There will be repeated persecution of Christians. Scripture clearly indicates a persecution of God’s people. In view of the developments, the only question that remained was who the persecuted would actually be and who the persecutors are at this point.
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Who will pursue whom in the end?
According to the biblical description, at the time of the end there will be renewed persecution of Christians. However, we need to look more closely here, because hardly any other term has been as meaningless and perverted as that of Christianity. Because it is not just about the confession of Christ, combined with baptism, but also about the people of God. A development is already visible here that raises the question of who will actually be the persecuted in the end and who will be the persecutors.
Among the churches that call themselves Christian, ecumenism is almost complete. Whether these churches have the Evangelical, Baptist, Methodist or Lutheran sign on their respective places of worship no longer makes any difference. They all pursue the same goal, united in the body of “one holy, universal, apostolic, catholic Church.” But this community, formed within the framework of ecumenism, is referred to by those as the “people of God”. (Info).
Who are the people of God?
What actually defines the church of God? Is God’s church, in the sense of the people of God, actually a group of people who simply profess Jesus? “I believe in Jesus Christ”, add a baptism and you are one of God’s people. Do you also get an entry ticket to the kingdom of heaven?
At least that’s what the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) claims. On this occasion, the former EKD council chairwoman Annette Kurschuss summarized the “confession” in a simple formula: “I belong to Christ, this man on the cross.” (Info).
However, this “man on the cross”, as Kurschus put it, was only on the cross for a short time and not dead for much longer. The Jesus Christ of the Bible, apparently different from the one whom the EKD council chairperson described as Christ, is but rose again on the third day and is alive. He sits at the right hand of God and is highly active as our advocate (high priest).
However, for the churches this “confession” seems to be enough to describe themselves as the people of God.
The Bible defines the people of God
In the New Testament, Paul clearly described who basically belongs to the people of God. So in Galatians 3:28-29:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.“
This already emphasizes that in order to belong to the people of God, physical descent does not have to lead to one of the twelve tribes of Israel according to genealogy, but being in Jesus Christ is what counts. Therefore, your own tradition, origin and culture are completely irrelevant.
True faith counts – not lip service
Nevertheless, simply confessing that one believes in Jesus Christ is neither a “membership card” nor a “ticket.” “You shall know them by their fruits,” is a well-known reference in the Bible. It is not what is said that counts, but rather the visible evidence of belief in the truth (Info).
Jesus Christ illustrated this with a fig tree (Matthew 21:19). A magnificent tree full of leaves but no fruit. With this, Jesus Christ made it clear that the confessions proclaimed to the outside world are worth nothing if the faith professed is not recognizable through good works. Put on the “halo” at dawn and sit for a morning pint until noon? Profess the Savior during the day but break into houses at night? Jesus Christ allowed this “blinding” fig tree to wither.
Real faith leads to obedience
True faith is expressed not only in faith “in” Jesus Christ, but in faith “like” Jesus Christ. Anyone who actually has the true faith also lives this faith. The believer arranges his everyday life to please God. This is expressed simply by keeping the commandments. John 14:15:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.“
John 15:10:
“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.“
John clearly described what happens when someone professes Jesus Christ but still ignores the commandments. 1 John 2:4:
“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.“
In short: Confession of Jesus Christ and the simultaneous (constant) violation of God’s commandments are evidence of acting. You can lie to others just as you can deceive yourself.
By the way, the few verses contradict any claim that Jesus Christ abolished the laws (Info).
The true people of God
In summary: God’s people include all people who in truth profess Jesus Christ, bear His testimony and also keep His commandments. This automatically translates into a life that pleases God. This, like changing your own character, doesn’t happen overnight. But the process initiated thanks to the Holy Spirit will one day become visible (“fruits”). You can fool people. But God cannot be fooled.
Everyone who once confessed the gospel and Jesus Christ and also asked for the forgiveness of sins has joined the “house of God”. However, the true believer then differs from the “short-lived flame” in that he essentially goes into the sanctuary and does not remain in the outer courtyard (Info). Baptism is not a “flat rate of salvation,” but rather the beginning of sanctification. A constant process. Anyone who professes Jesus Christ but remains in their former life or falls back into it will one day be confronted with this. Being in the house of God because of a purely verbal confession of Jesus Christ does not mean automatic salvation. So also according to 1. Peter 4:17:
“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?“
Therefore, a community that disregards God’s commandment and continually violates it, while encouraging others to do the same, cannot be the final people of God. Nothing changes when this misguided community continually increases in size and proclaims with ever louder voices that they are God’s people.
God’s people proclaim the gospel
It is now clear that it is not those who automatically call themselves Christians who have nothing to do with the gospel who have to suffer persecution, but rather those who bear the testimony of Jesus Christ, keep His commandments and also demonstrate a way of life that pleases God.
