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. TheJewish people were persecuted for their faith. The Early Church was also persecuted and a great number of believerswere killed because of their belief in Jesus Christ. Even in more recent times persecution has been common. Mostof 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, especiallyduring 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-growingtoll 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
Insights from 2008 In Prophecy: The Year In Review
Ron's Blog: Persecution
Prophecy Central Home


Key Scriptures

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NIV & Other VersionsIncludes Commentary
Persecution
Matthew 24:9 Further Study
Mark 13:9,11-13 Further Study
Luke 21:12-19Further 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
Christian Persecution Magazine


See also:
Revival
Terrorism



See more recent articles: After December 31, 2015


EuroParliament Prez: Christians ‘Not Safe In Our Continent’

Dec. 3, 2015 -

In a high-level meeting on religious persecution in Brussels, the President of the European Parliament (EP) said that Europe cannot afford to continueignoring the fate of Christians, who are “clearly the most persecuted group” in the world.

Source: Breitbart

ISIS executes 12 Christians—including boy and 2 women who were raped in public and beheaded—for refusing to renounce Jesus

Oct. 5, 2015 -

Islamic State militants have brutally murdered 12 Christians, including the 12-year-old son of a Syrian ministry team leader who had plantednine churches, for refusing to renounce Jesus Christ and embrace Islam instead, the Gospel Herald reported.

Source: Christianity Today

Prophetic Significance of Persecution


'Filled with hate': Witnesses say Oregon gunman targeted Christians in community college shooting

Oct. 2. 2015 -

The gunman in Thursday's mass shooting at an Oregon community college specifically targeted Christians, three witnesses said, while onlineaccounts linked to the shooter expressed disdain for organized religion.

Source: Fox



One Christian is martyred every five minutes, persecution watchdog reports

Sept. 23, 2015 -

Christian Freedom International has found that more than 200 million followers are facing persecution in 105 countries. This makes Christianitythe most persecuted religion in the world.

According to the report, more Christians have been martyred in the 20th and 21st centuries than during the previous 19 centuries combined.

Source:Christian Today

Why Can't the Kentucky Clerk Get Bail?

Sept. 7, 2015 -

Rowan County, Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis has been jailed without bail since Thursday for refusing to allow her office to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Her attorney, Matthew Staver, says that even some people accused of murder are allowed to be free on bail while their trial is pending.

In fact, Staver said, she had not committed a crime at all. In his opinion, the judge had decided from the beginning to send her to jail.

On ABC, presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said there is a double standard for liberals and conservatives on this issue. Former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsomeand former Attorney General Eric Holder allowed same-sex marriage when it was illegal, but they were not prosecuted.

Source: NewsMax
Huckabee rallying for imprisoned Ky. clerk - OneNewsNow
Kentucky clerk appeals order putting her in jail - [Kim Davis] has said she will not issue marriage licenses until the state legislature changes the law so the licenses can be issued under someone else's authority.- Fox
Mike Huckabee: We Must Stand with Kim Davis Against ‘Criminalization of Christianity’ - “The court doesn’t have the constitutional authority to make law,” - Breitbart

Franklin Graham: Ky. Clerk 'Fighting for Religious Freedom for All of Us'

Sept. 4, 2015 -

Franklin Graham... says a federal judge's decisionto jail Davis after she refused to issue marriage certificates to same-sex couples gives further proof of a "criminalization of Christianity."

Source: NewsMax

Cruz: Religious liberty a top priority

Aug. 23, 2015 - Presidential Candidate Ted Cruz gave his opinion on CBS's "Face the Nation" about an Iowa wedding venuethat is no longer in business after being fined for turning away a same-sex couple.

The Texas senator said, "The liberal intolerance we see trying to persecute those who as a matter of faith follow a biblical definition of marriage is fundamentally wrong."

Source: OneNewsNow

Crosses continue to come down in China

Aug. 14, 2015 - According Christopher Warner, the regional manager for Southeast Asia at International Christian Concern (ICC),the Chinese government is still persecuting Christians.

It is believed that officials in the Zhejiang province are under a two-month deadline to remove crosses from thousands of churches.

Source: OneNewsNow

ISIS seizes Syrian Christians in attempt to further establish stronghold in strategic city

Aug. 9, 2015 -

Islamic State is holding dozens of Christians in the southeastern Syrian province of Homs, Syrian Orthodox community leaders said on Friday, after it captured the town of Qaryatain in its efforts to establish a stronghold outside the major city of Homs.

