[Dr. Chester Ratliff]
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.