Signs of the Times

Persecution

PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE:

The Bible shows that there have always been persecutions, especially of those who try to live godly lives. The Jewish people were persecuted for their faith. The Early Church was also persecuted and a great number of believers were killed because of their belief in Jesus Christ. Even in more recent times persecution has been common. Most of the early colonists in the United States came here to escape persecution from their European neighbors!

Wars are usually persecution taken to its next dreadful level. Jesus said that persecution will increase, especially during the Tribulation in the future.

Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. - Matthew 24:9

Most of the terrifying events of the Tribulation are building up during this present time, which Jesus called "The beginning of birth pains." Ethnic wars, terrorism and anti-Christian philosophies contribute to an ever-growing toll of suffering and death.

Experts estimate that that between 100 and 200 million Christians around the globe are currently suffering for their faith, especially in communistic and Islamic countries. This persecution takes many forms: imprisonment, abuse, hostilities, and even death.

Key Scriptures
Current Events
Links about Persecution
Insight from 2012: The Year the World Didn't End
Insights from 2009 In Prophecy: The Year In Review
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Key Scriptures

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Persecution
Matthew 24:9 Further Study
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Current Events

Prophetic Significance of Persecution

Notice: Sources often remove their news links after a period of time. Some of them move older stories to a subscription-only section. Even if the story is no longer on line, our summary will still be available on this page.

WORLD WATCH LIST


PERSECUTION NEWS
World Watch Monitor
Morning Star News
Worthy Network


See also:
Revival



Congressman gets standing O for nailing IRS chief

May 17, 2013 - During the Friday’s House Ways and Means Committee hearing about the scandal of the IRS targeting conservative groups, Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa. grilled former IRS Chief Steve Miller who just resigned under pressure. Kelly said to Miller,
“When the IRS comes in, you’re not allowed to be shoddy, you’re not allowed to be run horribly, you’re not allowed to make mistakes, you’re not allowed to do one d— thing that doesn’t come in compliance,” Kelly blasted. “If you do, you’re held responsible right then.”
When Kelly called the situation "an outrage for all America,” the gallery erupted in applause.
Source: WND

Prophetic Significance of Persecution



May 14, 2013 - In the light of recent news that the IRS has been inappropriate targeting of groups with "tea party" and other conservative buzzwords, Franklin Graham revealed that The Billy Graham Evangelical Association and Samaritan Purse were both audited last year , apparently because they encouraged voters to vote with Christian principles in mmind.
Both the BGEA and Samaritan's Purse passed the audits and retained their tax-exempt status. But Franklin Graham says the audits, which "wasted" ministry time and money, were not "coincidence" or "justifiable."
Source: Christianity Today
pdf file of the Letter -



In IRS scandal, echoes of Watergate

May 13, 2013 - Recent disclosures that the IRS is deliberately targeting groups sympathetic to the Tea Party or advocating patriotism or constitutional rights has hit the news as another scandal that affects the White House. Commentator George T. Will notes that 40 years ago a similar complaint helped bring down President Nixon during the Watergate Scandal era.
Source: George T. Will - Washington Post

US Dept. of State Accused of Enabling Nigerian Islamist Group Boko Haram

May 1, 2013 -
A Nigerian human rights lawyer, Emmanuel Ogebe, has accused the U.S. Department of State of enabling Islamist militant group Boko Haram by mischaracterizing their actions in that country which have resulted in the death of more than 1,000 Christians and other civilians since 2012.
The Department of State failed to designate Boko Haram a terror group, and now it claims that they are economically motivated and should receive more money to assist their operations.
Source: Christian Post

Nigeria: The Deadliest Place to Be a Christian

Apr. 29, 2014 -
According to various report, over 900 Christian were killed in Nigeria in 2012 for no other reason than subscribing to the Christian faith. Many victims died at the hands of Islamic militants attached to the extremist group Boko Haram.
Already this year some 128 people have been killed.
Source: International Christian Concern - Religion Today

Pastor Saeed Abedini Severely Beaten, Fainting From Internal Bleeding

Apr. 15, 2013 - The American Center for Law and Justice reports that U.S. pastor Saeed Abedini has been severely beaten in Evin Prison in Tehran, and is experiencing fainting spells. He is not receiving proper medical care. He has been building an orphanage for children in Iran, and was arrested last year, tried for "endangering national security," and sentenced to eight years in prison.
The ACLJ called that a "sham trail," however, noting that the real reason behind Abedini's sentence was his faith.
Source: Christian Post

Egypt's Copts Need Protection: What's Morsi Waiting For?

