Honouring my (pre–tribulation Rapture) Dad - Leo J Hart
Isaiah 57: 1.2 The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; and merciful and devout men are taken away, with no one considering that the uncompromisingly upright and godly person is taken away from the calamity and evil to come. 2 He [in death] enters into peace. (The verses I chose to start my eulogy).
My father died on 19 December 2013 and was buried on 23 December 2013. As a son I want to honour him as a preacher who throughout seventy years boldly preached the 2nd Coming, with the Rapture as an imminent event! Even in his eighties, and living in Leopold (Geelong, Victoria - near Melbourne) he preached, including at a country town called Colac. He also held a Monday night Bible fellowship with discussions around the 2nd Coming.
Dad was born on 17 January 2025 - he died at 88 years!. He was a pastor of various Apostolic (Pentecostal) Churches in Australia: in Geelong, Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne and Western Australia (Bunbury and Perth). Dad had a very strong and continuous love for Israel, preaching on this and the pre-tribulation Rapture throughout his time as a pastor. The 2nd Coming ran hot through his spiritual veins!!
Dad married my mother Nancy (meaning Grace) on 15 May 1948!! So just as the nation of Israel was taking its first steps as a miracle born nation, my mother took steps down the aisle to become one with my father in marriage - in the town of Burnie (in North West Tasmania). After a two day honeymoon they moved to Geelong to pastor a small flock (as well as working full-time).. For two or three years Dad was the only man in the church!
There is so much that I could share on so many aspects of my father’s life. He knew the art of preaching from the heart, and always prepared detailed preaching notes. He loved alliteration and clear sermon titles. He read so, so many books, annotating them freely - you could say that he devoured them!! He wrote three books: Journey with Jesus (an auto biography), Eureka - I’ve Found It! (on the exchanged life - It is no longer I that liveth - Galatians 2:20) and Lost Vision of an End Time Church (on the 2nd Coming!).
The Unknown Soldier!
Many books could be written on his life, his preaching and his impact as a pastor and teacher - he touched so many lives! For me, I have a rich heritage! However, my father was relatively unknown - an unknown soldier! I believe that the Lord will refine His bride (the overcoming Church) and the Church more broadly and take them in the Rapture - then He will complete His purposes for Israel!
We all know many well-known 2nd Coming teachers and preachers who have gone to be with the Lord, or who are ministering today - and we need to remember these unknown soldiers (some participate or are lurking on Five Doves!!) Coincidentally today I went to the War Memorial in Canberra (it would have been my Dad’s 89th birthday today! In a prominent and solemn place there is a tomb for the unknown soldier - the remains of an unidentified Australian soldier who died in the Great War (1914-18), a long way from home. At the back of the tomb are these words: known to God! The words from a David Meece song titled Unknown Soldier sum this up well (excerpt below). A final comment - down here on Earth we see in part - I wonder what my Dad knows now!! He has gone to a rich reward as a true and faithful servant - he always had the cross as his daily focus!
He's the unknown soldier, the unsung hero, the brother on the street
He's the unknown soldier, the holy warrior who will never sound retreat
He's your unseen comrade, and his triumph will be sweet
He's the unknown soldier.1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
(Dad’s chosen Bible reading - read by my daughter Rebecca)
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.[b]
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Maranatha! Denis