Source: Fox
ISIS kidnaps more Christians. When will we put an end to this madness? - In the words of “emir” of the “Caliphate,” ISIS intends on marching all the way to Rome and will “break their [Christian] crosses and trade and sell their women” as they go. - Johnnie Moore - Fox

'19 Kids and Canceled': TLC Cans Duggar Reality TV Show

July 16, 2015 - When Josh Duggar, the oldest of the "19 Kids and Counting" TV show was a young teen, he made the mistake of fondling some of his younger sisters.He felt bad about it and confessed it to his parents, who then took steps to correct him and guard against anything more happening. Now TLC has cancelled the realityshow. His parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar said in a public statement:

“It is our prayer that the painful situation our family went through many years ago canpoint people toward faith in God and help others who also have lived through similar dark situations to find help, hope and healing, as well.”

Source: Rachel Alexander - Christianity Today

Is ISIS Growing Persecution a Sign of the End Times?

July 16 - According to Revelation 20:4 Christians will be beheaded for their faith during the End Times. Author Joel Richardson said,

"The ISIS practice of beheading has been on a level not seen since Medieval times, and biblical prophecies see that as the predominant method of martyrdom(for Christians) in the last days."

Source: Christian Post

Tsunami of Reactions to Supreme Court Marriage Decision

July 27, 2015 - Christians and Conservatives are expressing disagreement with the decision to force legalization of same-sex marriage in everystate of the Union. Many of them are predicting the rise of persecution for those who believe the Bible.
‘Court is not a legislature’: Roberts rips gay marriage ruling, day after he backed ObamaCare - Fox
Transcript of Chief Justice Roberts' Dissenting Opinion
Scalia: SCOTUS Majority is A 'Threat to American Democracy' - NewsMax
Transcript of Justice Scalia's Dissenting Opinion
Transcript of Justice Thomas' Dissenting OpinionReligious, Family Groups Slam Justices for Redefining Marriage 'Through Judicial Fiat' - NewsMax
Ted Cruz on Court Rulings: 'Darkest 24 Hours in Our Nation's History' - NewsMax
Conservative law firm says ruling on gay marriage will lead to 'persecution of Christian people' - MLive
What presidential candidates, others, are saying - WND
Unprecedented Four SCOTUS Dissents Promise to Keep Marriage Debate Open - Breitbart

Supreme Court strikes down bans on same-sex marriage

June 6, 2015 - The US Supreme Court has issued its 5-4 verdict that states cannot deny gay men and lesbians the same marriage rights enjoyed for thousands of years by opposite-sex couples.Chief Justice John Roberts read for 10 minutes from his dissent. He accused the majority of overstepping their bounds and ignoring the Constitution.
"Today, five lawyers have ordered every state to change their definition of marriage," Roberts said. "Just who do we think we are?"

Source: USA Today
Reaction
Transcript of Supreme Court Decision
Justices' pointed dissents to gay marriage ruling show unusual discord - USA Today
Scalia: Supreme Court now a 'threat to American democracy' - "Today's decree says that my Ruler, and the Ruler of 320 million Americans coast-to-coast, is a majority of the nine lawyers on the Supreme Court," - Justice Antonin Scalia - Washington Examiner
No Court Can Change What Marriage Is - Jim Daly - Focus on the Family
SCOTUS ruling on marriage a 'spiritual 9/11' - OneNewsNow
Franklin Graham Warns Gay Marriage Ruling Will Lead to Christian Persecution - Fox
Bush, Carson, Walker: Protect Religious Liberty, State's Rights - NewsMax

Rush Limbaugh: 'All-Out Assault on Conservative Way of Life'

June 25, 2015 - Fush Limbaugh told his radio audience that the White House and media are conducting an all-out assaulton the conservative way of life.

American conservatives are seen as the threat, he said, while Islamic State (ISIS) militants threatening attacks on U.S. soiland Chinese hackers getting into the personnel files of 18 million government employees are not.

Source: NewsMax

The President Once More Declares Traditional Christians to Be Bigots and Enemies of the State

June 9, 2015 -

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America... do hereby proclaim June 2015 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, andTransgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists...

Source: Christian Post

Josh Duggar's sister defends brother against 'overboard' allegations

June 4, 2015 -

Reality TV star Jessa Duggar told Fox News Channel on Wednesday that while she was a victim of her brother Josh's sexual misconduct, theallegations he's a child molester or pedophile are "so overboard and a lie."

Source: OneNewsNow

Obama blocks Iraqi nun from describing Christian persecution

May 2, 2015 - Sister Diana Momeka is a Catholic Nun and a leading representative of the Nineveh Christians who have been killed and deported by ISIS. She was part of a delegation coming from Iraq to Washington to testify about the ISIS catastrophe. She was the only Christian in the group, and the only one whose visa was denied by the State Department.

