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The Last Vocal Testimony Of Chester
Ratliff
(Dr. Ratliff was Pastor of Temple Baptist Church for 32 Years, Founder of Temple Baptist College, and a dear friend to JHD.)
Given On His Deathbed as told by his wife
Vivian Ratliff
Hamilton, Ohio
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Dear Friends:
Many times in the lowest valleys of our lives, God
gives great blessings and comfort. This surely happened to our family on
July 27, 1995 and in the weeks preceding it. On this day my dear husband,
Chester Ratliff, went Home to be with the Lord.
We had been home from the Cancer Treatment Center of
Tulsa five weeks. He kept getting progressively worse and we knew the end
was near. He said many precious things during those last weeks, such as:
"Why doesn't my Lord touch me and take me to be with Him?" "I
am ready to go Home now." "My faith is in Him." "Time
is short, where are the children?" "I just want to see my Saviour
and be by His side."
The last week was very difficult, but our large family
gathered around him almost constantly. He prayed aloud for the family to
be faithful to the Lord, faithful to His Church and to always love each
other. He spoke very eagerly of Heaven and the ones
he would see there. I told him I would love to be there to see the
entrance he would have with hundreds coming to meet him to thank him for
the influence he had on their lives.
On Thursday, July 27th, I had been up with
him most of the night and had lain back down at 5 a.m. He was on the hospital
bed in our bedroom. I heard him say, "HOW BRIGHT!" I ran to him
and he said "CAN'T YOU SEE IT? IT'S SO BRIGHT!"
His arms were reaching toward Heaven, even though they were very swollen
and heavy. I sat with him for awhile, then called some of the family who
were in the house. A little later he said "6:25."
He could not focus his eyes, for they had set back in his head, also the
clock was facing another direction. It was 6:25 a.m. Again
he said "6:25." Our daughter, Linda, asked him how he
knew it was 6:25, and again he repeated "6:25." I wish now I
had asked him Who told him it was 6:25. But
we didn't understand the meaning at that time.
All day his breathing was very difficult, he tried
to speak but couldn't. That evening about 6:00 our family knelt around
his bed, held hands and prayed for the Lord to take him. We claimed God's
promise in Matthew 18:19, if any two agree on earth as touching anything
they shall ask, it shall be done for them. We knew this was his wish.
About 6:15 I noticed that his heart was beating very
slowly, his face was beginning to relax and I knew he was going. I said
to him, "It's O. K. to go, we love you and will come to be with you
soon. If you know I'm here, squeeze my hand." As
he was dying he squeezed my hand twice, gave a few gasps, and he was gone!
It was 6:25 p.m.! God had let him know that morning the time he would enter
Heaven. Although there is no such thing as time there, I know God
did this for our comfort. I had prayed that He would give us some special
sign that we could cling to, and He did! And the amazing thing is that
He gave it to us that morning while Chester could still talk! He was unable
to talk to us later in the day because of the shortness of breath. The
lungs filled with fluid and there was too much difficulty with breathing.
Chester had always preached that when the time comes
God gives dying grace, and his life and death are definite proof of that.
What a wonderful God we serve! He allowed Chester to pastor Temple Baptist
Church for 32 years, and to preach and teach until shortly before his death.
We had almost 49 wonderful years as husband and wife, and a precious family.
May God bless you and keep you in His love!
(Signed) VIVIAN RATLIFF
Webmaster's Note:
Dr. Chester Ratliff was a great soldier of the cross, a real "prince
in Israel," and was for over 30 years a special friend of James
and Georgia Dearmore, missionaries to Africa for 33 yrs. His widow, and
surviving family are still among our dearest friends. Jim Dearmore, Webmaster
and Missionary.
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