There's a huge difference in what the OP says and what happened to the apostles and many Christians of that time. Those mentioned in the OP were religious nut just like the bombers of Islam, they killed themselves or their members killed them, most of it was a quick death. The apostles and Christians of that time lived out their beliefs knowing they could be killed, even die a horrible death, none took their lives but lived it in dedication to God and each other. There's nothing common between them and the religious nuts of today except they died. They were not looking to die, that's not the statement they wanted to make, they did not grandstand. They devoted their lives to God and wanted Him to receive glory not them. There's so little in common with the two groups that I think it's a disgrace to mention them as being anything alike. One group took their lives, will the other gave their lives every day they lived.
GC
GC
God loves those who believe and those who do not and the same goes for me, you have no choice in this matter. That puts the matter of total free will to rest.
