If You Are Commited to Christianity, You Will Be Persecuted

Persecuted Man Being Tortured for Not Accepting Religion of the State

Many act today as if the current financial crises are the biggest threats that we face. And while the nations of the world will see massive devastation during the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord, real Christians are on the edge of a time of major persecution.

The relative calm that the true Christians have had in the past few centuries should not lull us into complacency. Persecutions on a scale probably larger than the Inquisition of the Middle Ages is rapidly approaching.

This is not a popular subject.

One of the reasons I know this is that the article at the COGwriter website, Persecutions by Church and State, is one of the least viewed considering how many times it has been linked on this news page.

But whether people want to know about it or not, persecutions will come. Notice what Jesus taught:

If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you (John 15:20).

… yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you (John 16:2-4).

We are probably only a few years away from the persecution that will afflict the Christians of the Philadelphia Church (Matthew 24:9-10; Daniel 11:28-35).

And while I believe that other Christians, will to a degree, distance themselves from the Philadelphians so that they do not bear the same brunt that the Philadlephians will, the fact is that after the Philadelphians flee to a place of protection in the wilderness (Revelation 12:14-16), the rest of the Christians will face even more intensive persecution than the Philadelphians had.

Actually, during the reign of the Beast, notice the following:

25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
Shall persecute the saints of the Most High,
And shall intend to change times and law.
Then the saints shall be given into his hand
For a time and times and half a time (Daniel 7:25).

11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” 12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (Revelation 14:11-12).

Did you also notice that apparently putting up with this is apparently the patience of the saints?

Persecution is coming. Remember that Jesus said, “See, I have told you beforehand” (Matthew 24:25). Also notice the words of the Apostle Paul:

3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober (1 Thessalonians 5:2-6).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? What is ahead for Europe?
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2009, 2010, or 2011? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?