Perspective

By L. Jim Tuck

May 2, 2024

The Last Wave of Persecution

    It is not something most people think about, but around the world, usually in countries with state religions like Islam and Hindu, those who profess to be Christians are being persecuted; some are beaten, and some have been killed for what they believe. On February 12, 2015, the Islamic State (IS), summarily executed by beheading 21 Egyptian Coptic Christian construction workers they had kidnapped in the city of Sirte, Libya on a beach in Libya. Their all-in-black-masked executors stood behind them as they were kneeling in a line and wearing orange jumpsuits. The perpetrators of this martyrdom were Muslims, but history reveals a dark secret most have forgotten.

    It sounds like a tragedy out of the Middle Ages, and certainly not something one would expect in the 21st century. However, in the near future the Bible prophesies true Christians will suffer severe martyrdom. Revelation 20:4 speaks of saints who will be beheaded because they will not worship the beast or his image or receive the mark on their forehead or hand. Do we have the love of the truth and the kind of resolve to face what is coming?

Perspective

    Few understand the great persecution on true believers in God prophesied to occur in our time. Why does God allow His people to suffer persecution? God understands our human nature. He knows we can grow indifferent about our calling and take for granted what He has given in knowledge of the truth. Like physical exercise, when we are tested, our faith in God is exercised, and we are made stronger. The Apostle Paul endured great persecution in his ministry, but he spoke positively of his sore trials. He said it helped with the furtherance of the preaching of the gospel (Philippians 1:12).

    The great tribulation will usher in death due to famine, disease and war, and a great martyrdom of Christians. The Apostle John was inspired to write in Revelation 1:1: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John…”

Great Martyrdom Prophesied

    Notice the prophecy of the coming martyrdom of saints: “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ (Revelation 6:9-10) Here the innocent blood of God's people who had been martyred in the past symbolically cries out to God for revenge, as did the blood of Abel (Genesis 4:10).

    God's answer prophesies the great martyrdom which is yet to come: "Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed." (Revelation 6:11) Just how will the coming great martyrdom come to pass? The answer may surprise you! The coming persecution and murders will be brought about by those who say they are true Christians and believe in God. This should not surprise us if we are familiar with the Bible. Jesus said, “They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.” (John 16:2) Jesus Christ was condemned by the religious leaders of His day and delivered to the Roman Empire for crucifixion. The Jewish leaders were instruments of persecution upon the church Jesus founded.

    If you read Foxes’ Book of Martyrs, you will discover the Roman Catholic Church severely persecuted true Christians. In prophecy a chaste and virtuous woman depicts the true Church of God, and a harlot pictures the great apostate church described in Revelation 17:5. In Revelation 17:6, it describes the behavior of this great harlot church: “I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.”

The great False Church perpetrates persecution

    This apostate church has worked in conjunction with the governments of this world to persecute true Christians. We haven’t felt the wrath of this false system in our time, and very few have had to spill their blood or be put in prison or tortured for what they believe. We have generally had religious freedom from persecution. Unfortunately, far too many of us may be asleep at the wheel and unprepared for the persecution to come.

    What about those who profess belief in Christ and do not want to be a part of this world’s religious systems? They feel they have “come out” of the world, but knowingly or unknowingly, they still practice ways which are not truly Christian. Persecution is not reserved for prophets, or apostles or those believers mentioned in the Bible. It will come upon all who strive to obey God as much as they understand. Paul was inspired to write in II Timothy 3:12: “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

    Even those “Christians” who reject the truth, and do not live the way of the saints will very probably suffer persecution, being lumped together with them.

    The Bible reveals there is a way of escape. Jesus Christ admonished His disciples in Luke 21:36: “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

    Revelation 12:14 indicates the elect saints of the church will escape the coming Great Tribulation by going to “her place,” though they may not avoid being persecuted. God will however miraculously protect them from being destroyed in an end-time Red-Sea-type rescue. After this great event, the Devil will be angry. He will go forth to make war and vent his wrath against those the church taught the commandments of God and the knowledge of the true gospel of the kingdom of God (Revelation 12:15-17). This will be the last wave and most painful of persecutions inflicted on God’s people prior to the return of Christ.

    May we all be there, no matter what we must face in the future, whether we learn now and escape, or we must learn in the tribulation. Never cease to obey God no matter what!

    This is my Perspective for this week.