Nina Shea of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, writes an op-ed in the National Review explaining that the U.S. Government is claiming that Sister Diana ...

... “could be falsely asserting that she intends to visit Washington when secretly she could be ... at risk for claiming political asylum, and the U.S. seems determined to deny ISIS’s Christian victims that status.”

Source: WND
With Malice Toward Nun -Nina Shea - National Review
Gingrich: Congress Should Probe Denial of Entry to Iraqi Nun - NewsMax
Author Moore: Denying Visa to Iraqi Nun Underscores 'Brain-Dead' Policy - NewsMax

Read our new book Red Skies: Bible Prophecy and World Events for more information about Christian persecution.

James Dobson: Christians soon to be 'hated minority'

Apr. 23, 2015 - Recently James Dobson, speaking on his “Family Talk” radio show, warned that it is likely that the Supreme Court will mandate same-sex “marriage," against the will of the people in 31 states where voters have adopted the traditional definition.

Dobson noted that marriage has been defined as the union of a man and a woman since God created the institution thousands of years ago, predating any government.

If the Supreme Court, does legalize same-sex marriages, Dobson said that Christians will face a new status in America as a “hated minority.”

Source: WND

ISIS Video Shows Mass Beheading of Ethiopian Christians in Libya

Apr. 20, 2015 -

The Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) has released a new video showing terrorists beheading 15 men on the beaches of Libya’s Barka Province and 15 other men in the desert in the southern Fazzan province.

Most of the presentation was a condemnation of Christianity. It showed Islamists destroying churches and church art, and then slaughtering their victims.

Source: Breitbart
White House condemns ISIS video that purportedly shows killing of Ethiopian Christians in Libya - Fox
Italian police: Muslim migrants threw Christians overboard - CNN
Christians Worldwide Unite: Wearing Orange, 'The New Color of Martyrdom' - NewsMax
Fox News star goes all out to rescue Christians -Greta Van Susteren calls for a million people to march on Washington - WND
Greta's Facebook post

Killing Christians: persecution of Christians is worse than ever, so why is the Church growing so fast?

Apr. 14, 2015 - Tom Doyle published a book titled, Killing Christians: Living The Faith Where It’s Not Safe To Believe. He explained that, inspite of the horrific persecution of Christians worldwide, the Church is actually growing. In Communist China the number of Christians has increased from about 250,000in the 1970s to nearly 100 million today. He adds,

"It’s happening in the Middle East, where millions of Muslims have turned to Christ amidst brutal persecution in Iran and Saudi Arabia and ISIS controlled territories."

Source: Joel Rosenberg

Bill O'Reilly: The War on Christianity getting even worse

Apr. 7, 2015 - In many parts of the world Christians are being attacked and killed. Bill O'Reilly reminded his audience that here in our own country there is a rising tide of verbal attacks against Christianity, aided by the liberal media. He played a clip of Bill Maher saying, "There are no great religions. They are all stupid and dangerous. And we should insult them."

O'Reilly then said,

The reason all this is happening is the lack of push back by American religious leaders. . . Therefore, the anti-religion people have a free fire zone to attack at will.

Source: Fox
Franklin Graham Warns 'Ugly, Anti-Christian Bias and Intolerance' Is Changing America 'From the Inside Out' in Easter Message - Christian Post
The War on Christianity - Rush Limbaugh
Sex is the new religion - OneNewsNow
Star Parker: The war against Christianity - CJ Online
Analysis: 8 Reasons Conservative Christians Are Concerned About Their Own Religious Freedom in the Obama Era - Christian Post

Easter 2015: The Persecution Intensifies

Mar. 3, 2015 - The unique death and resurrection of Jesus gave the early Christians the strength to endure persecution and even diefor their faith. Their courage changed the world, eventually even causing Roman emperors to embrace Christianity.

Now it appears that modern-day Christians are being called upon once again to exhibit fearless courage in the face of persecution in the West,and torture and murder in other parts of the world.

Christians in the West are already being ridiculed by the media, just like the German Christians were during the rise of Hitler. Worse yet,we have largely remained silent while our brothers and sisters around the world are being killed. We evidently think,like the Christians in Nazi Germany, that we are safe. But if we fail to speak up now, it may be too late when we finally do.

