Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kind of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12.

Persecuted Christians by the present Islamic extremism; Christians persecuted by the Roman Empire in the fist centuries; Christians persecuted by the western society, for their Biblical values of Jesus Christ, and the Jews persecuted by the Egyptians, as well as Noah was, they all share the same cause: To be the people of God and to expect the Kingdom of Heaven, to enter in it for eternity, which we announce through the Gospel.

Martin Luther King Jr. expressed in one single sentence a great denounce of what we see today happening before the abandon of persecuted Christians, tortured, massacred before the impassivity of the western world, who does have resources to keep their way of life and economy, priorities that show the impiousness of many. What worried King was the silence of the good people before those things that matter. In the same way we cannot remain silent and without action before the persecution of the Church in the world (in its different branches), as we can neither be before those who suffer, and in this we find as much, "The Sermon of the Mount", Matthew 5 ...Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they shall be filled... as well as the "Judgment to the Nations" Matthew 25:31-46 ...for I was hungry and you gave Me food...

The current situation of extreme and radical persecution that part of the Church suffers in countries like Iraq, Syria or South Sudan surely is going to produce an international military reaction that will come late for hundreds of thousands of people. But, what the Church in deed can do –which in a great manner, even by Christians does not count with the recognition it deserves– is to pray. Prayer has the power to change people, to organize armies, to move the political powers, but even more to give carriage to those brethren who suffer the persecution and face death.

 

LOVE THOSE WHO HATE YOU

When the apostle Paul began his persecution against the first Christians, backed by the priests of the Temple of Jerusalem, participating in the death by stoning of Stephen, no one could imagine that he would convert as the greatest communicator of the Gospel of all the apostles and that he would conquer his world with the Word of God, as far as to give his life for our Lord Jesus Christ. We do not know who were praying for him, but we do know the Holy Spirit who moves the hearts of the Church for the battle of the spiritual army, who fights the battles in prayer, preaching, denounce and action.

Many radicals of all times have converted to Christ by hearing the Gospel. To be valiant to preach Christ to those who may kill you is a work that the Holy Spirit does in those persecuted and in the martyrs. Many that persecute the Church are won by the Gospel and by prayer, because God hears and intervenes, as it was the very case of the apostle Paul. This is why we must love our enemies and pray for them, because, who knows if we will win them for salvation!

 

WHY IS THE CHURCH PERSECUTED?

The Gospel announces the entry to the Kingdom of God for eternity to those that believe, raising from the dead, and giving the Kingdom to those who dye in Christ. The world is contrary to the Kingdom of God, it is, in part a temporary kingdom of the devil who fights to take the souls from God. In case some may not remember, this war is being fought in the spiritual dimension, in the celestial regions, the souls for which Jesus the Messiah gave His life for on the Cross. The true Church announces the Kingdom of Heaven and also shows the nature of the Kingdom of God "amongst you" Luke 17:21 when we love one another, and that way we show that we are His disciples.

It is provoking to the temporary kingdom of the evil one, to have to stand the Church. Jesus already told us that the world would hate us, and that we were to know, that they had hated Him before us, John 15:18. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you", but immediately He says: "If they have kept My Word, they shall keep yours also" John 15:20. Revelation 12:13 ...Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman two gave birth to male Child... ...and he went to make war to the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:17.

The other persecution, not so told in the news nowadays, but equally painful and fundamental to the fight against the Church, is in the family of our own, and in the land of our own, and amongst the friends of the childhood. Jesus was not believed by His family, John 7, until they saw His works.

 

ESCHATOLOGY AND PERSECUTION

Christian persecution is followed to date by ministries like Open Doors, who monitor all the activity in the world against Christians, providing a centre of divulgation, coordination and help, prayer and support to the persecuted Church.

That Christians are persecuted brutally is evident because we can see it in the news, that the Church has been from day one of its existence, we know it through history. That the Church would be persecuted was announced by Jesus Christ Himself. The question, without a doubt, many times concentrates in identifying the type of persecution in the eschatological or historical-chronogolical place, instead of concentrating in helping the brothers. This is important, without ignoring the other, because having knowledge of prophecies is important. Normally its to do with placing the persecution in the time called the "Grate Tribulation" that some place in the time of the first century, 70A.C. others before the coming of Christ, and others after for those left.

The final question about persecution tries to find how its related with the three eschatological positions by excellence and about the Millennium: Premillennialism, Postmillennialist and Amillennialism. According to Postmillennialism, the Church would win the world as time passes, but history gives testimony that it is impossible. The other two options accept the Biblical planning that at the end of time the Antichrist would come, 2Thesalonians 2, and apostasy, before the second coming of Christ. In deed the world is taking a turn in which we see three details that are very relevant –I believe that concluding: An ecumenism of churches that before would excommunicate each other (Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant) which now unite without rejecting their different doctrines. A western world contrary to Christianity, and persecuting from radical Islamism. And a return of Israel to their land from all the countries of the world for the increase of anti-Semitism. All these data are the precursor of the Biblical Prophecies prior to the coming of Christ. The Christian of today must pray much more than it did to remain in the Way of Faith, only this way his works will be guided by the Holy Spirit.

 

I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD

Despite all, the Christian hope before persecution is founded in the faith, in this sentence of Jesus Christ: ...These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33.

In Jesus we have our peace because He has overcome the world, this is, sin and death don't dominate over us who believe, but in resurrection will live eternally in His Kingdom.

Peter, from his behalf also tells us about the suffering of the Christian, which is part, he tells, of the suffering of Christ, so that in the revelation of His glory we may rejoice with great joy. He also tells us to glorify God if we suffer for His sake. The judgment begins in the house of God. You may read it complete in 1Peter 4:12-19.

The Lord does never leave us, especially in the midst of tribulation. He has left it in His Word, as well as being an experience lived by all Christians as we read in Matthew 28:20...I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.

 

CONCLUSION

The conclusion is also the closing, for the worlds of the apostle Paul in his second letter to Timothy, chapters 3 and 4, are a loyal reflexion of the Christian life under persecution, but more than that, the prophecy for the last days. The Lord Jesus Christ be with you spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!...

...Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned...you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus...

...Preach the Word...for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for them selves teachers and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry. ...Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. Amen.