Monday, April 04, 2011

Persecution of the Church by Raul Ries

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.”
Matthew 24:9

Christians have been attacked around the world, and we see the persecution coming to our own country. Issues important to Christians have come under attack, like family and marriage. Next, the church, itself, is going to be attacked. Our tax exempt status and other laws will be attacked.

Many times, when we read what is going on in the world today, we become naïve and say, “Well, that is not really going to affect me.” It is going to affect all of us, believe it or not. It is going to affect jobs; it is going to affect housing; and it is going to affect everything we do in this country. We need to wake up to the real truth, because it is coming.

As I read and study, I see what the Lord is putting on my heart and the hearts of other pastors who are really in tune with what God is doing, but many in the body of Christ have gone to sleep. Many people are trying to live their normal lives. There is no normal life anymore. You are dreaming—there is no normal life!

When you read Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Mark 13, on the Coming of the Lord, Jesus spoke about deception being a major factor. There are no happy days ahead. People are going to really be tested in their faith, to see where they are spiritually, to see if they really believe and trust in the Lord. We have been so spoiled. We have had it all, but times are changing and Jesus warned us.

The fire of God can’t be damped out by the
waters of man’s persecution.
~A. W. Tozer~

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