It is mine to avenge, I will repay?

It is mine to avenge,

I will repay ?

(Romans 12:19)

The American army dropped the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki in 1945.

Did it happen by Accident?

On August 6, 1945, the American army dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, a city of both industrial and military significance of Japan.

A comparison picture of Hiroshima before and after the atomic bomb.

3 days later, The American army dropped the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki.

There is a multiplicity of views on the real reason why Nagasaki was chosen.

A comparison picture of Nagasaki before and after the atomic bomb.

Absolutely not by accident!

It is mine to avenge, I will repay. (Romans 12:19) Nagasaki is the site where the first group of Japanese Christian martyrs were executed.

In the later part of the 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Daij-daijin of Japan thought the Christianity preached by the foreign missionaries was a kind of heresy, and issued a decree banning the gospel. Regardless of nationality, all offenders would be severely punished, they then even started to arrest and kill missionaries and Christians. 6 Franciscans and 20 Japanese Christians were executed by crucifixion at Nishizaka hill in Nagasaki on February 4,1597, including two children of 12 and 13 years of age. They were the first group of Japanese Christian martyrs.

The monument of Twenty-six Martyrs in Nagasaki

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The 26 "prisoners" were moved from Kyoto to Nagasaki, passing through Osaka and other places, having suffered a long and tortured journey for 28 days, with a nearly 1000 km in distance. They looked down upon these sufferings, by singing anthems to praise the Lord, encouraging one another with the Word of God, and being filled with joy and peace along their journey.

Whenever they came to a town, they pressed on with preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the crowds around, disregarding their own sufferings.

Route of the 26 Christian marty A 28 day long tortured journey passing through

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As they were finally sent to the execution site at Nishizaka in Nagasaki, their hearts were fully prepared to meet God and to accept the eternal crown prepared for them. On both sides of the road fully stood onlookers, most of them were deeply touched by seeing their manner of being filled with joy and peace, and wondered what kind of faith they had that could have such a dynamic power.

Bronze statue and monument of the 26 Christian Martyrs in Nagasaki.

yrs. cities like Kyoto and Osaka etc.

Tomb of Unknown Christians in Toyooka.

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Those 26 saints walked to the side of their designated cross and waited for the execution without worry or nervousness. Then their hands and feet and heads were fitted into iron hoops respectively. As the order was given, all 26 crosses were risen up.

They took advantage of their only remaining time while they were hung on the crosses, some of them prayed to God, some tried to console their family and friends with God's Word, and the others preached the gospel to the onlookers.

On the cross, they cried to God for Japanese people,

“Lord, please have mercy on the people on this land. Please send your missionaries to come and help, lead these people back to you!�

Right after that, they lifted their heads and said, "Lord, please take my soul with your hands." Not long after it, they were taken away by the Lord into His glorious kingdom.

Persecution did not cease, in the next two hundred years and more, nearly a million Christians were persecuted to death.

The second atomic bomb was chosen to drop in Nagasaki, it did not happen by accident!

It is mine to avenge, I will repay. (Romans 12:19) Nevertheless God has not forgotten the cries of these saints...

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A drawing of the 26 Christian martyrs in Nagasaki, Kyushu

In 1988, a sister in Christ, Baoru Chen from Taiwan, read the testimonies and prayers of these martyrs, when she was traveling Japan, her heart was moved by the Lord.

Seemingly she heard the martyrs’ crying on the cross to the Lord,

“Lord, please have mercy on the people on this land. Please send your missionaries to come and help, lead these people back to you!”

She heard the cries of the martyrs as Paul heard the voice of the man of Macedonia. The Holy Spirit deeply moved her heart that she willingly responded to this calling and accepted to be sent by the Lord, and dedicated herself to lead Japanese back to Jesus.

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Baoru Chen, the missionary, responded to the call, she is still preaching Jesus' salvation in Japan so far, leading His people back to Him. “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”（Romans 15:21）

Will you also respond to the Lord's calling upon you?

Beware and Pray, Go to Win souls, Prepare for the Lord’s coming!

Matthew 24:32~44 http://www.last-day.org.tw