Apr. 15, 2013 - The Coptic Orthodox church in Egypt is experiencing the worst persecution in their 2000 year history. A week ago last Sunday, at the end of a funeral service at their Cathedral, some 200 Muslims attacked them, killing one man and injuring dozens of others. Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II said that there had been no clear action by the state against the perpetrators.
Source: Christian Post
Egyptian Religious Ministry Bans Interactions With Evangelical Church - Christian Post

Military warned 'evangelicals' No. 1 threat

Apr. 6, 2013 -
Soldiers in the U.S. military have been told in a training briefing that evangelical Christians are the No. 1 extremist threat to America – ahead of groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, KKK, Nation of Islam, al-Qaida, Hamas and others
At an Army reserve unit in Pennsylvania, a training brief titled “Extremism and Extremist Organizations,” also listed Catholicism and ultra-orthodox Judaism as extremist organizations. Extremists were defined as people who believe their beliefs, customs and traditions are the only ‘right way.’
Source: WND

Website stunner: 'Legalize Jesus'

Mar. 25, 2013 - Check out the new Hollywood-style website that exposes the rising tide of persecution against Christians!
Source: WND
Rise of Islam fuels Christian persecution - WND

Anti-Christian Pogrom in Pakistan

Mar. 18, 2013 - Muslims in Badami Bagh, a suburb of the city of Lahore in Pakistan, burned about 170 homes of Christians. They claimed that the town’s residents has spoken disrespectfully about Prophet Muhammad.
Source: The Voice of Russia

Activists Scold U.S. Over Pastor Imprisoned in Iran

Mar. 18, 2013 - When the U.S. State Department failed to show up for a hearing on Mar. 13 about Iran's treatment of religious minorities, and pastor Saeed Abedini's imprisonment in Tehran's Evin prison, Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, complained,
"The State Department is AWOL -- they are absent without leave."
Source: Religion Today

Persecution Rises in China as Plan Begins to End House Churches

Feb. 19,. 2013 - The Chinese government has begun a three-phase plan to eliminate unregistered house churches.

The first phase began last year, from January to June. The State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) secretly investigated house churches across the country and created files on them. It is estimated that there are between 45 million and 60 million house-church members. The government has banned the term "house church."

The second phase, which is being implemented now, is to try to convince churches to become part of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement(TSPM), the legal, government-controlled church. Most underground Christian object to TSPM beliefs. If they do join TSPM they will be called "house gatherings."

The third phase is expected to begin from 2015 through to 2025, when the government would shut down house churches that do not comply with the requirement to join the TSPM.
Source: Religion Today
How China Plans to Wipe Out House Churches - Christianity Today
For balance on this issue: China Isn't Trying to Wipe Out Christianity - Christianity Today

20 Churches Destroyed, 100s of 'Sons' Killed in Syria; Christian Leader Reveals Dire Reality

Feb. 9, 2013 - The Patriarch of the Greek Melkite Catholic Church revealed that twenty churches have been destroyed, damaged or abandoned, and around a hundred Christians have been killed in recent fighting in Syria.
Source: Christian Post


Feb. 8, 2013 - Maikel Adel Naguib Farag and Maikel Mossad Shaker were sentenced to three years in prison in Egypt for possessing a military machine gun during a a protest in Cairo last October. The protest denounced the demolition of a church in Aswan. The military opened fire on the demonstrators and ran over some of them with their armored vehicles.
To date, no top-ranking military officials have been held responsible for the massacre and only three soldiers have been sentenced with short prison terms on charges of involuntary manslaughter for their role in the deaths of fourteen protestors.
Source: Religion Today

