CHAPTER 25
Several years ago I read a book by Corrie Ten Boom, a famed evangelist and survivor of a Nazi concentration camp. In it she expressed the hope that believers in the West would experience persecution! At first glance, that seemed unkind. But as I continued to read her account, as well as accounts of others like her, it became apparent that they had a different perspective than mine; their's was Biblical.
This subject illustrates why we need the Bible. The thought of enduring persecution is too appalling for us to be objective. The Bible, however, reveals that God's sees persecution differently than we do.
From the writings of Paul, we know that he experienced terrible persecution for his faith in Messiah. He was shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, imprisoned, and finally executed. Was this solely because he was an Apostle? Not according to him.
And indeed, ALL who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (II Timothy 3:12).
What about Messiah? Did He teach that His followers would suffer because of their faith in Him? In the clearest possible terms, that is exactly what He taught. Speaking of the last days Messiah said,
Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name (Matthew 24:9).
Public television recently aired a documentary on the history of Anti-Semitism called, "The Longest Hatred." Though it chronicled centuries of abuse toward the Jews, it never suggested a reason for such irrational hatred. In a similar vein, you may be wondering why Messiah's followers will be hated by all nations. The Bible reveals that it is because they are no longer of this world. As soon as a person believes in Him, he (or she) is delivered from the domain of darkness, and transferred into His kingdom (Colossians 1:13).
Why then does the world hate the Jews? According to that explanation, the Jews are "still of this world." While that is true, there is one fact you should not forget (I assure you the devil hasn't forgotten). God is going to bring millions of Jews into the New Covenant. One day, they will recognize Jesus as their Messiah and be translated into His kingdom. That is why Satan hates the Jews, and that is why he causes the nations to hate them too.
After placing the blame squarely at Satan's feet, we must now try to understand God's part. For the plain truth is that Satan can only do what God allows him. When, as prophesied, the devil makes war on the saints, it is because God permits him to do so.
The Bible makes no apologies for the fact that God is sovereign over everything, including the calamities in nature. No flood, no plague, no hurricane can occur apart from His Hand. "Whatsoever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps" (Psalms 135:6). Job tells us that even the course of the thunderbolt is charted by the Lord. But God's sovereignty does not end with acts of nature. Also under His control is every act of persecution from the hands of men (or demons). The harsh reality is that God not only allows persecution, it is an integral part of His plan!
Again, were it not for the Bible, we would not understand any of this. There, God reveals both the certainty of persecution and the reasons behind it. Here are some Biblical principles regarding the trials and afflictions which God allows to touch believers.
God takes great pains to instruct us about persecution, but we have ignored the message. In fact, many think that because God loves us, He will naturally deliver us from every form of persecution. Never mind that He didn't deliver Messiah, the apostles, or countless other believers. What many have failed to recognize is that God disciplines us because of that love, allowing all manners of trials to come into our lives.
My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives (Hebrews 12:5-6).
While severe trials drive away non-believers, they have the opposite effect on God's saints. From Job to Corrie Ten Boom, the results are inevitably the same—deeper commitment and greater faithfulness. Why is that? Because no matter what the affliction, God gives His people the ability to see beyond their suffering. They patiently endure trials because they know something wonderful awaits them! Paul put it this way,
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18).
For believers in the West, it is hard to imagine persecution will happen here, much less begin preparation for it. Nevertheless, wide-scale persecution is coming, perhaps very soon. According to the sure word of prophecy, it will be common for Jews and followers of Messiah to face prison and even death in the last days. What's more, persecution may be more severe in America than anywhere else.
No doubt some still cling to the belief that God would not allow persecution in the U.S. The harsh reality is that the United States departed from its Godly moorings long ago. Moreover, you can be certain that unless God intervenes, the courts, government leaders, and the media will continue to promote their anti-God agendas.
But you ask, isn't it possible that God will intervene and reverse our nation's course before it's too late? Unfortunately, the Bible seems to indicate that the die has been cast. For more than three decades, America has pursued a national policy of removing God from public affairs. Largely through the "wisdom" of the Supreme Court, the U.S. reversed its long-standing position that God rules in the affairs of men and nations. In Biblical terms, America "exchanged the truth of God for a lie." When people do that, God gives them up, allowing them to become as depraved as they like:
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper... (Romans 1:28).
