THE END-TIME PERSECUTION

[JLB]

Tuesday, November 1, 2016



The Bible prophesies of the end-times as a time when believers are persecuted. Does this line up with what we are now seeing? Absolutely! It has been observed that there has been more persecution of believers in modern times than any other time in history. Believers are persecuted in communist lands, in Muslim lands, in Hindu lands, and even in quote “Christian” lands. And the Christians of the Middle East, the birthplace of the faith, are now in danger of disappearing altogether.rnIn ChinarnChina is cited to become in the near future, the home of the largest Christian population on earth. The communist government has been intensifying its persecution of believers by raiding house churches, demanding absolute obedience from Christian seminary students, demolishing crosses from churches and throwing Christian leaders in prison.rnIn RussiarnJust this past summer, Putin si gned a law into effect that many see as rivaling the worst Christian oppression since the days of Joseph Stalin. The law, in effect, bans all evangelism in Russia. The law is so far-reaching that it would even ban telling another person about the Lord in casual conversation or even in one’s living room. rnIn America rnThis past summer a grave threat to religious liberty hung over California as the state legislature moved to pass a law that threatened to ultimately wipe out every religious school in the state. Thankfully, in the midst an outcry among leaders, California didn’t pass the law… this time. But the fact that it could even come up for a vote is an ominous sign of the times. In Iowa, a law was passed that would in effect make it illegal for pastors to say anything that could make someone who was gay or transgender feel uncomfortable. Just recently, Macy’s suspended one of its employees for simply expressing that having men in women’s bathrooms went against his faith – ev en though he would comply with the new policy. This constitutes a new phase – a believer in the Bible can now be punished not only for following the Word of God, but for simply not agreeing with that which goes against the Word of God. America is now attaining the religious liberty of the worst days of the Soviet Communism. We should not be shocked at this – since the Word of God has fully warned us – but we should be prepared. The greatest walks, the greatest testimonies, and the greatest moment of the faith take place most often not in times when Christianity is celebrated, but persecuted – in other words, at such a time as this. The key is to become all the more rooted and grounded in God and to stand true, strong, and uncompromised for God. The challenge is – become great in God.

Your brother and co-laborer in His love and service, Jonathan

 

[Not_Now.Soon]

The law in Iowa might not be one that all churches oppose, but instead many congratulate. The PCUSA Presbyterian councils already have approved gay marriage, with other denominations showing support to it as well. These things are in our mist, and our culture even among the church are struggling to stand by God's standard or to try and "modernize" the bible. The truth is that with such things that the community supports, most Christians might not see that they are perscutated or to disagree with it until we are waist high in perscutation and unable to not see it.

We are told there will be persecution, but what I worry about is how little we as a whole will be ready for it. It's going to blindside most churches even though it already exists and is growing.

 

[JLB]

The law in Iowa might not be one that all churches oppose, but instead many congratulate. The PCUSA Presbyterian councils already have approved gay marriage, with other denominations showing support to it as well. These things are in our mist, and our culture even among the church are struggling to stand by God's standard or to try and "modernize" the bible. The truth is that with such things that the community supports, most Christians might not see that they are perscutated or to disagree with it until we are waist high in perscutation and unable to not see it.

We are told there will be persecution, but what I worry about is how little we as a whole will be ready for it. It's going to blindside most churches even though it already exists and is growing.

Yes, but a healthy discussion and awareness of these things is needful to prepare this generation for what is coming.

Most have been taught that the Rapture is coming before the persecution begins.

Jesus and the Apostles taught that we are remain in Him, and continue to believe in the face of persecution.

Those who depart from Him because of persecution will not be saved on the Day of Judgement.

• But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Luke 8:13

• But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Matthew 13:20-21

• Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, Hebrews 3:12-14

And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:12-14



JLB

 

[Sinthesis]

The thing is there are more believers believers in modern times than any other time in history. Christianity is still growing. We are promised persecution, so no surprise there. Yet not all irritants are persecution. Not getting your way doesn't equal persecution.

 

[turnorburn]

If anyone here hasn't read those threads about persecution in Church history.. now might be a good time to start.. In hopes that it will prepare you for what is coming..

 

[n2thelight]

Daniel 8:23 "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and under standing dark sentences, shall stand up."

Daniel 8:24 "And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy People."

Daniel 8:25 "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand."

 

[JLB]

Those whose minds have been darkened by the false doctrine of Preterism, believe that the great tribulation is past.

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. Matthew 24:15-22


and again


13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”
So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:13-17



JLB

 

[smaller]

The persecution and the tribulation from GOD, LANDS RIGHT HERE on our own sorry hides:

Romans 7:21
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Are we ready to have this EVIL PRESENT ripped away from our own hearts?

Galatians 1:4
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

God Himself has put MANY external signs in the world, which ALL are meant to direct our sights to the internal problem.

The sign of middle eastern invaders are an external sign of a middle eastern invader, internal reality.

