Faithful Under Fire

By Ted Wilson

When Franz Hasel was baptized at the age of 20, someone gave him a small card. On one side was a picture of a giant statue from the Bible book of Daniel, chapter 2. On the back Franz typed some notes about what the picture meant in Bible prophecy. He had no idea how important that little card would become in his life.

Two decades passed. Franz was now 40, married, and the father of three children. The Hasels lived in Frankfurt, Germany, during World War II. One dreadful day a letter arrived in the mail—a letter calling him to serve in Adolf Hitler’s Nazi army. 

Franz swallowed hard. He was a Seventh-day Adventist and a conscientious objector. That meant he didn’t believe in carrying guns into war. He asked to serve as a medic, someone who gives first aid to injured people. 

“No,” came the harsh reply. “You’ll go to the front lines.”

Soon Franz was marching east with a shovel on his shoulder, ordered to build bridges for Hitler’s tanks. In his backpack were two treasures: his Bible and that little prophecy card. Every night, under the dim light of the barracks or the glow of a campfire, Franz opened his Bible. The other soldiers noticed. He was different. Honest. Brave. Calm, even in danger. Even his commander began to respect him.

But Franz had no idea that soon his Bible would put him in the most dangerous meeting of his life.

“Hasel! Report to the commander’s office. Bring your Bible!” Franz’s heart pounded. Had someone accused him? Would he be punished for his faith? When he entered, three men were waiting—the commander, a lieutenant, and a sergeant. The commander tapped the desk. “Sit. I have questions about the Bible.”

Franz breathed a silent prayer. Then he opened the worn pages. Question after question came—about life, death, God. Patiently Franz answered each one, pointing to the verses in the Bible that answered those questions.

At last the commander leaned back, impressed. “So you really do know your Bible inside and out.” Franz hesitated. This might be his only chance. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the little card.

“Sir,” he said, “since you’re a history professor, may I show you a prophecy? I’d like your opinion on whether it’s accurate.”

The commander’s eyes narrowed. “Go ahead.”

Franz spread the card on the table. He explained how Daniel 2 told of historical kingdoms rising and falling. “The head of gold—Babylon. The chest of silver—Medo-Persia. The belly of bronze—Greece. The legs of iron—Rome.” The commander leaned forward, fascinated. “Yes . . . yes, that matches history perfectly.” Franz pointed to the feet. “Iron mixed with clay represents modern Europe. Strong in some ways, weak in others—but never truly united.”

The room went silent.

Then the commander asked the question Franz dreaded. “And what does this mean for us?” Franz’s hands trembled. Should he speak? If he told the truth, he could be shot for treason. He whispered a prayer, then looked the commander in the eye.

“Sir, it means Adolf Hitler cannot win this war. The Bible says no one will ever unite Europe completely. If this prophecy is true—and it has been right every time—then we are fighting a losing battle.”

The air grew heavy. No one moved. The lieutenant’s jaw tightened. The sergeant’s fists clenched. Finally the commander stood. “That will be all. Leave your Bible with me.” Franz saluted and walked out, not knowing if he would ever see his Bible—or his family—again.

A week later the commander called Franz back. Quietly he handed over the Bible. Then, leaning close so no one else could hear, he whispered: “I believe what you showed me. From now on we’ll save one-third of our fuel instead of using it all. When the end comes, we’ll need it to get home.”

Sure enough, when the war turned and the German army retreated, Franz’s unit had just enough fuel to escape. That decision saved many lives—Franz’s, the commander’s, and countless others.

Even in the middle of a world at war, Daniel’s prophecy proved true. And Franz Hasel never forgot the lesson God gave him—the lesson of trusting His Word, no matter the cost.

—This story has been adapted for younger readers from an article published in the August 2023 edition of Adventist World. You can read the original feature at https://adventistreview.org/feature/solid-as-a-rock/ or read A Thousand Shall Fall (Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 2001), pp. 119-121, by Susi Hasel Mundy.