Encouragement for the End Times from Corrie Ten Boom

I just wanted to share this letter of hope and strength from a survivor of the Nazi's.
It has given me strength and I hope it will speak to you as well.


“CORRIE TEN BOOM & THE RAPTURE”
(She wrote this letter from China to America’s Pastors in 1974)

My sister, Betsy, and I were in the Nazi concentration camp at Ravensbruck because we committed the crime of loving Jews. Seven hundred of us from Holland, France, Russia, Poland and Belgium were herded into a room built for two hundred. As far as I knew, Betsy and I were the only two representatives of Heaven in that room.

We may have been the Lord's only representatives in that place of hatred, yet because of our presence there, things changed. Jesus said, "In the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." We too, are to be overcomers – bringing the light of Jesus into a world filled with darkness and hate.

There are some among us teaching there will be no tribulation, that the Christians will be able to escape all this. These are the false teachers that Jesus was warning us to expect in the latter days. Most of them have little knowledge of what is already going on across the world. I have been in countries where the saints are already suffering terrible persecution.

In China, the Christians were told, "Don't worry, before the tribulation comes you will be translated – raptured." Then came a terrible persecution. Millions of Christians were tortured to death. Later I heard a Bishop from China say, sadly, "We have failed. We should have made the people strong for persecution, rather than telling them Jesus would come first. Tell the people how to be strong in times of persecution, how to stand when the tribulation comes, – to stand and not faint."

I feel I have a divine mandate to go and tell the people of this world that it is possible to be strong in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are in training for the tribulation, but more than sixty percent of the Body of Christ across the world has already entered into the tribulation. There is no way to escape it. We are next.

Since I have already gone through prison for Jesus' sake, and since I met the Bishop in China, now every time I read a good Bible text I think, "Hey, I can use that in the time of tribulation." Then I write it down and learn it by heart.

When I was in the concentration camp, a camp where only twenty percent of the women came out alive, we tried to cheer each other up by saying, "Nothing could be any worse than today." But we would find the next day was even worse. During this time a Bible verse that I had committed to memory gave me great hope and joy.

"If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you; on their part evil is spoken of, but on your part He is glorified."
(I Peter 3:14)

I found myself saying, "Hallelujah! Because I am suffering, Jesus is glorified!"

In America, the churches sing, "Let the congregation escape tribulation", but in China and Africa the tribulation has already arrived. This last year alone more than two hundred thousand Christians were martyred in Africa. Now things like that never get into the newspapers because they cause bad political relations. But I know. I have been there. We need to think about that when we sit down in our nice houses with our nice clothes to eat our steak dinners. Many, many members of the Body of Christ are being tortured to death at this very moment, yet we continue right on as though we are all going to escape the tribulation.

Several years ago I was in Africa in a nation where a new government had come into power. The first night I was there some of the Christians were commanded to come to the police station to register. When they arrived they were arrested and that same night they were executed. The next day the same thing happened with other Christians. The third day it was the same. All the Christians in the district were being systematically murdered.

The fourth day, I was to speak in a little church. The people came, but they were filled with fear and tension. All during the service they were looking at each other, their eyes asking, "Will this one I am sitting beside be the next one killed? Will I be the next one?"

The room was hot and stuffy with insects that came through the screenless windows and swirled around the naked bulbs over the bare wooden benches. I told them a story out of my childhood.

"When I was a little girl, " I said, "I went to my father and said, "Daddy, I am afraid that I will never be strong enough to be a martyr for Jesus Christ." "Tell me," said Father, "When you take a train trip to Amsterdam, when do I give you the money for the ticket? Three weeks before?"

"No, Daddy, you give me the money for the ticket just before we get on the train."

"That is right," my father said, "and so it is with God's strength. Our Father in Heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ. He will supply all you need – just in time…"

My African friends were nodding and smiling. Suddenly a spirit of joy descended upon that church and the people began singing, " In the sweet, by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore." Later that week, half the congregation of that church was executed. I heard later that the other half was killed some months ago.

But I must tell you something. I was so happy that the Lord used me to encourage these people, for unlike many of their leaders, I had the word of God. I had been to the Bible and discovered that Jesus said He had not only overcome the world, but to all those who remained faithful to the end, He would give a crown of life.

