“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other” (Matthew 24:9-10)

Our Lord spoke these sobering words to us in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 24 . Something in us does not want to accept the idea that in the end times all nations will hate and persecute Christians.

This seems like a non-reality to us and something that could never happen because we live in such religiously tolerant countries such as Canada, United Kingdom and America. We would like to edit our Lord’s words and abbreviate them with a softer less harsh reality.

But this will not change the truth our Lord said would happen.


We live in cultures that shun away from pain of any kind, there are pills and remedies for even the slightest discomfort in our bodies. In such an environment persecution and suffering in our bodies for the faith of Jesus Christ seems even more absurd. There is not only a confusion over these things but there is a danger of complacency and comfort that will have us unprepared for the time that will come upon us.

I recently watched a short documentary on the sad events of the 2004 boxing day Tsunami that hit Indonesia that caused almost a quarter of a million deaths.

The video showed the Tsunami spreading to different regions and hitting the shores of heavily populated areas. What struck me with the complacency of the people in the different areas, even the amusement of it all. At one beach they see a white crescent on the distant horizon spreading across the entire large bay. People watch mesmerized as this white crescent comes nearer and nearer. When the save swallows up 2 ships in the bay some of the watchers realize the magnitude of the event that is about to strike but for most it is too late. In another shoreline people smile and laugh in amusement as the entire bay is emptied of water and ships are beached. It begins a spectacle that is full of fun and amusement as people take pictures and as the water comes back in their consider it something fun to watch. Yet when the wave came into that shoreline so many were caught unawares and their running was in vain, multitudes are screaming as they are swallowed in the waves and dragged back out to sea never to return.

I was watched the video a sobriety came over me not just over the deaths of so many people but of what is about to come upon the world of Christians and some of us not being aware of the times are living in.

Many of us do not believe this could be the end of times we are living in.

Just as the Tsunami came without warning and even came with a delusion or spectacle, so the coming of the end times persecution will come upon many Christians unawares. I am not arguing for any type of position of the rapture of the church if it either pre or post in this short article. Yet I believe firmly that we will all feel like we are in the great tribulation when this end time persecution wave hits the church. The birth pains will become worse and worse and many of those that have believed in a pre-tribulational rapture that would have them escape from all suffering will be 100% unprepared for what is going to come upon them.

Persecution of Christians has not diminished but world wide has been increasing yearly.

More Christians were martyred in the 20th century than in all previous centuries combined. Most of the apostles (Philip, Matthew, Mark, Peter, Paul …) were martyred. Many were martyred in the Middle Ages (Huss, Jerome, Joan of Arc …). Between 1540 and 1570 some one million Protestants were publicly put to death in various countries in Europe. Overall, some 50 million were martyred by the Roman Catholic Inquisition for ‘heresy’ between 606 AD and the middle of the 19th century. Protestant reformers (More, Tyndale, Latimer, Cranmer …) were martyred. Some 20 million were martyred during the 70 years of Russian atheism and communism. And some theologian just over 100 years ago in a land were persecution does not exist promoted a theology that the end times church will not suffer and be taken away before all these things happen.

This is not only a sad mistake in dispensational theology it is resulting in many Christians in our day to not be aware of the coming persecution.

The Apostle John said to the church in his day that they should not be surpassed if the world hated them (1 John 3:13). Our Lord Jesus said in the Gospel of Luke that all men will hate us not just nations (Luke 21:17). But also gives us the comfort in these words: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” (John 15:18). May we prepare in our minds to suffer for the Name of Christ in our bodies (1 Peter 4:1). May we be aware of the times and seasons that are coming upon us.

I offer a few practical suggestions:

One to start with is to read the lives of martyrs in the Christian faith from such as the great book “Foxes Book of Matyrs.” Develop a theology of suffering from the Scriptures and don’t allow small inconveniences and pains to disturb you. Study the Scriptures towards the theme of martyrdom especially in the book of revelation. May we also be bold to stand for the Name of Jesus Christ and therefore not be ashamed before Him before others (2 Timothy 3:12).


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comment on this article also here: http://www.greggordon.net/the-coming-great-persecution/

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SermonIndex.net Moderator - Brother Greg

Our Lord said 'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.' (Matthew 25:35). So as you help feed some of the poorest believers in the world in North Korea you are feeding Jesus Christ. And by giving Bibles to those believers who have no access to Scriptures you are equpping believers to be disciples of Jesus Christ to share the Good News with a lost world.

North Korean Christians Fund: https://www.heavensfamily.org/north-korea?goMotiv=I000-SEIN

Bibles for Believers Fund: https://www.heavensfamily.org/bibles-believers?goMotiv=I000-SEIN

Brother I agree with the thrust of your article. But I fear this forum is like those who are watching the tsunamie. They want know what hit them until it us too late.

Bearnaster.

"Many of us do not believe this could be the end of times we are living in."

