Scandalous!

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

John 16:1-3

In proper context, Jesus reminded his disciples that eventually a time would come when they would be driven away from the synagogues where the mostly Jewish early church worshiped.  This was to be just the start of the church's persecution.  As Tertullian would wisely state in Apologeticum, ""the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church".  Satan tried his best to stamp out the flame of the Holy Spirit filled body of Christ, but each stomp just started a new flame elsewhere until the entire world was filled with fire of the gospel.  He has not yet learned that persecution tends to build mature believers evermore zealous to share the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is very evident that this persecution, however, is ever growing.  Furthermore, it is one of the many signs that we are ever closer to the hoof beats heralding the return of Christ the King of Kings.

Look carefully for Jesus Christ's Second Coming!

Matthew sheds more light on the persecution that the church will see in the last days.  Quoting Jesus he wrote, "And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another (Matthew 24:10)."  The implication is that persecution will become so prevalent that some will turn fellow believers in.  As the world draws near to the rapture of the church, the coming of the Antichrist, and the beginning of the Tribulation worldwide persecution will increase.  The word translated as offended in the above passages is even more telling.  It is the Greek equivalent of the English word "scandalize".  As Satan's forces in futility make their last ditch effort to  stop the church, a church that the gates of hell cannot prevail against, he will try to slow it down with universal persecution.  The enemy will seek to scandalize the Body of Christ.  We know that the plight of many Christians worldwide is terrible, but it is the persecution beginning to erupt in once Christian nations that should make us understand the seriousness of the hour!

Take into consideration a few trends seen in the news over the last few days. It shows that Christian persecution is on the rise.   

Has Obama Declared War on Christianity? | Lutherant | a Chron.com blog

From the readers: The all-out war on Christianity

Feds shut down Amish farm for selling fresh milk - Washington Times

Fighting Obama’s assault on religious liberty

Atheists sue to remove Jesus statue from Big Mountain
Christians Clash With Jesus on Abortion, Gay Marriage, Survey Finds, Christian News  Christians at odds already even as Jesus warned!
Should Christians Spank? Miss. Bill Could Mean Life Imprisonment for Parents, Christian News

Add these subtle changes to the rise in support for Islam in many western nations with other changes in moors and values, and you can see that universal persecution is just on the horizon.  Even more, add this to the many attacks on the US Constitution and you will see that there is great trouble brewing in America.  It is another sure sign that Jesus Christ is Soon2Come!  

*I want to thank Tiffany Haskell for the beautiful artwork that will now be the official signature for this blog and ministry.  Please visit Tiffany's website and see the great Christian artwork she produces.  Home - "PAINTINGS OF FAITH"