a terrorist attack.

Hitler’s plan for World dominion failed, as did his destruction of the nation of Israel, which failed too. All attempts in the past to destroy Israel have failed and any future attempt will fail also. God is sovereign and He will not go back on His Word that He gave to Abraham and David. He made a covenant with both men, with Abraham concerning the land, bordering the Euphrates and the Great River of Egypt, and with David concerning the throne. (Genesis 15 and 18, and David, Psalm 89)

A highly significant happening was prophesied in Jeremiah 25:11, which reads, “And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations. God told Jeremiah two things, firstly that Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon would make the land of Palestine desolate and secondly carry its inhabitants away captive for 70 years in Babylon (Iraq). Commentators place the captivity between 606BC and 516BC depending upon which of the three deportations of captives it referrs to. This 70 year captivity of Israel with Jerusalem trodden underfoot marks the beginning of a period of history known as ‘The Times of the Gentiles’. During this period four World Empires arose to dominate the known world. (1) Babylon: (2) Medo-Persia (Iran): (3) Greece and (4) Rome. All of these are past powers but a fifth power will arise having characteristics of these four previous kingdoms.  The Book of Daniel gives the historical rise of these four kingdoms in the first six chapters, the last six chapters tell us prophetically something of the nature of the four and also of the fifth.

Jesus said in Luke 21:24, “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” In Luke 21 and Matthew 24 Christ gave details of the rise and fall of the fifth power which is yet future. The fall of that fifth kingdom will mark the end of the times of the Gentiles and usher in a new realm, the Kingdom of Christ on earth.

Daniel chapter 9 tells us not of 70 years but 70 weeks. However these weeks are not weeks of days but weeks of years outlining a period of 490 years. These 490 years are divided into three, 49 years, 434 years and 7 years, and the final seven divided into two periods of three and a half each. That seven years is the Tribulation that will come upon all the world, but the second half is The Great Tribulation that Jeremiah calls ‘The time of Jacob’s trouble’.

At the commencement of the seven years Satan will empower a man, called ‘The Beast’ in Revelation chapter 13, and ‘The man of sin’ in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. He will force people to have his mark on their hand and forehead in order to buy and sell. Will that mark be his number 666? Over thirty years ago I gave a lift to a young man who told me he had an interest in numerology. He produced from his briefcase an A4 paper with some names on it, and alongside the name a number. Hitler’s name was on the paper, and Mendleson and others. Then he pointed to a number at the bottom of the sheet which was 666, and said, “That is my number!” I told him of the man in Revelation chapter 13 and what his end would be. I glanced across to see his face, one I shall never forget, it was evil! Was this young man playing a prank on me with his pre-arranged paper? I don’t know, but I do know this, the Man of Sin who is the beast could be alive today?

My dear reader if you are not saved, not born again, I believe that the time is short. It is essential for you to repent of your sin and receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour before He comes to make war with those who reject Him. Revelation chapter 19 verse 15 says, “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” 

Be saved now and be ready.  God bless.

Written for Liverpool Photoblog by Stan Burditt.