Yes, this a highly complicated topic if we go beyond the mistakes of dispensational theology and try to get to the personal level of it. It's like a two-sided realisation. On one side the proof is openly visible of what's coming next and will change all of our lifes like nothing before in human history. On the other side even after seeing that clearly nobody truly wants to admit it to themselves on a deep personal level that involves the fact that it will touch about almost anything we hold on to currently.

It is offensive to the mind to think about it in its totality. I'm even tempted to block it out entirely and think and talk about pleasant things instead. Yes, I'm that honest to myself right now. Basically I can see what's coming in people's faces when sitting in a large public place, it's almost tangible right below the surface of the public smile. We all know that something is amiss, and it troubles us.

May the Lord bless us not only with a ability to stand, but also with the ability to face this situation in the first place. I think that's the most difficult part of it, because once it starts we will just react. Now we still can prepare mentally and spiritually and can bring our level of faith to a practial reality where we will fully and exclusively rely on His directions and provisions.

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SermonIndex.net Moderator - Robert Wurtz II

Obedience is better esteemed with God than acquired knowledge, it is the most important lesson -fundamental to the gaining of all spiritual knowledge from God. (GW North)

I know this thread will slip quietly away into the cyber ararchives of SI. We do not want to think of the reality of persecution. We want to archive it in the recesses of our minds. The reality of the death camps of N. Korea or the shipping containers of Eritrea do not resonate with us. We regard the V.O.M. magazine as a graphic novel of fiction. I mean. Come on. Chrustans being martyred around the world is pure fantasy. This does not happen.

To suggest such some in this forum, even, accuse you of conspiracy. Far easier to debate the KJV or the head covering. Or let us trust in a cultist than trust in Jesus. We decieve ourselves into thinking we are standing for truth. For this is the mesmarized church of America watching the approaching tsunamie. Peace and safety
, the American way. Then the sudden destruction will come.

For surely the true remnant is found in those death camps of N. Korea or the shipping containers of Eritrea. And franly I do not consider myself worthy to be in their company.

O God grant us repentence. Please wake up a remnant in America who will follow Jesus. Even unto death.

Bearmaster.

Amen brother. The sad thing is as we are sitting in our fast food restaurant eating a nice meal and enjoying life the idea of persecution coming suddenly on us is pure fiction as you stated. But it is coming. it will catch many off guard. I do plea with you for others in the forums to consider these things and spread this message.

On my blog there is a way to Facebook like and tweet this message and many have already, this is one way to get it out: http://www.greggordon.net/the-coming-great-persecution/

May God bring a sobriety to us in these last days.

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SermonIndex.net Moderator - Brother Greg

Our Lord said 'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.' (Matthew 25:35). So as you help feed some of the poorest believers in the world in North Korea you are feeding Jesus Christ. And by giving Bibles to those believers who have no access to Scriptures you are equpping believers to be disciples of Jesus Christ to share the Good News with a lost world.

North Korean Christians Fund: https://www.heavensfamily.org/north-korea?goMotiv=I000-SEIN

Bibles for Believers Fund: https://www.heavensfamily.org/bibles-believers?goMotiv=I000-SEIN

Though filled with symbolism and imagery, the book of Revelation speaks of a persecuted people. After reading or listening to this marvelous book one gets the idea that God is redeeming a people through persecution.

There will be a remnant who will come out of every nation, tribe, language, and people. They will be taken to heaven. But it will be through martyrdom, not a pretrib rapture. They will be the ones who will be victorious over Satan. For they will not love their own lives unto death. But they will love him and willingly lay down their lives for him.

Dear Jesus. Grant that we be such a people.

Bearmaster.

Brother will get the message out.

Bearmaster.

Thank you dear brother for your encourage and prayers. I have just released another article following up this one:

Hated by All Nations For The Testimony of Christ
http://www.greggordon.net/hated-by-all-nations-for-the-testimony-of-christ/

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SermonIndex.net Moderator - Brother Greg

Our Lord said 'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.' (Matthew 25:35). So as you help feed some of the poorest believers in the world in North Korea you are feeding Jesus Christ. And by giving Bibles to those believers who have no access to Scriptures you are equpping believers to be disciples of Jesus Christ to share the Good News with a lost world.

North Korean Christians Fund: https://www.heavensfamily.org/north-korea?goMotiv=I000-SEIN

Bibles for Believers Fund: https://www.heavensfamily.org/bibles-believers?goMotiv=I000-SEIN

Greg read the other article. Tried to post a response but could not enable the sign in protocals. In a nutshell the article is very thought provoking and sobering. Persecution will come upon the whole workd and soon. Those who live in foreign countries such as Eritrea, N. Korea, China, Iran Nigeria, etc. will be able to withstand what is coming. They live with the reality of dying for Christ daily.

We in America and Canada will have to learn and quickly. I agree. We must immerse ourselves in the literature of the persecuted past and present. Also study the history of those persecuted past and present. I have been listening to Danny Kennadton's series on the Anabaptist and what they endured. Mist excellent.

Brother I hope you keep putting out the articles in persecution. The western church needs to wake up.

God grant that we be a people of courage to endure persecution in these end times.

Bearmaster.