INTRODUCTION

This message "A CLOUD OF WITNESSES" is one chapter of many chapters from the book "The History of the Copts" by the great historian IRIS HABIB EL - MASRI, professor of Church History at the Institute of Coptic Studies in Cairo. The Church believes that this cloud, that is, the enormous number of martyrs are watching our lives and observing our endurance for God and our struggle with the earthly world, with the devil, and with our own selves too, these martyrs are in fact present with us, bearing witness to the grace of God thar has worked in them, and still working in us. They also raise their prayers for us so that the Lord may grant us help as His almighty power has helped them, and may He perfect our lives, as He has perfected theirs. "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Mathew 24. 13) and this is because God has ruled that, albeit that they have achieved their perfection through faith, they "Received not the promise": - for "God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect" (Hebrew 11. 39) , 40). And the Revelation testified that they are waiting for us so that we complete our endurance and join them in the eternal happiness. The Revelation text says, "And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled".

(Revelation 6. 11).

MUTUAL CONNECTION.

We also in turn, while we look forward to this cloud of martyrs, we are inspired by their endurance and consider the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith (Hebrew 13. 7). We also feel we are not alone in this struggle, but with us, are our fathers , our mothers, our brothers and sisters who have proceeded us in the struggle and have set the most wonderful example in God’s love and in true self - denial and endurance until death. We look at them, envy them, and our hearts go deep in warmth and love to our savior, and we follow them in their steps, and through the avenue of love we sacrifice ourselves for our Lord, and Savior, and happy we are and content, that we have found something to offer Him, as He has offered us everything.

TIMES OF MARTYRDOM.

We must not think that the martyrdom era has ended, for the world which was fighting the martyrs is still fighting us too, and exerting all its pressures in order that we deny the Lord Jesus Christ in our practical life and abandon Him in our daily conduct.

And the Martyrs were, so named, for they witnessed for the Lord Jesus Christ the true witness, and offered their lives as cost for this witness. It is evident that the like hood of witnessing for the Lord Jesus Christ during the present era could be a lot greater, than any other past era.

For, the Cristian is required to witness to his Lord with a firm and honest stand against "The sin which doth so easily beset us" (Hebrew 12. 1) and against the body "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God" (Romans 8. 7) and against the world because "the friendship of the world is enmity with God, whosever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4. 4) and even against ourselves, for "He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it into life eternal" (John 12. 25).

FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.

Truly our need is great in this era for honest and loyal witnesses who are inspired by the martyrs to attain with them a share in the heavenly heritage as God promised. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Revelation 2. 10).

And then they will hear the voice "Thou hast been faithful over a few things" (i. e. in this earthly life). "I will make thee ruler over many things" (i. e. in the happy eternity). "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. * * (Matthew 25. 21).

And the spirit of the strong witness will remain in the church constantly from generation to generation, until the end of all ages, and our church will remain - as it was - the church of martyrs, not only for the millions.

whose blood was shed, but for the other millions who live in the spirit of the martyrdom itself and give their lives every day in the field of spiritual fight, and bear inside them the true willingness to shed their blood when time calls for it, and I believe this time is not too far from us.

THE CHURCH.

on "Neirouz Feast”.

i. e The Coptic New Year’s Day.

1 st of Toote 1695.

11th of sept. 1978.

THE APOSTLE PAUL'S DESCRIPTION OF THE FRUITS OF FAITH.

In chapter eleven of the Epistle to the Hebrews, St. Paul the Apostle, describes the mighty deeds that men, some of whom he named, and many he did not name - were able to do through faith. In a rising crescendo of deeply effective terms, this giant among the apostles, speaks of how, through faith, they ”... wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to fight the armies of the aliens.

Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of cruel mocking and scourging, yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins 8s goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in desert^, and in mountains, and in dens & caves of the earth... "and obtained a good report through faith…" (Heb. 11: 33 - 40 (.