The truth was always unpopular
One of Jesus Christ’s missions to His followers is to proclaim the gospel. True faith therefore leads to the fulfillment of this mission. The proclamation of the truth and the associated exhortation to repentance have never met with general “enthusiasm”. In the Old Testament it was the prophets commissioned by God who had to fulfill this task.
In most cases it was their own people who persecuted, tracked down, chased away, abused and even killed these prophets. Jesus Christ wept for these deeds, Luke 13:34:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!“
The “exclusivity” came to an end
The majority of the chosen people admitted to God, but did not want the truth. The majority preferred to follow their own rules and paths. Any admonition from the prophets to return to the truth was met with persecution, murder and manslaughter. According to Matthew 24, Jesus Christ announced the consequences, which actually came to pass in 70 AD. Jerusalem was completely destroyed by the Romans after the second siege.
Just 3.5 years after the ascension of Jesus Christ, the barrel of infidelity overflowed with the stoning of the Apostle Stephen. Already foreseen by the prophet Daniel (chapter 9). The “exclusivity” came to an end and from that point on the apostles also proclaimed the gospel to the Gentile peoples.
The persecution has been announced
Whether in the Old Testament or the New Testament. The love of truth and the proclamation of the Gospel always met with sometimes fierce resistance, even within our own ranks. Those who stood up for the truth were almost always persecuted. The Bible testifies to this in several places.
1 Samuel 25:29:
“Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.“
Psalm 119:86:
“All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.“
Psalm 119:161:
“SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.“
Matthew 5:11:
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.“
Matthew 5:44:
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;“
Luke 11:49:
“Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:“
Luke 21:12:
“But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.“
Johannes 15,20:
“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.“
John 16:2-3:
“They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.“
2 Timothy 3:11-13:
“Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.“
Respond with longsuffering and patience
The persecution of those who remain faithful to the gospel and thus to God is therefore inevitable. Nevertheless, the true believer does not take up “sword and lance”, but rather the “armor of God”. The Word of God as it is written.
Ephesians 6:11,13:
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.“
Romans 12:14:
“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.“
1 Thessalonians 2:4:
“But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.“
The majority is forming
Efforts are increasingly underway that aim to unite people into a human family. Religious affiliation plays no role here. Pope Francis even warned against “dangerous syncretism”, i.e. the mixing of different religions. But that is not necessary for the unification of people. This is ensured by a quasi-imposed, universal replacement religion. Some call it “preservation of creation,” others call it “nature and climate protection.” (Info).
The part that calls itself Christian sees itself united as the “people of God”, feeling responsible for creation. The pontiff recently reiterated the thesis that “offense to creation” constitutes a sin. No matter what religion you belong to, everyone would be affected by the apocalypse prophesied due to climate change. Therefore (almost) everyone will agree to the measures defined as necessary. This will certainly have a religious character and will also include glorification and worship. However, with somnambulistic certainty these measures will violate the law of God.
The state is lending a helping hand
Just as Pontius Pilate, as the state power at the time of Jesus Christ, implemented the wishes of the religious forces and the Roman Catholic Church used the state for the execution of its policies over many centuries, the “highest moral authority” will continue to prevail in the future governments enact the relevant laws. The “kings” of the earth are already attuned to “climate protection”. Revelation 17:12-13:
“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.“
In all likelihood, in order to “preserve creation”, the sanctification of Sunday (“climate lockdown”) will be prescribed in a religious manner. (Info).
The people of God become the enemy
Recent history has shown once again that it is easy to scare people to the marrow of their bones. They will gratefully accept, if not even demand, these programs to “protect Mother Earth”. Ultimately, the “preservation of creation” was also a moral concern. Any deviation will be met with exclusion and contempt. Disregarding the legally prescribed Sunday commandment would be an ignorance of “lateral thinkers” that “endangers the common good”.
First, privileges are promised if the regulation is followed. This is followed by announced disadvantages for non-compliance. Ultimately, this will result in tangible sanctions against anyone who does not intend to comply with this regulation.
Will people who fully adhere to the truth of the gospel accept and obey without comment any ordained transgression of even one of God’s laws? No! They will not follow this regulation. Because one of God’s laws is described in Exodus 20:8-11 and this points to the Sabbath (Saturday) to be holy (Info).
It is obvious who will actually be the persecuted and who will be the persecutors. Anyone who is part of one of these “climatically” oriented ecumenical movements today should be careful that they do not one day follow in the footsteps of the persecutors and still remain in the mistaken belief that they are doing God’s work. The expected reprisals against the people loyal to God are already foreseeable – Info.
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2 Thessalonians 2:10
Bible verses from King James Version
