If you believe that God will allow you to escape the coming persecution, then why did Jesus Christ bother telling us how we should prepare? So, contrary to what many think, we still need to prepare, because it can come unexpectedly with little warning. It will be so quick that most will be caught off guard. If we are not prepared by utilizing the clear instructions from His Word then it will be a most grievous occasion, sending most into full panic mode, horrifying fear and lasting depression. So, let’s look at the anointed words of Christ in the Bible and hide them deep within our hearts. Instructions to be used when the time comes. The current direction of this country and the world makes persecution very probable against the true believers in Christ. Or the faithful remnant, who hold to the exclusiveness of Christianity, the belief in the transformation in Christ, and commitment to sharing the Gospel to all people in every nation. The religious type beast or the false prophet will require that everyone worship the one in power and adhere to the doctrines of the established church. Failure to do so will result in immediate persecution of all true believers in Christ. I just wrote last week about the Catholic Pope and the Islamic faith signing a document to form a new world order of peace among all world religions, claiming that God is the same in each religion.
The extent of this persecution will be beyond what most of us can imagine. Especially this will be true when we realize that our own brother, either Christian or biological, will betray us to the authorities to the point of actually having us put to death (See Matthew 10:21). You might ask how can this happen? How could they be so brainwashed that they believe that we are the problem, that our interpretation of Scripture is false, and that we are wrong to stand against a peace-loving world that accepts everyone? In their eyes, we are beyond horrible for not accepting that all religions worship the same god. That we need to be persecuted to death because we have rejected the homosexual, the transgender, and the women’s choice to have an abortion. Don’t we see this today in the liberal Christian community who are already attacking our beliefs? Perhaps what’s even more disheartening is that members of our own family will rebel against us for our beliefs. They simply will not understand why we can’t accept the contemporary way of looking at things. We will seem old fashion in our thinking, but what’s most alarming is that they too are willing to have their own parents and children put to death (See Matthew 10:21). Jesus Christ continues by saying that we will be hated by all men, because of our relationship with Him.
The Bible says, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22). Well, that is exactly why we are writing this article to help you to know how to endure to the end. Let’s be clear right now we can never stand firm in our own strength. Even with the principles that I share with you today, it will not help unless you allow Christ to do it, to work in and through you. We must remember that Christ is the one that is really being persecuted. The Apostle Paul understood this well. The Bible says, “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ” (II Corinthians 1:5). As true believers in Christ whenever we suffer for the cause of Christ, by advancing His gospel, or doing the work of the ministry, or simply standing for the truth, then in reality, Christ is also suffering with us. He continues to suffer with His beloved Church. That’s good to remember, the next time we come against one of His beloved children. It’s important to understand this truth if we want to stand firm against the persecution. In so doing, then we will allow Christ to take charge, by leading us in both our behavior and conversation with our persecutors. We must believe that He is standing with us in the midst of our worst persecution. We must believe that Christ will not abandon us.
It is clear from Scripture that persecution will come against the faithful remnant from a false religion. They can even claim to be the true faith in Christ. The Bible says, “But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the counsels, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles” (Matthew 10:18). Although this Holy Scripture was applicable to the early Christians it is still applicable for today and especially for the end time persecution. As Church history proves, nearly every persecution was done at the hands of the church and other world religions, namely Islam. It’s absolutely essential that we know well what we believe in from our own study of the Holy Scriptures as we were led by the indwelling Spirit. We must allow God to write His Words upon our hearts especially in areas that will come under attack by the false or lukewarm church. They will attack the exclusiveness of Christianity (See John 14:6). They will attack the Biblical doctrine of our transformation in Christ (See II Corinthians 5:17). They will attack many of the commands of God, especially the holy matrimony between one man and one woman; and, the sanctity of life in the womb of the mother. They will attack our belief in the Great Commission to preach the gospel to the entire world even if their people follow a false religion (See Matthew 28:19-20).
So, how do we prepare for the persecution? The Bible says, “But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak” (Matthew 10:19). Wow! So, we don’t think through what we are going to say or how we are going to say it? Correct. There is a reason for that, but first let me reiterate that God’s Holy Word must be in our hearts. We must know what we believe and believe what we know. For the indwelling Spirit will pull upon that information along with new words spoken directly by Him. After forty years in the ministry from reading countless books and studying in-depth the Holy Scriptures while struggling with the original languages and the opinion of many learned men, I have concluded that without Christ opening my mind every day through the Holy Spirit then I know nothing, nor can I speak His truth. So, no matter how much we think we know, we must wait upon Christ to speak through us, as I do currently in my morning prayers, that I have posted online for the past three years. This will be absolutely essential as we face our persecutors.
We have noticed how most people react to confrontation or impending danger. It appears that the adrenaline level is increased exponentially as the danger approaches. Often times without thinking, hostile words and actions are called upon more as an automatic response to defend one’s character or one’s self from any kind of attack. As Christians, this should not be so, who believe that Jesus Christ is present with us. Especially so, if we are defending the Gospel or our Christian character. The Bible says, “For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you” (Matthew 10:20). So, let me encourage you to calm down and wait upon the Lord before you say one word back to your persecutors. Clear your mind of your automatic response. Trust Christ to give you the correct verbal response believing that He will speak through you. Dear children, Jesus Christ will speak through you when you are brought before your persecutors. There are many examples throughout Church history where Christians have brought their persecutors to tears of repentance because they could not withstand their words, words actually spoken by Christ through them. There is great power in His words. Amen
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Amen. Hallelujah