...Why would God will that anyone be martyred, much less a certain number? (Rev. 6:11b: "...until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.")
...The martyrs are in heaven not because they died for Christ. They are in heaven because they *lived* for Him! They are saved not because of something they did, sacrificing themselves for Christ, but because Christ sacrificed Himself for them -- the same way we are saved.
...These are not their own robes, they do not buy these robes with the money they gave to the church and to charity, they do not buy these robes by doing the best they could while on earth, trying not to sin and being kind to everyone, or by making a "decision" for Christ. They are GIVEN robes of righteousness which are not their own.
To whom do these robes belong, where do they come from? From Christ. They are the robes of HIS righteousness, not theirs.
And they are freely given these robes of Christ's righteousness — Christ's righteousness is given freely to those who believe the Gospel. We cannot earn our way to heaven no matter how good we are on earth. It is all of Christ. (Jn. 15:16: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you")
...Seemingly unanswered prayer is often used by God as part of our own sanctification, teaching us patience and steadfastness in our faith and obedience to Him in praying even though we see no immediate answer. Our unanswered prayers bear much fruit.
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