Before 1962, God kept a lid on the evil in our society, but what has happened since? In only three decades, the United States vaulted to number one in the world in violent crime, teenage pregnancy, abortion, drug abuse, AIDS, and divorce.
1. Persecution will be world-wide in scope. Jesus said believers will be hated by all nations. That means there will be no safe haven; no place to flee (except perhaps Israel) where Messiah's followers will be safe from persecution (Matthew 24:9).
2. The place persecution will be most severe is Babylon (which we interpret to be the United States). How do we know this? John saw the harlot, who symbolized Babylon, "drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus" (Revelation 17:6). Also, when God decides to avenge those martyrs' deaths, what does He do? He directs the destruction of Babylon the Great.
His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great harlot [Babylon] who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her (Revelation 19:2).
3. There will be a great apostasy in the last days (II Thessalonians 2:3). When severe persecution begins, multitudes who had superficially aligned themselves with Messiah will abandon Him. This should come as no surprise. Messiah said that many who received the gospel with joy would fall away when persecution arises. (Matthew 13:20-21, 24:10).
4. God will intervene to seal the judgment of those who fall away (apostates). He will supernaturally cause them to believe the lies of Antichrist and his false prophets.
God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness (II Thessalonians 2:11-12).
5. During the last days, many will seek to save their lives by delivering others up for persecution. (see Matthew 24:10).
6. Families also will betray each other. (Matthew 10:21).
7. Many will be martyred because of the testimony about Jesus and the word of God. (Revelation 20:4).
8. Saints will know hunger, thirst, sickness, and even imprisonment. We know that drought and famine will be a recurring problem in the last days. Antichrist will probably blame Jews and believers for these conditions. After all, the two witnesses will likely be responsible for the droughts. In response, some saints will be imprisoned, and others will become fugitives who are denied access to outlets of food and water.
That means believers' needs must often be met through unusual means. No doubt God will provide for His people in different ways, but only one method is mentioned in the Bible. The Lord will cause vast numbers of people to disobey the authorities in order to minister to the needs of the saints. Those people won't know it at the time, but they will be rewarded handsomely for their compassion. According to Messiah, they will receive nothing less than eternal life! (See Matthew 25:34-40).
It must be admitted that for most of us the prospect of persecution is more than a little frightening. How will we respond when faced with great afflictions? Will we be among the faithful who "shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven"? (Daniel 12:3). Or will we shrink back, denying our only Lord and Savior? Thankfully, the Bible gives us the answer. Based on the word of God, I can guarantee that believers will emerge victorious! Though the persecution in the last days will be difficult, Messiah's followers will stand against the evil one, resist him, and even overcome him! A voice from heaven declared the techniques they will use to accomplish this victory.
And they [our brethren] overcame him [Satan] because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even unto death (Revelation 12:11).
Technique number one: The blood of the Lamb.
The blood of the Lamb touches many aspects of what it means to be a follower of Messiah. Naturally, it speaks of His being sacrificed to redeem us. We know that through His death the New Covenant was opened to us, and we were allowed to became God's people. What's more, His blood made fellowship with God a possibility (by cleansing us from all unrighteousness). In times of persecution, however, there is another aspect which is even more gripping to Messiah's followers. It is because of that shed blood that our eternal destinies are secured forever.
It was not with goat's or calves' blood but with His own blood that He entered once onto the holy of holies, having won for us men eternal reconciliation with God (Hebrews 9:12, Phillips translation).
Technique number two: The word of their testimony.
Perhaps you are thinking persecution might be avoided by keeping your beliefs a secret. That would be the greatest mistake of your life. According to Messiah, if you do not confess Him before men, He will not acknowledge you before the Father in heaven. And if you should actually deny that you are His follower before men, Messiah will likewise deny you before the Father. (See Matthew 10:33). In other words, by seeking to save your life, you may lose something greater—eternal life.
Scripture tells us, however, that End Time saints will indeed confess Messiah before men. The good news is that these believers will be instrumental in turning many to righteousness (see Daniel 12:3). The bad news is that many are beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus. This leads us to the last technique.
Technique number three: They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
A wise man said you can determine a man's priorities by looking at his checkbook and his calendar. By those standards, almost everything appears to have a higher priority than the coming kingdom. That includes careers, possessions, sports, recreation, and pleasure. For most, the challenge seems to be extracting every drop of pleasure this life has to offer. Obviously, the Scriptures strongly disagree with that approach. The Apostle John wrote, "Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Jesus added that we can't serve two masters. Yet, no matter how much we are warned, the problem remains.
