Die Vlam Sal Jou Nie Brand Nie

When I was young, I used to fear the thought of dying a violent death. Stories about Joan of Arc being burnt at the stake, or Christians being thrown to the lions, and used as live torches by Nero, sounded terrifying, and I would try to imagine what it would feel like to know that something like this was going to happen to you. As I grew older, I could at least console myself with the fact that these atrocities no longer happened in our modern world.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. We are increasingly confronted with images of violent death such as the Coptic Christians who were publicly beheaded on the beach in Egypt, the farm attacks in South Africa; people burnt in incidents of mob criminality. Groups like ISIS regularly kill people in dreadful public spectacles specifically designed to instill terror.

When I was invited to participate in the exhibition 'Moments before Death', I could not get the thought of these violent deaths out of my head. Once again, I tried to imagine what it must feel like to know; without any doubt; that you are about to die a violent and painful death. I imagined the fear and the desperation – the maelstrom of thoughts that must surely fill your mind, crowding out any other thoughts.

And then I remembered the story of Thomas Hauker, who was burnt at the stake in England in 1555:

“Thomas,” his friend lowered his voice so as not to be heard by the guard. “I have to ask you this favour. I need to know if what the others say about the grace of God is true. Tomorrow, when they burn you at the stake, if the pain is tolerable and your mind is still at peace, lift your hands above your head. Do it right before you die. Thomas, I have to know.” Thomas Hauker whispered to his friend, “I will.” The next morning, Hauker was bound to the stake and the fire was lit. the fire burned a long time, but Hauker remained motionless. His skin was burnt to a crisp and his fingers were gone. Everyone watching supposed he was dead. Suddenly, miraculously, Hauker lifted his hands, still on fire, over his head. He reached them up to the living God, and then, with great rejoicing clapped them together three times.1

This work contains the following complete books: Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, and Malachi.

[1] Dc Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs (1999). Jesus Freaks. Stories of those who stood for Jesus: The Ultimate Jesus Freaks.Tulsa, Oklahoma: Albury Publishers.