How can we get ready for the persecution?

First we need to feed on the Word of God, digest it, make it a part of our being. This will mean disciplined Bible study each day as we not only memorize long passages of scripture, but put the principles to work in our lives.

Next we need to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Not just the Jesus of yesterday, the Jesus of History, but the life-changing Jesus of today who is still alive
and sitting at the right hand of God.

We must be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is no optional command of the Bible, it is absolutely necessary. Those earthly disciples could never have stood up under the persecution of the Jews and Romans had they not waited for Pentecost. Each of us needs our own personal Pentecost, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO STAND IN THE TRIBULATION WITHOUT IT.

In the coming persecution we must be ready to help each other and encourage each other. But we must not wait until the tribulation comes before starting. The fruit of the Spirit should be the dominant force of every Christian's life.

Many are fearful of the coming tribulation, they want to run. I, too, am a little bit afraid when I think that after all my eighty years, including the horrible Nazi concentration camp, that I might have to go through the tribulation also. But then I read the Bible and I am glad.

When I am weak, then I shall be strong, the Bible says. Betsy and I were prisoners for the Lord, we were so weak, but we got power because the Holy Spirit was on us. That mighty inner strengthening of the Holy Spirit helped us through. No, you will not be strong in yourself when the tribulation comes. Rather, you will be strong in the power of Him who will not forsake you. For seventy-six years I have known the Lord Jesus and not once has He ever left me, or let me down.

"Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him", (Job 13:15) for I know that to all who overcome, He shall give the crown of life. Hallelujah!"

3 Resurrections said:

It is sad that a woman of such great faith could not discern the difference between the "Great Tribulation" which Christ foretold for His own first-century generation (which is a period long past to us) and the ordinary tribulation which all believers experience in this world in every generation. "In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world..." and also, "Yeah, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution..."

The unequalled, unprecedented "Great Tribulation" for the first-century nation of Israel is not in our future. Ordinary tribulation or persecution for believers most certainly could come upon anyone at any time in any nation.

Click to expand...

I disagree.

3 Resurrections said:

This is your prerogative. But it disregards the context of Matthew 24 and Luke 21 in which the "Great Tribulation" would take place, once those disciples saw Jerusalem surrounded by armies. To avoid the days of "Great Tribulation" of Matthew 24:21, after those armies surrounded Jerusalem, the believers were to quickly flee Judea and head for the mountains. How would that be applicable to someone living in the USA or China, or any other nation than Judea?

Corrie Ten Boom was mistaken, and her letter above was misinformed regarding that "Great Tribulation" period. However, believers are warned to be ready to experience regular periods of tribulation for their faith at any time whatsoever. In that sense, it is not a mistake to be prepared for this, since we are promised that if we wish to live godly in this world, that the world will not love us for that.

Click to expand...

I disagree with your characterization of a woman who is superior to you in every way.
Disagree with the idea all you want.
Argue against me all you want.

But she survived the Nazi concentration camp... then went on to dedicate her life to the goal of reconciliation.

I also think your theology does not adequately answer the Revelation questions.
When in Revelation did the Great Tribulation happen?
So you see Revelation as a single continuous event?
The warning to leave Jerusalem would only be of value to those in Jerusalem.
That does not limit the Tribulation to only Jerusalem.
Only that particular warning is for Jerusalem.

3 Resurrections said:

Where did you read anything I wrote that maligned the character of this woman? Did I not just call her a woman of great faith? I only said she was mistaken in her interpretation of what comprised the "Great Tribulation". Even the wisest on occasion can be mistaken in their interpretations. This has nothing to do with the quality of their character, superior or otherwise.

The context of Matthew 24:21 where Christ discusses when the "Great Tribulation" occurs is what defines that particular period. Not necessarily what you nor I nor any woman of great faith says about it. When that "Great Tribulation" would occur, at the time the abomination of desolation spoken by Daniel would stand in the holy place (which Luke 21:21 interpreted as "Jerusalem surrounded by armies"), then those in Judea were to flee to the mountains to avoid the disasters of that period and that location.