So, what is God's remedy? Trials, afflictions, and even persecution! As soon as the "good life" is disrupted, the attitudes of believers change. And in the End Times, there will be plenty of disruptions. Rest assured that after Antichrist gains control, beleaguered saints will no longer seek pleasures or treasures on earth; their entire focus will be on eternity. For others, however, the coming trials will bring a different result. At the first outbreak of persecution, they will drop every pretence of commitment to Messiah. Again, they will become part of what is known as the great apostasy (see II Thessalonians 2:3).
Some advise massive storage of food and water in preparation for the last days, but there are problems with that plan. For starters, the Bible does not instruct us to horde food to survive. Rather, it tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and promises that everything else will be provided. In addition, those who advocate storing up food are probably underestimating the extent of persecution in the last days. Messiah said His followers would be outcasts, hated by all nations because of Him. When famines begin, the authorities will have no qualms about confiscating our stores of food and water. But even if you manage to retain some, will it be enough for you and ALL your fellow believers? (For those who don't plan to share, I suggest you re-read Matthew 25:41-46.)
For me, the issue was settled by Revelation 7:16. That verse promises those who come out of the great tribulation will never hunger or thirst again. The implication is that they had experienced the characteristic trials of the last days—hunger and thirst. If that is the case, it doesn't appear that storage programs will accomplish much. Still, it would seem wise to know how to grow and store some of your own food.
While the Bible is silent on physical preparation, it has much to suggest about getting ready spiritually. Following are ten specific steps that should be taken now to insure that you will have the spiritual resources to stand in the last days:
Step 1. Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith.
One of the most frightening passages in Scripture is found in Matthew, Chapter 7. There, Messiah indicated that only a few will enter the kingdom of heaven.
Go in by the narrow gate. For the wide gate has a broad road which leads to disaster, and there are many people going that way. The narrow gate and the hard road lead out into life, and only a few are finding it (Matthew 7:13, Phillips translation).
Moreover, many who now think they are destined for heaven are dreadfully mistaken! Messiah went on to say,
Many will say to Me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matthew 7:22-23).
Naturally, no one wants to be a day late and a dollar short when it comes to entering the kingdom. Therefore it is crucial to have a correct understanding of what is required for the "narrow gate" of salvation. However, false teachers and false prophets have confused the issue. So, how can anyone know for certain that they have eternal life?
Once again, we look beyond men's beliefs and turn to the Scriptures. Nineteen centuries ago the Apostle John wrote a letter for the following purpose: "In order that you may know that you have eternal life." (I John 5:13). In that letter, John gave three basic tests to show if you are bound for Messiah's kingdom.
A. The Moral Test
To become a follower of Messiah it is required that you repent of your sin. That simply means to change your mind about sin and turn away from it. While it must be acknowledged that a believer still sins, it can no longer be the dominant trait of his life. It should be mentioned, however, that the moral test is best measured over the long run. If, after several months or years, there isn't a noticeable pattern of sin decreasing and righteousness increasing—you do not have eternal life!
Let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning (I John 3:7-8).
The one who says, "I have come to know Him [Messiah]," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him (I John 2:4).
B. The Social Test
One sure sign that many church members do not have eternal life is the lack of love for one another. Let a brother stumble, and the "saints" devour him. Let a brother be in need and he is avoided, or he is given platitudes instead of help. Let a brother disagree on spiritual gifts, or the new pastor, or how to interpret prophecy, and immediately we break fellowship with him.
According to John, a lack of love for other believers is strong evidence that you do not have eternal life. What's more, Scripture implies that this test also requires a love for future believers, the Jews (see Romans 11:28).
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death (I John 3:14).
By this will all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:35)
C. The Doctrinal Test
Since no one can come to the Father except through the Son, it stands to reason that you had better know the truth about Him. God has borne ample witness concerning His Son, and anyone who rejects that witness cannot possess eternal life. Here are the bedrock doctrines about Messiah which, according to the Bible, are non-negotiable.
If, in the light of these tests, you determine you are not in the faith, it is not too late. The Bible reveals that all sorts of thieves, murderers, and adulterers have come into the kingdom, so there is surely room for you. What must you do to be saved? Two things. (1) Repent—turn from your sins, and (2) believe the gospel.