As are many other "signs."

Who is Ishmael?

Galatians 4:
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

Anyone who thinks it is WE ourselves who do not have an "ISHMAEL" problem isn't looking very closely at the scriptures:

Galatians 5:
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Y'all can look at the religious folks in Rome, or the vile "middle eastern hordes" of the blind all the day long.

The day we "turn" and look at our own sorry hides is the DAY WE SEE CLEARLY, the external signs of the INTERNAL REALITY.

Romans 7:21
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

I wouldn't be worrying too much about the other people's problems in the light of that reality.

We ourselves EXPECT to be delivered from what? What do we pray to God for EVERY TIME we are in "church?"

DELIVER US FROM EVIL!

 

[daninthelionsden]

The internal tribulation comes from our refusal to cede our will to God in His dealing with our sin. Once He reveals a sin within us then we simply must deal with it or be in turmoil as our relationship with our Lord suffers the more we resist. External tribulation is at times used to put the squeeze on us to stop resisting Him as we find He and His will is our only option.
We can also expect tribulation from others who have given themselves over to their sin and see in their spirits that God's chosen have something they aren't able to steal, cheat or buy. The Christian can expect their wrath as they attempt to take what they can't have by treachery.

 

[Not_Now.Soon]

In the days Jesus taught, Israel was under Roman rule. Yet even then Jesus taught what to do even under persecution. Love your neighbor, love your enemy, bless those who persecute you, and to not return evil for evil, but conquor evil by doing good.

I've been told that Roman rule for Israel was full of persecution. If that's true then that sheds a new light to the teachings of Jesus. That's going to be a hard teaching to follow when there's actual persecution and oppression in front of us.

 

[Sinthesis]

In the days Jesus taught, Israel was under Roman rule. Yet even then Jesus taught what to do even under persecution. Love your neighbor, love your enemy, bless those who persecute you, and to not return evil for evil, but conquor evil by doing good.

I've been told that Roman rule for Israel was full of persecution. If that's true then that sheds a new light to the teachings of Jesus. That's going to be a hard teaching to follow when there's actual persecution and oppression in front of us.

Yep.

 

[Sinthesis]

Daniel 8:23 "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and under standing dark sentences, shall stand up."

Daniel 8:24 "And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy People."

Daniel 8:25 "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand."

Herod the Great

 

[daninthelionsden]

I have found it is one thing to forgive those who follow the confess, repent, atone protocol after wronging you and quite another to forgive those who refused to do anything to help you forgive them. Then there is the worst of all......those who have wronged you, continue to wrong you and have no intention of stopping.

 

[smaller]

I have found it is one thing to forgive those who follow the confess, repent, atone protocol after wronging you and quite another to forgive those who refused to do anything to help you forgive them. Then there is the worst of all......those who have wronged you, continue to wrong you and have no intention of stopping.

That's to be expected if we are believers:

Luke 21:17
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

That's A PROMISE of Jesus.

The hard part is figuring out how and why this is so.

 

[daninthelionsden]

That's to be expected if we are believers:

Luke 21:17
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

That's A PROMISE of Jesus.

The hard part is figuring out how and why this is so.

They don't even know why........but I suspect it is spiritual jealousy as every man knows God and the lost covet the inheritance of the found.

 

[smaller]

They don't even know why........but I suspect it is spiritual jealousy as every man knows God and the lost covet the inheritance of the found.

It's a rather encompassing statement. Not just with people who know us. With a surface view it would seem that "all men" are rather ambiguous/ambivalent to us as believers. But that is NOT the Promise of Christ. The Promise is very specifically, "all men."

Now, just how can that possibly be? (excuse me for tossing the softball setup question)

 

[daninthelionsden]

Within the Body there is the human condition of jealousy and competition as members try and push past each other trying to jockey for position/favor like as if one more piece of knowledge/insight betters their standing......of course the Kingdom works inverse of man's ambitions........that's why the Kingdom is made up of "such as these"......children.

 

[daninthelionsden]

I think at the end, we will be betrayed by all around us that remain. Whether they be "Christian", family, neighbors, "friends", the authorities.........all men. The remnant shall be left. We had better learn not to compete so much for favor, whether it be man's or God's, but rather to help/serve each other as Christ instructed.

 

[turnorburn]

Daniel 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

Whenever your studying prophecy always put Israel into the equation.. When Jesus returns it will be his first stop.. What does Israel see as a way to obtain world peace?

 

[daninthelionsden]

Daniel 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

Whenever your studying prophecy always put Israel into the equation.. When Jesus returns it will be his first stop.. What does Israel see as a way to obtain world peace?

Yes. I am a supporter of God's people(Jews). Unfortunately. These last couple of decades, their leadership is walking a fine line between consolidating biblical territorial claims on one hand and selling out their fellow Jews through corruption and compromise on the other. Prophecy tells us the latter falls upon them as they make a deal with the devil to secure "peace".