Conquest of Fear
By Craig Paardekooper

John is a young man with a deep and vibrant faith in Christ. I was fortunate enough to talk with him while he was onvacation with his family in Africa. We talked about our current times, and the hope that Christians have which can
carry them through.
Faced with threats that deprive people of their constitutional rights, their income, even their life, people need tostand up for the truth and what is right – but fear of consequences keeps us quiet. Ultimately it is the fear of deaththat keeps us quiet.
We cling so tightly on to our current existence, that we forget that our current existence is just a tiny blip, atemporary state in a journey. There are greater things to come for each of us. Knowing this will give us greatercourage to hold to our values when faced with current trials.

“Death, where is thy sting?”
1. Creation : Initial Creation showing that Mind preceded Matter
Christians know that life didn’t arise spontaneously, but was created by God. So Mind preceded theorganization of matter into biological life. This shows that Mind is independent of biological life.
2. Paradise : Initial paradise as a promise of its return
All of the civilizations of antiquity record a beginning time when lifespan was longer and life had greater
vitality – evidenced by their king lists – and by their records of previous ages. The Bible agrees with this,showing a decrease in lifespan with an exponential half life over a period of 1000 years after the Flood.
Geology confirms that the fossil creatures of the late Pleistocene were of immense strength and vitality. And
physics shows that physical systems become more disordered with time – things run down not up – so thegreatest order and perfection was in the beginning.
3. Resurrection: Christs Resurrection as a promise of what will come
Christ was resurrected to a new physical life, demonstrating God’s intention to create a dwelling place for
His Spirit – a New Heaven and New Earth filled with His glory.
4. Soul : Reality of the soul as independent of the body
Freewill, purpose, awareness, show that the soul is independent of the body.
5. Heaven : Nature of heaven / afterlife as seen through NDEs
Glimpses of the afterlife from survivors of Near Death Experiences, testify to the independence of soul frombody, and its persistence after death. They also testify to a realm of spiritual experience which we would callheaven.
6. Thy Kingdom Come
The Bible says that after the time of tribulation, after the time when the Beast has control of all buying andselling, Christ will assume global government as a theocracy. Under His reign it will be a golden age, lasting amillennium.
This millennium is followed by the creation of a New Heaven and New Earth, and a return to the Edenicstate. Christ’s resurrection was a sign and promise that this will happen.

God says that a quota of believers will die at this time, martyred for their testimony and for upholding what
is good, but promises a reward – that they will be part of the first resurrection and will be with Him during
His reign on earth.
So, in a real sense, we have already won – because if we die then we will be resurrected to reign with Christ,
but if we live, then we will see God’s Kingdom realized.
With this view, there is less fear. Rather, we can simply rejoice in the certainty of a blissful future – and in
the mean-time, uphold the truth with courage, oppose tyranny with a firm hand, and stand firm against thelies, bribes and threats of governments in the full confidence that the ultimate victory will be ours.

A Special Blessing
Christians are blessed in having this hope – that very soon, no matter what governments try to do, God’s Kingdom
on earth will be established – then afterwards a return to an Edenic state of health and vitality with a New Heavenand New Earth. And all this gives them armor and immense strength to withstand the trials that we must face at thistime.