American Pastor Sentenced to 8 Years in Iran

Jan. 28, 2013 - An American pastor, Saeed Abedini, has been convicted on charges of setting up house churches in Iran. He rejected the charges, but was sentenced to 8 years in prison. State Department spokesman said that the department is calling on Iran to respect 's human rights and release him.
Source: NewsMax
Update Feb. 8, 2013 - American pastor tortured in Iranian prison - WND

Religious War: North Africa's Christians Multiply Amid Persecution

Jan. 27, 2013 - Operation World reports that Christian persecution has increased since the Arab Spring in countries like Egypt, Libya, and Algeria.
"Yet increased pressure over the last decade has not crushed the evangelical churches, which are growing by 5 percent annually. 'A prayer and renewal movement has burst onto the scene in recent years with many thousands from all the major churches participating.'”
Source: Religion Today

Africa Rises, China Falls on Christian Persecution List

Jan. 9, 2013 - Open Doors, a Christian missionary organization reports that there was a vast rise in Christian persecution in Africa last year as radical Islamists consolidated power there. Nigeria, Somalia, Ethiopia and Mali were especially bad for Christians.
North Korea topped Open Doors' list for the 11th year in a row...The group estimates that as many as 70,000 Christians are imprisoned in North Korea simply for being Christian, and the act of carrying a Bible can result in execution.
Other top violators are Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, with Syria rising rapidly.

On the other hand, China has improved, moving down on the persecution list from No. 21 in 2011 to No. 37 in 2012.

Source: Religion Today
About 100 million Christians persecuted around the world: report - Reuters
Why President Obama Does Not Defend Persecuted Christians - By Egyptian Christian Author - Christian Post

Hobby Lobby: The First Martyr Under Obamacare?

Jan. 8, 2013 - It is interesting that December 26 is the day that Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor refused judicial relief to the Hobby Lobby craft store chain regarding their objection to the Affordable Care Act because it requires them to provide birth control methods that may result in abortion. December 26 happens to be Stephen's Day, the day that honors Christendom's first martyr.

A statement from Hobby Lobby says, "The company will continue to provide health insurance to all qualified employees. To remain true to their faith, it is not their intention, as a company, to pay for abortion-inducing drugs." Contraception is not the the issue, but some of the government-approved methods will stop the growth of a fertilized egg.

As a result the government could fine Hobby Lobby $1.3 million per day! That would be the "death knell" for the company.

Apparently, that death would be more desirable to the company's owners than potentially funding the deaths of developing human beings.
Source: Karen Swallow Prior - Christianity Today

The Scandal of Silence: Our Persecuted Brethren

Jan. 7, 2013 - Evangelical Christians have had a serious blindspot this past year about the "outrageous, brutal and systematic persecution of Christians — especially in the Islamic world." The U.S. government and the media have been silent too! Recording "Breakpoint This Week," the author joined WORLD magazine columnist Mindy Belz and Ed Stetzer of LifeWay Research to discuss this problem. For example: The Islamic group Boko Haram have been on a murderous rampage against Christians in Nigeria.
And of course, it’s not just Nigeria. Entire Christian communities have disappeared in Iraq. In Syria, Christians are being targeted by Islamist radicals mixed in with the Syrian opposition forces.
All over the world there are neglected stories of persecution against Christians. Will this be the year we break our silence?
Source: John Stonestreet, BreakPoint - Religion Today


Go to: Articles before Jan. 1, 2013


Links About Persecution

WORLD WATCH LIST


PERSECUTION NEWS
Legalize Jesus
Morning Star News
Religious Freedom - Christian Post
World Watch Monitor
Worthy Network
ARTICLES
Persecution of Christians - Wikipedia
Ayaan Hirsi Ali:The Global War on Christians in the Muslim World - Newsweek
ORGANIZATIONS
Amnesty International
Bible League
Christian Freedom International
Christians In Crisis
Compas Direct
Defend Christians
Hudson Institute's Center For Religious Freedom
Human Rights Watch
International Christian Concern
International Day of Prayer For The Persecuted Church
Open Doors International - Brother Andrew
Persecution Project
World Watch List
The Rutherford Institute
The Thomas More Law Center




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Last Updated: 5/15/13


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