THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES TO BE A CHRISTIAN

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The 2026 World Watch List, recently released by Open Doors US, a U.S.-based persecution watchdog group, found that approximately 388 million Christians around the world face some form of intense persecution or discrimination for following Jesus Christ.

The report found that Christian persecution has reached an unprecedented scale, with more than one in seven Christians being called to suffer for their faith last year, an increase of more than 8 million compared to 2024. “We’re seeing a continuation of a multi-year trend where persecution is expanding,” Ryan Brown, the CEO of Open Doors US, told The Christian Post earlier this week.

Despite being afflicted in every way, some of the reports from the darkest regions of the world include accounts of the Lord manifesting supernaturally to Christians amid their deepest and loneliest tribulations.

North Korea: ‘Whispered prayers’

For the 24th consecutive year, North Korea bears the distinction of being “arguably the most dangerous place on earth to follow Jesus,” according to Open Doors, which slapped the impoverished pariah state with a 97 out of 100 on its persecution ranking. The country continues to be marked by what the non-profit described as “post-communist oppression” and “dictatorial paranoia.”

As it attempts to position itself as a major player on the world stage, the regime is reportedly getting more creative in asserting its totalitarian control, implementing artificial intelligence to detect “suspicious behavior patterns” that might indicate someone is among the nation’s estimated 400,000 Christian believers.

But the Holy Spirit manifests unmistakably amid the persecution, according to North Koreans who have escaped. Some have reported widespread supernatural encounters with Jesus Christ in dreams and visions.

Iraq and Afghanistan: ‘Edge of a blade’

The Taliban’s return to power after the U.S. withdrawal in 2021 has been disastrous for the thousands of Christians remaining in Afghanistan, where Muslims feel obliged to maintain clan and family honor by killing or otherwise persecuting those who leave Islam.

Afghan Christians who escape to neighboring countries are often forcibly returned, only to face increased suspicion and hostility for having fled. Women are especially mistreated. The Taliban, armed with weapons and technology the U.S. left behind, reportedly conducts random searches of phones to search for Christian content and utilizes CCTV to closely monitor cities such as Kabul.

“Being a secret believer [in Afghanistan] is like walking on the edge of a blade. It’s full of caution, pain, but also hope and strength,” a Christian called Samira told Open Doors, which noted they are limited in the information they can provide about Christians in the country because the persecution is so extreme.

In Iraq, the number of Christians has dwindled from nearly 1 million to about 187,000 over the past decade of political upheaval and war, during which ISIS made particular targets of Christians. Iranian-backed Shiite militias are the main source of danger for Iraqi Christians now, according to Open Doors. Turkish and Iranian military operations have also severely damaged Christian villages in the northern Kurdistan region.

Amid the carnage and suffering, reports have circulated in recent years that many in the Muslim world are experiencing striking supernatural dreams of Jesus Christ declaring Himself to be the Lord. Mission Frontiers magazine reported that such encounters with Jesus, who is respected as a prophet in Islam, are responsible for a quarter of Muslim conversions to Christianity.

Somalia: ‘Count the cost’

Somalia ranked as the second-most dangerous country for Christians for the fourth year in a row, according to Open Doors US, whose CEO told The Christian Post earlier this week that much of the growth of extreme violence against Christians is concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa.

A woman walks past a section of Mogadishu Cathedral that was built by Italian authorities, in Mogadishu, Somalia

Hardline Sharia law reigns in Somalia, whose 2012 provisional constitution effectively prohibited conversion from Islam to Christianity. Amid a civil war that has dragged on for decades, the militant Sunni terrorist group al-Shabaab has filled a power vacuum in much of the country.

The group, some of whose founders trained with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, seeks to eradicate Christianity and openly executes suspected Christian believers. Even in regions where the corrupt Somali federal government holds sway, Islam remains the only legal religion.

Nigeria: ‘They cut them to pieces’

Nigeria, a West African country of approximately 230 million people, is the global epicenter of deadly violence against Christians, according to multiple reports. Nearly 15 million people have been displaced and forced to flee their homes because of persecution, with a high number of them being Christians, according to a report from the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law. The full scale of the violence is likely impossible to discern in Nigeria, where religious identity is often underreported, large regions are inaccessible and many incidents cannot be independently verified.

The plight of Nigerian Christians has drawn the attention of the world, prompting the U.S. State Department to officially update its designation for Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” in November. On Christmas Day, the U.S. military worked with the Nigerian government to exert military force against Islamic State militants in the country, following public outrage from President Donald Trump.

China: ‘Dictatorial paranoia’

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which governs China’s 1.4 billion people, has been tightening its grip on churches and other Christian institutions that seek to escape its totalitarian monitoring for alignment with communist ideology.

“The Chinese government has really sought to close down a number of the unregistered churches, those that were not officially aligned with the Communist Party, and close those churches out,” Open Doors US CEO Ryan Brown told CP earlier this week, adding that the CCP is also regulating online behaviour by banning Bible apps and any live videos with religious or Christian intent.

