The Martyrdom of Hana

Hana Hagos Asgedom, 41, was a disciple of Jesus Christ who was martyred for her Savior on January 24th, 2010 at a prison camp in Eritrea.  Eritrea is infamous for its persecution of evangelical Christians - warehousing several thousand believers in shipping containers without toilets, running water, or air conditioning.  

Hana had been incarcerated at Wi'a Military Camp since 2007 and had been transferred to the Alla Military Camp approximately 7 months ago when the Wi'a Camp was closed.  Voice of the Martyrs Canada reports that Hana was offered a final chance to renounce her faith when she arrived at the new camp.  "When she refused, she was placed in solitary confinement.  Shortly before her death, she reportedly endured beatings with an iron rod for refusing to 'make the chief commander in the camp a cup of coffee'."  Local Christians stated that the real order for which she was beaten involved a sexual advance.  Hana was then taken back to her cell where she was subjected to further punishment and eventually went on to her eternal reward. 

Here at Smyrna we learn about many new incidents of persecution every day.  Usually I just keep on reading.  Yesterday, however, as I was reading about Hana, I simply could not put her suffering out of my mind and continue on to the next account of persecution.  My heart cringed at how she must have felt at the unspeakable torture she endured. 

Ultimately, the Holy Spirit led me to Revelation 6:9-11 - concerning the Tribulation when the fifth seal is broken in heaven and John saw the martyrs under the altar:  "And when He broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, wilt Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?'  And there was given to them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, should be completed also."

Hana maintained her testimony to the end and is now at rest.  She is in the presence of Jesus.  I can envision her in her white robe.  And I long for the day when the number of her fellow martyrs will be complete.