No one has power over the wind to restrain the wind, or power over the day of death. Ecclesiastes 8:8 (NRSV)
Alfonzo Lima (1996)
Prophesied Martyrdom
A couple of years after Alfonzo had begun his ministry as the pastor of a recently-formed church in Guatemala, he gathered his family around him and informed them that the Lord had told him that within three years he was going to be shot and killed, but would go to a place with a beautiful mansion. This prophecy was proved true as opposition to him and his church grew.
Alfonzo was already no stranger to persecution. Before he became the pastor of the church in 1992, he had been falsely accused by 15 local people who opposed the Christian witness of this new group of believers. They tried to get him imprisoned but the allegations were thrown out of court.
One night in December 1996, eleven men turned up outside his family home demanding that Alfonzo come out. When he refused, they proceeded to shoot at the building, at which point Alfonzo knew they were intent on killing him. Some days later seven men turned up at his house, broke in and dragged Alfonzo outside in front of his wife and children. After moments of panic his family escaped, but as Alfonzo walked away from the men, he was shot down. His family gathered around and heard him ask the Lord to forgive his murderers before he died.
If then we entreat the Lord that He would forgive us, we also ought to forgive; for we are before the eyes of our Lord and God, and we must all stand at the judgement-seat of Christ, and each man must give an account of himself.
Polycarp (martyred c. 155-56, see February 23)