PERSECUTION – GOD’S STRATEGY FOR REACHING THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

PERSECUTION – GOD’S STRATEGY FOR REACHING THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

Victor Choudhrie

1.      Of late persecution has escalated all over the world. It comes in different forms in different communities and countries. Even in so called Christian countries, being a Christian has become a challenge while in hostile countries it can be fatal. On an average 11 people die every day for their faith, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and disabilities worldwide every year. While God is building his army, Satan is not far behind and eventually the show down will take place at Armageddon, where Anti-Christ will muster an army of 200 million to fight the Jews. No one knows the exact dates, which the Father has kept in his hand, but the signs are here to see with our own eyes. Many end-time predictions like the ‘aliya’, or the return of the Jews to Judea after 2000 years (Eze. 20:34), increase in knowledge, going to and fro (Dan. 12:1-4), nations against nations, wars and rumors of war, false prophets, eclipses, blood moons, asteroids heading towards the earth, floods fires, famines, Tsunamis, earthquakes, epidemics, economic collapse, environmental, ethical and moral degradation etc. are being rapidly fulfilled. Yeshua said, “This is just the trailer (beginning of sorrows).” So, get ready for the real show. (Matt. Chap 24).

2.      Of the seven-year period of persecution, the last 3.5 years will be so severe, as the world has never seen before, that if it were not shortened for the sake of the elect, no one would survive.  Today there is enough stockpile of nuclear arsenal in the world to exterminate itself. (Matt. 24:21,22) Even though there are innumerable verses in the Scriptures related to persecution and suffering for the sake of our faith, the church keeps teaching about prosperity and blessings instead of warning her people to be ready for the forthcoming persecution. Perhaps because it will not be palatable to the itchy years and hence bad for church economics. (2Tim. 4:3)

There are over a thousand prophecies of which nearly 500 have already been fulfilled. There are some major prophecies that need to be fulfilled before real persecution happens, such as -

a. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world before the end will come” (Mat. 24:14). Despite instant messages being preached 24x7, through radio, TV and the Internet, there are millions of people around the world, starting from your neighborhood, who are waiting for you to tell them about the good news of salvation.

 b. Millions of Sons of Ishmael (Muslims) will be coming in droves riding on camels to glorify the House of the Lord. They have already started coming. (Isaiah 60:6-8).

c. God is preparing an army of 144,000 Jews to fight at the battle of Armageddon. That will be the global war to end all wars. The Messianic Jews have started accepting Yeshua as Saviour which means that soon the time of the Gentiles will be over. (Luke 21:21-24; Rev. 7:3–8)

d. The Anti-Christ must appear, who will initially bring peace between warring nations, establish one world government and one world religion and build the Jerusalem temple to please the Jews.

3.      Persecution Guaranteed: Yeshua said, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ will be persecuted.”  Paul boasts of a long litany of unbearable sufferings he suffered for his faith (2 Corinthians 11:24-31). Please note that without persecution there is no entrance into heavenly Kingdom. “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” He also warned, if you belong to the world, then they will take care of you. Scripture clearly says that cowards will not make it to heaven, but martyrs will have a special place in heaven.  (John 15:18-25; 2Tim. 3:12; Acts 14:22; Rev. 20:4-6; 21:8).

4.      Tafillah: This Hebrew word is often translated as “Prayer” which we think is to ask God for something. But it also means self-examination. A priest in the Temple before he entered the Holy place with the sacrifice laced fire, he washed his hands and feet at the Laver and examined (Tafillah) himself to see if he was in right relationship with God, lest he die. It is not what I can do, rather it is what needs to be done, regardless of the cost. So, if we are not being persecuted, then we need to examine our relationship with Yeshua. This does not mean that you must invite persecution. That would be foolishness. You must be clever like the serpent and innocent like the dove (Matt. 10:16). Yeshua himself avoided persecution (John 11:53,54), “but when the hour had come, the Son of Man marched to his death.” (John 12:23). The last miracle Yeshua did was to raise up dead Lazarus, that cost him his own life.

