When rebuilding the wall those doing so kept full armed and so did those resting. We too must be ready, but have the olive Branch of peace held out. But never let willingness to seek to love and forgive, become so relaxed that a knife removes out head form our body. Seek peace, but be on guard because the devil and those who serve him) seek to destroy us.
If we Christians are beheaded by Muslims, so what? We'll be raised to life again. I mean, I'm not going to just surrender my head. But if it's a choice between living and renouncing my faith, my head will be gone.
Revelation 20:4-6
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then
I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
This is what will happen in the Tribulation (see the reference to the mark of the beast).
Revelation 14:12-13
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
That doesn't mean we shouldn't be careful as we go.
Matthew 10:16-17
16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.
Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17 But
beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
Micah 7:5-6
5
Do not rely on a friend;
don’t trust in a close companion.
Seal your mouth
from the woman who lies in your arms.
6 Surely a son considers his father a fool, a daughter opposes her mother,
and a daughter-in-law is against her mother-in-law;
a man’s enemies are the men of his own household.
We should be wise, but ultimately not afraid to lose our lives if it comes down to it.
Revelation 12:11
11 They conquered him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death.
Matthew 10:28
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:39
39 Anyone finding his life will lose it, and anyone losing his life because of Me will find it.
Luke 9:24
24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it.