Scripture says nothing about anybody in China or the USA or any other nation making a trip to Judea when they hear about Jerusalem surrounded by armies, just so that they can then flee away from Judea into the mountains to avoid the days of Great Tribulation taking place in Jerusalem and in that nation of Judea.

We don't even need to bring up Revelation, because this "Great Tribulation" label for this period is a Matthew 24 / Luke 21 / Mark 13 topic that can be understood well enough by the contexts themselves.

Click to expand...

Great Trib is in Revelation.

3 Resurrections said:

Sure, the further details of the Great Tribulation that Christ predicted in the gospels are covered in Revelation. But Christ told us first (before John wrote Revelation) exactly what nation would be the object of that Great Tribulation and it was Judea and in particular Jerusalem. Luke 21:23 said that there was going to be "great distress in the land and wrath upon THIS people" who were in Judea. Christ's disciples were given fair warning so that they could escape from Judea to the mountains to avoid those perils when God poured out His wrath during those "days of vengeance" (Luke 21:22).

Click to expand...

Oh... you are one of those.

Carl Emerson said:

Somehow the beauty of the message is missed when we listen with 'theological ears'.

Click to expand...

So share what you see is the beauty of the message.

Bobber said:

I get it some here want to say there's a difference between great tribulation as compared to tribulation in general but here's a thing though.

If there are many which there are that have a hard time believing they themselves could experience physical persecution because Jesus the groom would never let his bride to be beat up AND THAT IS WHY one is Pre-Trib.....can't see it any other way....well they BETTER look at the history of Christianity.

Other might say well no it's God's wrath they're referring to that they wouldn't be beat up on BUT no ive talked to some through the years.....some actually DO MEAN physical persecution. Corrie did mention many people of nations who were told DON'T WORRY....GOD WON'T LET THAT HAPPEN.....and then it did happen.

Let me say this though. Jesus gave us a coping mechanism to have our focus on if indeed we do go through and have to endure such a fiery trial. Some may not like this because it sounds like I'm selfish BUT...BUT......it is not I who said it. Jesus did. To overcome the terror of it .......we are to focus on our reward......see below,

Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven Lk 6: 23

So what happens if we're faced with such. Get your focus off the grief of it and get your focus on the next world which is more substantial then this place. Get even excited about it and as Jesus said LEAP FOR JOY......LEAP FOR JOY.....and here's the reason why.....you're to think Glory to God a reward is laid up in heaven for me!!!! Praise God!

I believe it's said about Christians in the arena in Rome many of them did this very thing which became a testimony to those who observed them die. To be able to live a life without fear to that extent wouldl make an impact on the people.

Click to expand...

I have not "stood up" for Jesus much of my life... i am hoping that my end will be more honoring than my beginning.

Will we fight for our Lord or will we roll over when pushed?

3 Resurrections said:

Yes, I am one of those who believe scripture as it is written - not the traditions of men which have erroneously been built up around it.

Click to expand...

I would disagree with you on that one.

3 Resurrections said:

The Truth of God's words in scripture is beautiful. So is courage based on faith in Christ. These are not pitted one against the other. The courage of a woman going through such times of distress with her faith in God remaining intact is a blessing to read. This is a lesson that can be appreciated by any believer, even though her doctrine of eschatology is not quite on track.

Click to expand...

And why do you think your doctrine of eschatology is on track?
Why is not her doctrine of eschatology on track and your off?
Details please.

3 Resurrections said:

For the majority of my Christian life since childhood, I was taught and stayed on the very same eschatology track as Corrie Ten Boom. Then a dozen years ago, I began to read the scriptures in the Interlinear version, which more accurately reflects the use of the specific time-relevant terms as expressed in the Greek. The KJV which I had used exclusively up until then blurs those specific time-relevant terms into a more generic sense, which does not acknowledge the first-century imminence of end times events in almost every book in the NT. It describes the Great Tribulation as the "days of vengeance" which were "about to take place" for Christ's own generation which had not received Him, rather than it being a future Great Tribulation period for us.

Click to expand...

No details given.
Why should anyone believe you?
Make your case or leave it.