A 'Word' of Warning: How Will End Times Persecution Commence And How Will You Respond?

A 'Word' of Warning: How Will End Times Persecution Commence And How Will You Respond?

"Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it." Winston Churchill, 1948

We often make the mistake of pre-judging what end-times persecution will look like while failing to understand the cultural acceptance and rationalisation that may well accompany it.
In the early years of Christianity, the Church had periods of intense persecution. Some of it was brutal and merciless. Much of it was with the intention of good governance and with a groundswell of support from the public. Christians had been seen as harmless to Roman society. But as the Church's influence began to challenge the status quo, Satan was able to stir up resentment in the community, and the Church began to be ostracised. 

Christians started having to meet in secret - often illegally. In some areas, they would assemble well before sunrise out in forests and other secluded areas. They would recite scripture, quietly sing hymns together. In some places, they would send away new members or guests (seekers) after the first part of the service so that they could have communion in secret. Communion was often represented in the broader society as cannibalism!

Christians were accused of being immoral, eating children, sexually deviant, rebellious, destructive of community, the economy and generally harmful to society. Yet the accusers were often well-meaning people.

Many, many, many sincere Christians fell away, probably more so as Christian families entered their second and third generations. Parents- you may want to think about that. The first steps to falling away were the breaking of relationship with the local Church (Heb 10:25). People then, as now, believed they could be Christians and not be an active part of their local Church.

After intense persecution and after many Christians had fallen away, the Church was refined and later re-grouped and grew stronger. But so devastated were those who remained by the betrayal of their brethren that there was a great debate about whether they should be accepted back into the Church.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to the Church today? Pretty much what He said to the 1st Century Church.

In Paul's second letter to Timothy, Paul was encouraging him to rebuild the Church in Ephesus. 2nd Timothy was in direct response to the elders falling away. People who had previously appeared to be faithful, who no-one thought would ever deny Christ.

The things which you have heard me teach, in the presence of many witnesses, entrust [as a treasure] to reliable and faithful men who will also be capable and qualified to teach others. 2 Tim 2:2 Amplified

Pause for a minute and think about this. How many well-meaning Christians fell away, not dramatically, but one week at a time? How many well-meaning Christians rationalised their actions, their passivity one conviction at a time? Most of those who fell away did not know they were doing so until it was too late.

The warnings in the book of Hebrews in a time of persecution are the warnings to the Church today. We are to stay faithful to sound teaching, love each other and to be strengthened by holding tightly to assembling together. (Hebrews 5:11-14, 10:25, 10:32-34)

Let's reflect on what has happened in western society in the last few years, and even the last few months.

In the last decade, the Christian Church has fallen from being viewed by most as the cornerstone, of most what is good in society. According to many social influencers, the Church is now the antithesis of all that is worthy and moral. Church leaders are being taken to court for the mere profession of their faith. Persecution to the point of death is a reality of everyday life in many parts of the world.

In the matter of a few weeks, we the Church, have meekly ceded to the banning of public and private assembling for purposes of encouraging one another in the faith. All for 'good' reason- of course. We have willingly accepted being classified as non-essential; as opposed to candy stores, sports stores and hair salons, which apparently are essential.

The Word of God is relevant for this age. The Holy Spirit is leading His Church to His Word.

Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  ... remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. ... So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. ... But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. Hebrews 10

Maranatha, come Lord Jesus, "nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"