Since the time of the apostles there have been many a believer who has taken a stand for the word of God. Often times it has been at the price of his own life. As we look down at the King James Bible we hold in our hand today, we must realize that much blood has been shed on its behalf. History informs us that for the past nearly two thousand years the onslaught against the word of God has continued.

As believers read the Scriptures and stood firmly on the promises of God, they went about teaching and preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. As people's interest turned from the Catholic Church, this drew the ire of the papacy and the priesthood. They set out, by force, to convert these ‘heretics’ and draw them back to the ‘one, true church.’ As these believers refused the doctrines of the Pope, they faced all sorts of inhumane torture and death. It is said that in many of the crusades against these ‘heretics’ one was issued full pardon and foregiveness of sins just for joining in. As they tracked down these ‘heretics’ if one died a death too friendly, they would continue to attack the very memory of his existence. At times they would even go after his children or grandchildren. Many were charged with all sorts of herecy. If you look up the Paulicians, Waldensians, or the Albigenses in a modern encyclopedia you will find that many were falsely charged with having genuine heretical doctrine. At the time of the inquisitions, they needed only one witness and that one witness had the option of staying anonymous. Consequently, many false and unsubstantiated charges were laid against these faithful servants of Christ and all were left to the mercy of the inquisitors. This all happened because these people loved God and loved the Book He had left them.

I challenge you, as your pastor, to read your Bible. Do not let the deaths of these saints go in vain. God has preserved His words and we have them in the King James Bible. Let us rejoice in that! Let us cherish our Bible! Let us stay the course, and as the day approaches, let us give our very lives for the sake of this precious Book.