The CCP seems especially concerned with capturing the minds of the youth, banning minors under 18 from entering churches or participating in religious activities following the implementation of its revised Regulations on Religious Affairs in 2018. Open Doors noted that ministry leaders “focused on the next generation of Christians” are special targets of state hostility.

Egypt and North Africa: Prophets without honor

Despite its rich and ancient Christian history, Egypt remains a potentially dangerous place for its roughly 10 million Christians.

As in other Muslim-majority countries, persecution most often arises against Muslim converts to Christianity from those closest to them. Converts can suffer ostracism, expulsion and even physical violence from their own families and communities for alleged blasphemy, especially in rural areas.

The World Watch List report includes an interview with a man named Samir, whose 24-year-old son, Girgis, was among the 21 Christian construction workers who were famously kidnapped in Libya and beheaded by black-clad ISIS militants on a beach near Tripoli in 2015.

Now commonly referred to as the “21 Martyrs,” all of the men were Egyptian Coptic Christians except for one from Ghana, who converted upon witnessing the faith of the others as they refused to renounce Jesus Christ despite weeks of torture. Libya joins Egypt and every other North African country on the World Watch List as places of concern.

Fortunately, Biblical prophecy reveals we are living in the last days before Jesus returns to restore righteousness and initiate His Millennial reign. This is to fulfil the covenants God made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David that the nation God established for His purposes, Israel, will finally rule all the nations of the world under the leadership of its Messiah, Jesus. Go to http://www.millennialkingdom.net to get prepared to rule and reign with Jesus.

THE CHURCH SHOULD NOT FEAR PERSECUTION

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China is experiencing the world’s largest revival today. Several thousand Chinese come to Christ every day. Many feel that these revivals are happening in contrast to their background of being Buddhists, Animists, Taoists, or Confucianists. Still, a closer look shows that China has been following the God of the Bible since the beginning of their history, more than 5,000 years ago. Are these current revivals a sign that the people of China are returning to their true roots?

The truth came down from Noah and his family. Some modern Chinese Christian scholars or theologians suggest a connection to Shem, citing possible linguistic or cultural links between ancient Semitic and Chinese civilisations (e.g., similarities in ancient writing systems or flood narratives). Others favour Japheth, based on the broader geographic spread of his descendants.

PERSECUTION GROWS GOD’S CHURCH

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A new study has revealed that Christianity is continuing to spread across the globe despite believers facing extreme persecution for their faith.

The 2023 “Persecutors of the Year” report by the anti-persecution charity International Christian Concern (ICC) details the various groups, organisations, and locations posing a significant threat to Christians worldwide.

The advocacy group claims some 200-300 million believers currently experience persecution for their faith, including torture, imprisonment, and murder. Writing in the document’s forward, ICC President Jeff King says he’s inspired by the courage and strength of Christians who appear to be “thriving” in their faith, amid “unimaginable pain.”

China, Iran, and Nigeria are highlighted as key countries where the Church appears to be expanding despite fierce opposition.

NIGERIA: The ICC argues Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places to be Christian today. Believers are kidnapped, tortured, and killed every week by Boko Haram, Fulani militants and other Muslim extremist groups while churches and Christian institutions are destroyed and burned to the ground. “Boko Haram and Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) have killed tens of thousands of Christians and displaced millions to discard Western influence and impose strict Islamic Sharia law,” it reads. Yet, the approximately 100 million Christian population is steadily growing in the region.

IRAN: The report claims that the Islamic Republic of Iran has “one of the fastest-growing churches in the world.” While 99% of the population is Muslim and Christians there are harshly penalised for practicing their faith, ICC reports show a Christian population that has rapidly grown to around 500,000 – 800,000. Iranian Christians face persecution in the form of raids, arrests, fines, detention, torture, and death penalties for practicing their faith.

CHINA: China reportedly has between 70-100 million “underground Christians”. This is despite the communist country “aggressively suppressing free religious expression” which is seen as a threat to national security. House churches face persecution and harassment by the authorities, as they are often unregistered and not sanctioned by the government. Some are denied registration while others choose not to be state-run due to the heavy surveillance and restrictions that are applied.

In highlighting the extent of suffering Christians encounter across the world, ICC says the “resilience of the body of Christ” is also revealed.

We cannot say that Jesus did not warn us of the persecution/tribulation that Christians will face in the last days before His second coming. It will be a church refined by fire that will be raptured to heaven prior to God pouring out His wrath upon an unrepentant world with the Trumpet and Bowl judgments.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:9-13

CHINA’S INTENSIFIED PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS

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We’ve previously heard declarations for unregistered churches to come into line with the official state church. In practice, this has meant, “Conform or at least shut up.” Enforcement was random and highly dependent on the will of the local party cadre. The understood agreement between local authorities and church leaders was this: “Don’t make us lose face and we’ll leave you alone.”

