Matthew 26:38-39 Then saith He unto them, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me. And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt."

Some believe, and many preachers teach, that this was a moment of weakness when Christ prayed for this death to be taken from Him. They are wrong! He Himself tells us.....

John 12:27 Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

So, He knew from the beginning what would happen...it was His purpose in being here. If His crucifixion wasn't the "cup" He wanted to pass from Him...what is the cup or...what is in the cup?

Revelation 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, Who liveth for ever and ever.

A vial is...."a broad shallow cup." Who are they that will drink of that cup of wrath?

Revelation 14:9-10 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the CUP of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

How do we NOT worship the beast and his image? How do we NOT receive a mark? By understanding who he is, when he arrives and what he plans for us....Christians, for we are what he is coming for....

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

That is us....His children, His elect. We will be here, not raptured away so be prepared. Know your enemy or....drink from the cup!

I think he was praying explicitly for that time.

Mat 26:42 Again a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away, except I drink it, thy will be done.

And then he answers his disciples who wanted to save him:

Mat 26:52 Then saith Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Mat 26:53 Or thinkest thou that I cannot beseech my Father, and he shall even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?

I think God answered him which is how he knew that God would send 12 legions if he wanted to get out of this.

No one wants to be tortured to death. Not even God's son. He was flesh and blood just like us. But, he knew it had to be done, so, he did it.

Jeff....will we be called for this too? I have always believed that it was just the two witnesses that would be killed...well now I now who the "two" witnesses are. They are us.....believers, His elect.

Knowing that I now see that some of us will face what he faced. He is our example is all things.

Yeah, lots of witnesses. I don't know if they will all have to go through the same thing He did.

Mar 10:35 And there come near unto him James and John, the sons of Zebedee, saying unto him, Teacher, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall ask of thee.
Mar 10:36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
Mar 10:37 And they said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy glory.
Mar 10:38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I drink? or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

It appears somebody will though. I dunno whether it's everyone, or a few of them.

I think it's just going to happen. Then, you'll be afraid like He was, and, not want to die like he didn't.
I think if we're going to be killed, then, that's it, we won't be able to get out of it. I think it will be kind of surreal, not like now, sitting at a computer talking about it. You know it will be over and you will leave your body, but, it's everything that leads up to that that would be disconcerting. But it's cool, whatever happens happens. Who knows how long 'til all that stuff happens. The world would have to radically change for anyone (in this country) to be tortured and killed for their faith. Have to be some nuclear wars and a restructuring of power etc. Unless a mob of people kills you or something.

Just gotta sit back and let the big picture happen. Which, I think we should know when it does,

I agree. It is easy to now say....I will die for Him and mean it but I believe what happened to Peter is an example. That strong, brave disciple that walked with Him....denied Him three times.

As far as "anyone in this country" being tortured....the elect will be picked up and delivered. Probably in those whirlwinds. But, He will be in and with His chosen. They/we won't be alone and....

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him Which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.