Here is the gospel message:
If you believe what God has revealed about your sin, and that He has a plan to deal with it (through Messiah's death on your behalf), and if you willing to turn from sin and obey God—you are ready for eternal life! All that remains is to make it official. How? By confessing that Jesus the Messiah is Lord and Savior of your life:
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation (Romans 10:9-10).
Step 2. Attach yourself to a local assembly of believers.
God has His own method for training and equipping saints for service. To begin, He places pastors, teachers and evangelists in each local assembly (church). Their task is to impart knowledge concerning Messiah, so the faith of the saints is increased. In time, each believer is brought to maturity, meaning his character is transformed into the likeness of Messiah's. You should realize that when Antichrist comes to power, churches will be closed and religious instruction curtailed. That is why it is crucial to get involved with a local, Bible teaching church now, while you still can.
What do we mean by getting involved? Certainly more than becoming spectators on Sunday morning. If in fact the last days are rapidly approaching, nothing less than "all-out massive action" is needed. To supplement your training, you might consider enrolling in additional Bible studies. Some excellent resources are Bible Study Fellowship meetings (held weekly in most cities), Precepts Training, and anything provided through the Navigators. Some practical experience might also be helpful. Para-church organizations provide an opportunity to put faith into action. Rescue missions, Young Life, the Navigators, Gideons, Campus Crusade for Christ, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes are some that come to mind.
But the most important aspect of getting involved is building relationships with other believers. The Book of Hebrews suggests that as we see the day drawing near, we should be diligent about gathering together. Why? Specifically, we are to gather in order to encourage and stimulate one another to greater love and good deeds (see Hebrews 10:23-24). Also, when formal churches are closed, believers will be forced to meet in secret. Obviously, the relationships you build now will be even more important in those days.
Step 3. Begin memorizing Scripture now.
You may wonder if this is really necessary. Since Bibles are readily available, why go to the trouble of memorization? To answer we need look no farther than the experiences of China, Laos, and Vietnam. When those countries were overthrown, the Bibles were confiscated. We can assume that when Antichrist comes to power, the Bible will be quickly banned.
One of the best approaches to memorizing Scripture is the Navigators Topical Memory System. In it, verses are carefully chosen to cover every important Biblical doctrine. This system can be purchased at most Christian bookstores. For those who can't stick with a memoriza tion plan, I suggest John MacArthur's reading method. Simply pick out a section of Scripture that is about seven chapters long, and read it every day for a month. At the end of that time, you will be surprised at how many verses you have memorized.
Step 4. Learn to live by faith while you are still free.
Most of us rely on our jobs, or hard work to put food on the table. But what happens when you are no longer allowed to work because you are a follower of Messiah? You should realize that a reoccurring theme in Scripture is God's continual provision for His people. Emotionally, spiritually and physically, God provides. When persecution starts, believers will be forced to rely on that provision as never before. But does God expect us to rely on Him even before persecution begins? Unquestionably. Listen to the words of Messiah:
Do not be anxious then, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "With what shall we clothe ourselves?" For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:31-33).
By way of application, you can begin by seeking to learn first hand about God's faithfulness. Again, to do that you need look no further than your checkbook and your calendar. Make the risen Messiah lord over them both. Let Him show you what to do with the time and money that you have.
Step 5. Learn to walk by means of the Spirit.
One of the key promises of the New Covenant was that God would put His Spirit within you and cause you to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments (Ezekiel 36:26). In the End Times it will be necessary to follow the Spirit's every leading. For instance, it is the Spirit who will give us what to say when we stand before the authorities (see Matthew 10:19).
Surprisingly, many believers are oblivious to the Spirit's presence. Surely it is preferable that we learn to recognize the voice of God's Spirit now, as opposed to later when our lives are on the line. This point is illustrated by an incident in the Soviet Union. A young girl was stopped by police on her way to a secret church gathering. When asked where she was going, she had a problem. She couldn't betray her fellow Christians, but she also didn't want to tell a lie. No doubt, she was led by the Spirit as she replied, "My eldest brother died, and we are gathering together as a family to read his testament." The police let her go, and later that evening she did in fact read the testament of Jesus!
The section of Scripture which is most helpful on this subject is Romans, Chapter 8. One of the best explanations of that chapter in found in a book called, The Normal Christian Life, by Watchman Nee.