 5.  Know the context: First thing to remember is that you cannot die because you already died to the world at your baptism (Rom. 6:3-5). Secondly, you must remember is that you are not your own, but a purchased possession of God (1Cor. 6:19,20). So, if anything happens to you, it happened to his property. And he has assured, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay” and “It is fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb. 10:30,31) Thirdly, remember that he said, “If anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” (Mat 10:14,15)

 6.  Reasons for Persecution: It comes with the package for a genuine Christian, as mentioned earlier, “If they hated me, they will hate you also.” However, most persecutions are because of breaking Yeshua’s instructions – he strictly forbade to take extra money, food, clothes, sandals etc. (No Frills). He instructed to go 2x2, find a person of peace (Resonate) and stay and eat whatever is laid before you (Build Relationship). Preach through healing and deliverance and plant a Household of God (Reproducing Disciples). But If they do not receive you, then wipe the dust off your feet and take a long leap and get out of there fast (Quit) (Matt. 10:5-15; Luke 10:1-10). The seventy disciples followed these instructions to the hilt and not only got power over all the power of the enemy but also had their names written in the Book of the Lamb. (Luke 10:19,20). Quite contrary to these clear instructions, we go there, buy land, build a church building, complete with pulpit, pews, musical instruments etc. and put honey traps to attract people. Yeshua instructed, “I am sending you as lambs among wolves”, so stay invisible, but we install loudspeakers to wake up the sleeping wolf. (Acts 11:9)

Then, when the mob comes, who do not care for your freedom to practice, preach and proclaim your religion, break up the place, we cry wolf, get bashed up but insist on staying on there, even fight court cases, instead of wiping the dust off our feet and taking a long leap (Matt. 10:14; 11:23). Believers in Jerusalem did not resist persecution, instead they scattered and naturally the Gospel went ballistic. (Acts 8:1-4) Paul and Barnabas did the same, they obeyed Yeshua (Acts 13:51). There is no provision in the New Testament for building worship buildings to be led by a professional pastor on Sunday. It is all about going from house to house, breaking bread and sharing the whole wisdom of God. (Acts 2:46,7; 20:7; 20:20,27). Then “Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” (Matthew 15:3)

7.      Purpose of Persecution: God told King Solomon on the day of the inauguration of the Temple at Jerusalem that if you do not obey my commands and statutes, “Then I will uproot Israel from the soil I have given them, and this temple that I have sanctified for My Name I will banish from My presence. I will make it an object of scorn and ridicule among all the peoples.” (2Chron. 7:19,20). If God can uproot His holy Temple at Jerusalem, there is no reason why he will not do the same to you if you are disobeying Yeshua’s command as mentioned earlier to go 2x2 and doing the way he has told you, then you should be ready for the consequences. Yeshua warned, “And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:27)

Secondly, God has a greater plan than just persecuting the disobedient Jews, he sent them as models for the pagans in every country of the world to know that they worshipped a different God. While captive in diaspora in Babylon, Jews according to their practice, spread their prayer mats and prayed for Jerusalem. God rebuked them saying that he had brought them to Babylon to pray for the peace of Babylon and not Jerusalem (Jer. 29:7). Similarly, God is allowing persecution, so that believers can scatter and spread the Gospel. Sadly, most Christians rebuild their brick and mortar church and continue to disobey God. Imagine if a church of 50 or 100 or more shuts down, releasing passion filled new believers. They will not sit idle at home; they will go around witnessing with the potential to ignite Kingdom movements. (Acts 11:19-21)

8.      Corporate Religion is a big Industry: It consists of thousands of Bible colleges that produce tens of thousands of pastors that can make sermons but not disciples. They can make members but not soul saving saints. They can build ornate church buildings with padded pews for the called-in people but cannot build Ecclesia of the called-out people. They can make money to make the church affluent but not for sowing the seed and reaping the harvest. They can sing and dance and make music for the 99 saved but cannot make the angels in heaven play the harps and sing by saving one lost soul. They can holler and do power preaching from the pulpit that has no power to demolish the gates of hell. (John 15:7,10; 16:18)

Do not be deceived, none of the programs and activities in the church will help you to earn merit to have your name written in the Book of the Lamb. It is only the laborers in the harvest field, who are engaged in saving souls and paying the price for it (persecution), will have their names written in the muster role and the privilege of spending eternity with Christ. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:10). If you cannot go for whatever reason, then at least partner with them by resourcing them so that you can share their inheritance in eternity.

 9.      How to respond to persecution: Do as Yeshua told you to do.

a.      First of all, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward in.” (Matt. 5:11,12)

b.     Action 1. “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.” (Matt. 5:44; Rom. 12:20)

c.      Action 2. “Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.” (Matt. 5:25)

d.     Action 3. “When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next…” (Matt. 10:23)

So, God’s strategy for reaching the ends of the earth is through scattering of believers through suffering and persecution. Assembling in one place and doing the same thing over and over, negates that purpose.

Shalom. v