This article is not going to make me very popular, but I MUST speak truth!
After writing my article on China and how Xi Jinping is burning Bibles, tearing down churches and demanding that Christians denounce Jesus Christ, I received this in an email from one of my readers. I asked in the article: ‘Could this be us in the near future?’ Here is the email response:
“Geri, I don’t think so, simply because I believe we have to be gone before the antichrist declares himself, and before the Gog of Magog war. I believe we are seriously on the cusp of that devastating but brief war, and our leaving will be the opportunity for the old devil to put his puppet in place. I am not an escapist. I’m simply believing in the pretrib rapture because it is the only one that I believe is provable from scripture without obfuscating and twisting the facts.”
What is going on?
Why do fellow Christians believe that American Christians will be spared from persecution? I am NOT speaking of THE Tribulation. That is a separate event in Bible Prophecy.
What about the Christians who were slaughtered in Iraq and Syria in the past ten years? There were more deaths of Christians in this ten-year period than in all of the years since the birth of the Church!
And what about this madman Jinping in China? Why is it okay for Chinese Christians to experience such hellish times, but it is not possible for American Christians to experience similar persecution?
We are called Haters in America
We are being called “Haters” by unbelievers in America. Do you really think that if our government reverts back to a Liberal, anti-Christian government in the future that we will be spared from intense persecution? Again, I am NOT speaking of THE Tribulation.
Brethren, this does not make any sense!
What did Jesus say about being persecuted?
From gotquestions.org
How should a Christian respond to persecution?
Answer: There is no doubt that persecution is a stark reality of living the Christian life. Christian persecution is to be expected: the apostle Paul warned that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Jesus said that, if they persecuted Him, they will also persecute His followers (John 15:20).
Jesus made it clear that those of the world will hate Christians because the world hates Christ. If Christians were like the world—vain, earthly, sensual, and given to pleasure, wealth, and ambition—the world would not oppose us. But Christians do not belong to the world, which is why the world engages in Christian persecution (see John 15:18–19).
Christians are influenced by different principles from those of the world. We are motivated by the love of God and holiness, while the world is driven by the love of sin. It is our very separation from the world that arouses the world’s animosity (1 Peter 4:3–4). Christians must learn to recognize the value of persecution and even to rejoice in it, not in an ostentatious way but quietly and humbly because persecution has great spiritual value.
First, the persecution of Christians allows them to share in a unique fellowship with the Lord. Paul outlined a number of things he had surrendered for the cause of Christ. Such losses, however, he viewed as “rubbish” (Philippians 3:8) or “dung” (KJV) that he might share in the “fellowship of [Christ’s] sufferings” (Philippians 3:10). The noble apostle even counted his chains as a grace (favor) that God had bestowed upon him (Philippians 1:7).
Second, in all truth, Christian persecution is good for believers. James argues that trials test the Christian’s faith, develop endurance in his life, and help develop maturity (James 1:2–4). As steel is tempered in the forge, trials and persecution serve to strengthen the character of believers. A Christian yielding graciously to persecution demonstrates that he is of superior quality as compared to his adversaries (see Hebrews 11:38).
It’s easy to be hateful, but Christlikeness produces kindness and blessing in the face of evil opposition. Peter says of Jesus, “When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23).
Third, Christian persecution enables believers to better value the support of true friends. Conflict can bring faithful children of God together in an encouraging and supportive way they might not have known otherwise. Hardship can stimulate the Lord’s people toward a greater resolve to love and comfort one another and lift one another to the throne of grace in prayer. There’s nothing like an unpleasant incident to help us reach a greater level of brotherly love. – source
This is from my article on China:
Please read the words below from Chinese pastor Wang Yi, from my article on Xi Jinping’s harsh persecution of Christians in China.
It is impossible for me to post the video, but here are the words from this brave and devoted pastor in China to his congregation:
“All of the weaknesses we experience in Christian life, why are you still caught up in lies? Why are you still lingering in all of that sordid malice? It is because you are afraid of persecution. It is because you do not believe that persecution is a blessing from God. For God says it is the one who takes up his cross and follows me, who renounces all he has in this life, will also gain what in this life? He shall receive a hundred fold in this age to come – Eternal life! A hundred fold of what in this life!
“One of the important things that the Lord Jesus meant in this life is persecution. In that list of blessings is the persecution of the world against us. So let me put it this way: When truth and justice prevail in our nation, we must speak honestly. We must live upright lives – we must speak edifying words. And when truth and justice wane, we still must speak honestly.
“We must act and speak with the same courage as we did before. When we are not being persecuted, we spread the Gospel. When we are not being persecuted, we go street preaching. And when persecution comes, we continue street preaching. Amen!
“When we are talking about a President, we declare that he is a sinner. We believe we have the responsibility to tell Xi Jinping that he is a sinner. This government that he is leading has sinned greatly against God. And if he does not repent, he will perish. We declare that there is still a way of escape for an evil man like him.
“But there is only one way out, and that is the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. We say this because we truly believe that this is for his good, and for every government worker. We do not want to see them go to hell. We do not want to see them and their descendants cursed by God. Amen!
“If we do not experience persecution, how are we to give them the Grace of the Gospel? What are the means of giving them this Gospel of Grace? He did it through Gethsemane. He did it through the Cross of Golgotha. What means does the Chinese church today use to give the Grace of the Gospel who resists and persecutes the church of our God?” source
Scriptures about Persecution
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18).
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1 Peter 4:12-14).
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).
Brethren, there are many more Scriptures about being persecuted. Just do a word search using “persecute.”
Still don’t believe that we in America may experience intense persecution?
Go here and watch videos about the horrific persecution of the Church worldwide! Voice of the Martyrs
Shalom b’Yeshua
MARANTHA!
articles at grandmageri422.me