Step 6. Learn to pray for one another.
The most important defense against the evil one in the last days is prayer. Not for ourselves, but for each other. Concluding his great section on Spiritual warfare, Paul said,
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).
The only way to find out how you should pray for the saints is to get involved with them. Be alert regarding their trials and needs. As you do this, ask the Spirit for wisdom and understanding to know what to pray. Then pray. Nothing will be more valuable during the tribulations of the last days. By the way, even if you pray for the wrong things, the Holy Spirit intercedes and prays according to the will of God. In other words, He corrects your prayers for you (see Romans 8:26-27). An excellent resource on praying for the saints is Watchman Nee's, The Prayer Ministry of the Church.
Step 7. Learn to bear one another's burdens.
Galatians tells us that if we bear one another's burdens we fulfill the law of Messiah. What does that involve? A better question is— what does it not involve?
Whoever has the world's goods, and beholds a brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth (I John 3:17-18).
Step 8. Learn to forgive and pray for those who persecute you.
Nothing robs believers' joy faster than an unforgiving spirit. Messiah warned that if we don't forgive others, the Father in heaven won't forgive us. Yet, we continue to harbor resentment and hatred over wrongs committed years ago. Well, if you think people have treated you badly in the past, wait till persecution begins. Messiah said that many will fall away and deliver others up for persecution. Imagine how you would feel toward those who betray the saints to save themselves. That is why it is crucial to begin practicing forgiveness now.
Just how do you do that? The first step is to believe that you can forgive. If God commands you to forgive (which He does), it follows that you can. The next step is a practical one. Remember that the person who is persecuting you is merely a pawn doing Satan's bidding. Begin sincerely praying for that person. Very soon you will discover that it is difficult to remain embittered toward anyone if you are praying for them. A most helpful explanation of the issue of forgiveness can be found in Malcolm Smith's book, Spiritual Burnout.
Step 9. Learn how to do the work of an evangelist.
Not many believers are comfortable sharing their belief in Messiah. For that reason, few have experienced the joy of introducing someone to Messiah. No doubt our biggest obstacle in this matter is fear. We are afraid we do not know enough, and that we will be asked questions we cannot answer. So, we take one of two courses. Either we invite the person to church—so a "professional" can speak him about Messiah—or we say nothing.
Since the End Times are fast approaching, we must ask ourselves this question, "If we hold back now, what will we do later when our testimony could cost us our lives?" Also, the time is coming when the churches will be closed. Then there may not be any pastors or evangelists available to present the gospel for us.
To learn how to do the work of an evangelist, I suggest three options. (1) Enroll in an Evangelism Explosion class. (2) Go to a person who is active in sharing the gospel and ask to become an apprentice. (3) If neither of those resources are available, purchase a few gospel tracts (such as The Four Spiritual Laws) and start your own on the job training, trusting the Holy Spirit to guide you as you speak. Remember, you can't convince anyone to come into the kingdom; the Spirit does that. You are simply a messenger.
Step 10. Get involved ministering to the suffering church.
For many years organizations such as Open Doors with Brother Andrew have performed valuable ministries. They have not only identified where the church is being persecuted, they have also learned how best to minister to their needs. But in addition to meeting those immediate needs, these organizations served still another function. That is, they gave us insight into how we should prepare for persecution.
First hand, they learned of the crucial need for prayer and for God's word when evil reigns in a nation. But most of all, they made us understand that "the gates of hell" shall never prevail against the church! You will benefit greatly by getting involved in ministries such as Open Doors (P.O. Box 2020, Orange, California 92669), or Voice of the Martyrs.
I wish there was a way to sugar coat the prospect of persecution. Despite the promises of God's provision, and the knowledge of a glorious ending, it still puts a lump in my throat to consider what's coming. Does that mean we should be downcast over the future? Certainly not. By way of explanation, let's make an analogy for the last 42 months of this age. That period can be compared to a woman bearing a child. An expectant mother knows there will be painful moments ahead. Nevertheless, she anxiously looks forward to the event, for she knows how blessed she will be when it's over. That is the exact attitude Paul had when speaking of his trials:
For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison (II Corinthians 4:17).
You should know, however, that God understands how difficult the days ahead will be. He knows our fears, and He knows that we are made of dust. So what does He tell us to do? Simply, these two things:
Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.