The Church in the end times will be persecuted by other professing Churches and world rulers. God’s remnant has always been persecuted and maligned by those who professed to represent God in their generation in the world system. God is calling believers in our day to be a light on a hill, to not be ashamed of the words of Christ. And boldly testify the Gospel and truths of God to the lost and professing Christian world.
Chuck Missler shares on this topic that we can learn from the history of believers who were persecuted for their faith even from other professing believers in God:
It is relevant to recognize that our present concept of “church” is a product derived from 4th centurypolitics. It ought to be obvious to even the casual observer of history that the real story of the church is not the one recorded in secular history.4 Who were the Waldensians? The Lollards? The Stundists? The Anabaptists? The Priscillians? The Bogomilians? Petrobusians? Patarenians?
These names were given by their enemies to those who claimed only the name of Christ, and who were prepared to suffer for His cause rather than submit to those man-made traditions that they believed contradicted the Word of God. These were independent fellowships that were outlawed and persecuted. Those intrepid believers, “of whom the world was not worthy,” were not only persecuted by civil authorities, they were denounced, defamed, and decimated by the professing church.
While many of us may have some awareness of the history of tensions between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants, it may come as a shock to discover that Protestant leadership also persecuted deviant groups who attempted to adhere to Biblical doctrines.5 And some still do. As we approach the “end times,” our Lord admonished us:
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”6
Be the first to react on this!
Gospel Fellowships ( - )
“Christianity was birthed in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and will only continue as we have this empowering from above. God is always looking for the willing vessels that will trust Him afresh for the impossible.” from: Principles for the gathering of Believers under the Headship of Jesus Christ.Since 2012, a growing group of believers in North America started to warn of coming persecution to western countries. This message was shared in a variety of ways. One of the responses to this was to compile a book taking principles from underground Churches around the world of how they thrived under pressure and persecution. The volume, Principles for the Gathering of Believers, had in a short time over 50,000 downloads in ebook format and much interest was shown. Some new house churches started through this and other existing groups were encouraged.