That’s not the current situation. The plan itself is more specific and comprehensive in scope. Since the government announced its intention to Sinicize religion, we’ve seen leaders implement the policies with far more breadth and aggression. In other words, there has been much more “follow-through” than in previous years.

Cameras have been installed in churches. Arrests have increased. A curriculum to “re-train” pastors has been written. Even the biggest churches have not been able to avoid conflict. Authorities also have plans to re-translate the Bible to suit their purposes.

As various outlets have reported, the government in Guangzhou is now ready to pay people to snitch on people who are engaged in religious activities deemed illegal (e.g., house churches, theological training, etc.). The government has even cooperated with other South Asian countries in order to track the activities of Christians who have ties to the Mainland.

While the government has always been sensitive about foreigners interacting with minority groups, it has taken more extensive measures in the past year. In Kunming, for instance, leaders have expelled or pressured out a substantial number (perhaps most) of the missionaries in the area, including entire organizations.

The rhetoric has changed a bit as well. Specifically, official propaganda is much more “anti-Western” than in previous campaigns. Sinicization is portrayed as a struggle against the oppression and imperialism of Western powers, especially the United States.

In a recent speech, Xu Xiaohong, Chairman of the Chinese Christian Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee, stated,

In modern times, Christianity was introduced to China on a large scale along with colonial aggression by Western powers. It was called “foreign religion.” The churches anywhere in our country were merely the result of Western missions and “Christianity in China.” Many believers lack national consciousness, so people say: “One more Christian is one less Chinese.” The occurrence of many teaching plans, especially the “Boxer Movement” and the “non-Christian movement”, prompted the church to create a “self-reliance movement.”

Sinicization is the brainchild of China’s highest political authorities. Given the fact that President Xi is no longer restricted by term limits, we have little reason to expect pressure to let up when he leaves office. He will be around long enough to see the process through.

What we are seeing in China and the rest of the world is the prophesied escalating “end times” tribulation being carried out by people controlled by Satan and his minions. Christians should not be taken by surprise as Jesus warned us beforehand. More importantly, we need to be obedient to his command to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ to the whole world. Jesus is coming back and He and the Saints will rule and reign on this earth for 1000 years.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:9-14

The Millennial Kingdom is a transition period when God fulfills the covenants He made with Abraham and David. God promised a descendant of David, Jesus will rule the nations from a restored Jerusalem.

“And the Lord has declared today that you are a people for His treasured possession, as He has promised you, and that you are to keep all His commandments, and that He will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that He has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the Lord your God, as He promised.” Deuteronomy 26:18-19

SEISMIC SHIFT IN CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION

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Afghanistan is now the worst nation in the world for Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USA, an organization that tracks global religious maltreatment. The shocking development is undoubtedly the “biggest seismic shift” in decades, as North Korea, the reclusive and oppressive East Asian country, was bumped from the top spot it had occupied for 20 years. “This year’s 2022 World Watch List, is the biggest seismic shift in over 20 years because Afghanistan is now the No. 1 country on the World Watch List, supplanting North Korea,” Open Doors USA CEO David Curry said. Afghanistan has long been embroiled in chaos, but the situation devolved further when the U.S. undertook a chaotic withdrawal last August, a retreat that carried with it serious consequences.

The education of young girls has changed dramatically

“Many people are aware of what’s happened since August in Afghanistan,” Curry said, citing the chaos and uncertainty. “It has emboldened Islamic extremists in other parts of the world. We believe it’s going to have a ripple effect.”  Christians in Afghanistan face intensifying persecution at the hands of the resurgent Taliban, with militants purportedly arresting and possibly seeking to kill believers. Christian women, in particular, are especially vulnerable and are seen as ideological enemies.

Looking at the diverse forms of persecution that exist, Curry noted that there is a “two-front war” against Christianity that can be observed on the “World Watch List.” On one side, there are the tribal-led government forces like the Taliban and on the other are centralized and tech-savvy governments like what is seen in China.

Curry explained why the Chinese government’s actions should be deeply concerning. “Their system and their technology is the greatest threat right now overall in the future of religious expression,” he said, likening the methodical restrictions to a “high tech noose around the neck of expression of faith.”

Curry said the Chinese government has hampered the efforts of almost every church, forcing houses of worship to break into groups and to shut down. Christians are at risk of losing jobs, having travel restricted, and “even worse.” “They have artificial intelligence. They monitor all the video, they monitor the online presence,” he said.

Fortunately, we know how the underground church at the time of Mao grew strong under intense persecution. Believers were totally dependent upon God and miracles abounded as testified by Chinese believers like Brother You in his book The Heavenly Man. As prophesied, persecution increases in these last days before Jesus returns, and those totally committed to God will walk in the power of the Holy Spirit with all the gifts of the Spirit being manifested in their ministry to others.