Source: Michael Youssef - Charisma News
Liberals Want the Right to Persecute Christians Over Indiana's Religious Freedom Act - Christian Post
Franklin Graham Warns Christians in America 'Persecution Is Coming' - Christian Post

Nearly 150 dead in Al-Shabaab school attack, Kenyan officials say

Apr. 2, 2015 -

Al-Shabaab says they are "holding many Christians alive" after claiming responsibility for an attack at Garissa University in easternKenya Thursday that left at least 15 people dead, dozens more injured and hundreds of students unaccounted for.

Source: Fox
Realtime Coverage - Google
Shabab Attack on a Kenya University Kills 147, Officials Say - NY Times

Activists report dozens of Assyrian Christians kidnapped by ISIS

Feb. 24, 2015 - Islamic State extremists overran several villages along the banks of the Khabur River in northern Syria. Thousands ofresidents fled, but ISIS captured as many as 90 Assyrian Christians. Their fate is not yet known.
Source: Fox

Peshmerga 'repel major IS attack in northern Iraq'

Feb. 19, 2015 - Peshmerga fighters stopped a major attack against Irbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region in Iraq.They were supported by US-led coalition aircraft, but complain that they are still poorly armed compared with the jihadists.

The coalition has conducted more than 1,200 air strikes in Iraq since August, when IS militants overran the Peshmergas' defenses in the north.

Source: BBC
Fighting Isis: Qatar recalls ambassador to Egypt; Libya seeks end to arms embargo - International Business Times
ISIS Sends Out This Message To All Christians: ‘You Will Soon See An Ocean Of Blood For All The Nation Of The Cross’ - Walid Shoebat
Obama refuses to back Egypt in fight against Radical Islam. ISIS burns 45 people to death in Iraq. MSNBC’s Chris Matthew says U.S. being “morally humiliated” by ISIS.New report highlights ISIS persecution of Christians. - Joel Rosenberg
'Why will no one speak out for us?' - Christianity on verge of extinction in Iraq - Grag Corombos - WND

Egypt hits ISIS-affiliated terrorists in Libya after video showing mass beheading of Christians appears

Feb. 16, 2015 - A statement from Egypt's Armed Forces General Command said that they had conducted air strikes in Libya in response to an ISIS video that showed the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians.
The statement said the warplanes targeted weapons caches and training camps before returning safely. It said the strikes were"to avenge the bloodshed and to seek retribution from the killers."
Source: Fox
BREAKING: Egypt’s President el-Sisi orders military strikes after ISIS beheads 21 Egyptian Christians. Details & analysis. - Joel Rosenberg
Egypt bombs IS in Libya after beheadings video - BBC
Egyptian Airstrikes in Libya Were Not Coordinated With US: Sources - ABC
Egypt launches second air strike on IS - Breaking News

Boko Haram crisis: Nigeria's Baga town hit by new assault

Jan. 9, 2015 - The radical Islamic group Boko Haram over-ran a military base near Baga town in Nigeria Saturday and then killed ordrove out the some 10,000 residents of the town. The goal of the terrorists is to create an Islamic state.
It has taken control of many towns and villages in north-eastern Nigeria in the last year. The conflict has displaced at least 1.5million people, while more than 2,000 were killed last year.
Source: BBCBoko Haram may have just killed 2,000 people: ‘Killing went on and on and on’ - Washington Post
Who are Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists? - BBC
Nigeria: #10 on Open Doors Watch List

Persecution of Christians Reaches Historic Levels, Conditions Suggest Worst Is Yet to Come

Jan. 7, 2015 - The latest Open Doors Watch List of Christian Persecution indicates that the year 2014 will go down in history for havingthe highest level of global persecution of Christians in the modern era. Furthermore, it looks like the worst is yet to come.
North Korea remains the most dangerous and difficult place to be a Christian for the 13th consecutive year. An estimated 70,000 Christians remainin prison for their faith.
In addition, most African countries have risen higher on the list of because of Islamic extremism.

The Middle East is still one of the most violent areas of the world for Christians, especially in Iraq and Syria where thousands of Christianshave been driven from their homes by the Islamic State extremists.

Source: Religion News
News Release -Approximately 100 million Christians are persecuted worldwide, making them one of the most persecuted religious groups in the world.Islamic extremism is the main source of persecution in 40 of the 50 countries on the 2015 World Watch List. -Open Doors
World Watch List - Open Doors

India’s 15M Christian ‘Untouchables’ … deny faith or no gov’t benefits

Jan. 4, 2015 - International Christian Concern (ICC) revealed that some 15 million Christian Dalits, also called "Untouchables"must convert back to Hinduism in order to receive the state benefits they desperately need.
Source: OneNewsNow


Go to: Articles before Jan. 1, 2015


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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