The Lightning and the Rope
Excerpt from the book Operation Pearl

Long after the Operation Pearl project was completed, we received a remarkable testimony from an elderly Chinese pastor named John who had already spent many years in prison for the gospel.

Pastor John, who was in his seventies, agreed to receive a shipment of 10,000 Bibles the day after the Pearl was delivered. He was overjoyed and filled with joy to be involved in this way, and he looked forward to distributing the Bibles among the many needy believers in his area. When the shipment of Bibles arrived at his home, John cried and hugged them with pure joy, while thanking God for allowing them to receive so many copies of His precious Word at one time.

When the authorities were notified of the shipment of Bibles and began a thorough investigation, the situation became so tense that John decided it was wise to keep the 10,000 Bibles until the pressure eased. Weeks passed, but the situation was still so tense that he asked a Christian farmer to hide the Bibles under his barn. The authorities were convinced that John was a key participant in the project, so he was arrested and taken to a local jail, even though there was no evidence of his involvement. John realized the seriousness of the situation when he saw that his interrogators were not local police officers but special investigators who had flown in from Beijing to handle the incident.

The furious investigators shouted their questions and berated this venerable man of God, who just closed his eyes and prayed silently. They wanted the names of the leaders of Operation Pearl, but there was no way John would betray his brothers and sisters in such a way. When he refused to answer, the men became even angrier, so they dragged him out of the interrogation room into the prison yard, where they forced him to stand on a box about three feet high and less than a foot wide.

Seeing that the old man would not bow to their threats, the guards tied John’s hands behind his back and placed a noose around his neck. One man climbed onto the roof of a nearby building and tied the rope to a beam. “Now we’ll see how calm you are, old man!” they taunted. “As soon as you get tired, you’ll fall off the box and die. This is all your own fault. Get ready to meet your God!”

Two guards stayed behind to witness the death of the faithful pastor, while the others walked away, teasing John’s faith and laughing at his plight. The humble pastor, however, did not stumble, but instead felt a surge of strength go through his body. His legs seemed to be getting stronger, and he boldly preached the gospel to the two guards. At sunset, the two guards were surprised that the old man had not yet collapsed.

When the next day dawned, John was still standing on the little box. His throat was dry, but a shower of rain refreshed him. The guards resumed their positions, certain that the Christian prisoner would collapse at any moment and be hanged. Hours passed, and the only sound heard in the yard was John's voice as he preached the gospel in a loud voice. He told the guards that he was not afraid of death because Jesus Christ had already given him a place in heaven. One of the men laughed and replied, "Old man, if I grow as old and sickly as you, I will not be afraid of dying either!"

The bored guards began to play games and turned their attention to it. This encouraged John as he thought of the similarities to the Roman guards who gambled for Jesus’ clothes while he hung on the cross.

Amazingly, the second day ended and the pastor was still standing.

The same thing happened on the third day, and then the fourth, fifth, and sixth. The other guards heard that the old man was still alive and came to see for themselves. Other prisoners heard about the incredible miracle and glorified God. The longer John remained on the box without food or rest, the more the fear of God began to take hold of all who witnessed this remarkable event.

With each passing day, John’s physical condition worsened. His legs swelled to twice their size and sometimes they shook uncontrollably with cramps. On the eleventh day, John began to feel weak and was close to collapse. However, he was sustained by the Holy Spirit and he did not give up. John had by now become something of a spectacle, and the news of the miracle had spread beyond the prison walls. Some of the leading officials and the men of the city came to see it for themselves.

The Lightning

On the thirteenth day, a strong storm swept by, and heavy rain lashed John’s body, soaking him to the skin. As the box beneath his feet shook in the wind, John realized he could hold out no longer. Every tendon in his body had been strained beyond endurance. He had no feeling in his arms and legs, and his torso ached for a moment’s rest.
John closed his eyes as his legs gave way, and the beloved pastor fell unconscious as the noose tightened around his neck.

About ten minutes later, John opened his eyes and found himself sprawled on the prison floor. His whole body ached excruciatingly, especially his arms, which had been tied behind his back for nearly two weeks. Now that the ropes had been loosened, blood rushed to his arms and legs, causing overwhelming pain. John didn’t know what was happening, but he finally noticed someone trying to help him sit up and a water bottle being pressed against his cracked lips. It was another few minutes before he realized that the person helping him was one of the guards who had been assigned to watch him die. The other guard was standing nearby.

“Please, don’t die! We want to know your God!” the men pleaded. “Please, uncle, help us know your Jesus!”

“Why then?” John asked in a faint whisper.

They explained to John that when his legs had finally collapsed in the middle of the storm, his body had been hanging in the air, swinging back and forth in the beam above. Then, a moment later, a bolt of lightning suddenly lit up the yard, severing the rope just above his head, sending him plummeting to the ground. The two guards, shaking with fear, pulled their unconscious prisoner in and tried to revive him.

Pastor John gradually regained his strength and brought the two desperate men to faith in Jesus Christ. Dozens of other guards and prisoners who had heard what had happened repented of their sins and put their faith in God. Realizing that they risked God’s wrath if they continued to persecute the Christian old man, the authorities released him from prison. John returned home and later dug up the 10,000 Bibles and distributed them among the believers.