But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name. So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
Acts 4:17-18
The arch-villain in J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” book series is an evil sorcerer called Lord Voldemort. So terrible and intimidating is this antagonist that most characters refer to him as “He-who-shall-not-be-named.”
After Christ’s crucifixion, the Jewish Sanhedrin made the Savior’s name illegal. Peter and John were beaten and imprisoned for using it, and Stephen was executed for preaching in that forbidden name. Throughout church history, believers have had their property seized and have been tortured, hanged, and burnt at the stake for mentioning “He-who-shall-not-be-named.”
Palmelkh, Saudi Arabia, April 7, 2014: A young Filipino girl employed as a maid had her mouth and left eye sewn shut with fishing line for the crime of saying that Christ Jesus was her Savior.
Mediterranean Coast, Libya, February 16, 2015: ISIS videotaped the public beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in order to shock the world with its graphic propaganda. The remarkable thing in all this was that the terrorists didn’t edit out the audio. Many died calmly praying in Arabic that they would be faithful to Christ until death.
North Korea, July 14, 2016: North Korea continues to be ranked the most oppressive place on earth for Christians on the World Watch List. Worship of the Kim family is mandated by the government and those who don’t comply are arrested, imprisoned, tortured, or killed. Many believers have found that the only safe place to pray together in the work camps is at the latrine.
Tanta, Egypt, April 9, 2017: At least 27 worshippers were killed and 78 wounded when a bomb went off during the Palm Sunday service in a Coptic Christian church. A suicide bomber murdered another 22 people the same day outside a church in Alexandria.
Soon and very soon, the Anti-Christ will set up his world kingdom and then for a very short time, the name that is above every name will become He-who-shall-not-be-named.
Oh Lord, how long!!? How Long!!? Even so, come Lord Jesus!
September 11
