INTENSIFYING PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS

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Christianity is at risk of being “wiped out” in parts of the world due to intensifying persecution, the United Kingdom’s special envoy for freedom of religion or belief, David Smith, has warned. The British government is now targeting 10 countries as part of its revised foreign policy focus to defend this human right. Smith, the Labour Party MP for North Northumberland, made the remarks during a briefing at the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office.

Jesus was asked by His disciples: “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Matthew 24:3

Jesus response: “And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
“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 24:6-14

Smith, a Christian who previously worked with Tearfund and the Bible Society made no mention of the fact that what is unfolding fits with end times prophecies. but he did announced a new plan to prioritize Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in countries where religious minorities face repression or violence. Smith said the U.K. will focus on 10 countries, naming Vietnam, Algeria, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, China, Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iraq. He said these were selected because of the severity of need, the U.K.’s diplomatic ties and the possibility of making progress.

He added that persecution, carried out both by governments and social groups, can involve harassment by police, social ostracism, detention without cause, denial of citizenship, torture, attacks on places of worship and even killings, citing research by the Pew Research Centre. He cited recent data showing that 380 million Christians face persecution worldwide and warned, “Persecution on the basis of religion or belief, enacted by States themselves and social groups, is taking place on every continent in the world.” Smith called the U.K.’s commitment “a new chapter” in foreign policy and said freedom of religion was interlinked with other liberties, including freedom of speech, conscience and assembly. Of the 10 selected, only three — Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan — are among the top 10 in the Open Doors World Watch List, which identifies countries where Christians are most severely persecuted. The worst offenders on that list, such as North Korea, Somalia and Yemen, are not among the U.K.’s current

The U.K. government’s FoRB strategy involves five strands. First, it aims to uphold international standards through bodies such as the U.N. and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Second, it will embed the issue into targeted bilateral diplomacy, encouraging individual missions to raise FoRB in foreign capitals. Third, the U.K. will strengthen international coalitions working on religious freedom. Fourth, the Foreign Office will incorporate FoRB into its mainstream human rights programming. The fifth strand involves collaboration with civil society groups working on interfaith respect and awareness. Speaking at the briefing, Lord Collins of Highbury, minister for human rights, said the U.K. has long believed that rights and the rule of law strengthen global prosperity and resilience. He said his office had already written to British heads of mission directing them to embed human rights, including FoRB, into all areas of diplomatic work. He cited the recent release of two individuals — Nigerian atheist Mubarak Bala and Cuban Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo — as examples of successful British-supported advocacy.

“Only by working together can we build a world where everyone, everywhere, can live with dignity, free to believe — or not believe — without fear,” Lord Collins said. In April, during a debate, Smith said Britain’s diplomatic stance is informed by its own history, moving “from persecution to pluralism,” which he said provides credibility to advocate abroad. He described the U.K. as “uniquely well placed” to act in support of religious liberty, citing its legacy of legal rights and peaceful pluralism. The role of FoRB envoy was created following a 2019 report by then-Bishop of Truro, Philip Mounstephen, which found that Foreign Office staff lacked awareness of global religious persecution. The report led to recommendations that religious freedom be formally integrated into U.K. foreign policy. Smith argued that defending FoRB not only benefits persecuted communities but also those who engage in repression. He said FoRB could unlock new opportunities and freedoms for their nations to flourish and reaffirmed his commitment to press the U.K. government to act. Meanwhile, Christian Today noted that new research by Jersey Road PR has found that mainstream U.K. media rarely report on attacks against Christians globally.

PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS AT RECORD LEVELS

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Members of religious groups faced harassment by either governmental actors or social groups in a record number of countries and territories as a new Pew Research Center analysis finds acts of hostility against Christians are on the rise. 

The release of Pew’s report, “Government Restrictions on Religion Stayed at Peak Levels Globally in 2022,” marks the 15th time it has conducted research examining government restrictions and social hostilities toward religion in 198 countries and territories. Imagine what a 2024 report will show as persecution has escalated in 2023 and 2024. Significant other Biblical end-times prophecies have already been fulfilled particularly the re-establishment of Israel as a nation back in 1948 and now the falling away from Biblical faith by most of the institutional churches (apostasy).

“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

The research revealed that in 2022, “harassment of religious groups by governments or social actors occurred in 192 out of the world’s 198 countries and territories.” This constituted “an increase by two countries from 2021 and a new peak level for the study.”

“Governments harassed people for their religious beliefs and practices in 186 countries in 2022, up from 183 in 2021,” the report states. “Social groups or private individuals harassed people due to their religion in 164 countries, the same number as in 2021. Governments and/or social actors harassed religious groups in 192 countries, including 158 countries where both governments and social groups or private individuals engaged in harassment.”

As has been the case in every installment of the study, Christians experienced harassment in most countries, reaching a record high of 166 in 2022. 

One example cited in the report was the arrest of a man whose son brought Bibles and other Christian literature across the border into Mauritania from Senegal.

Another example is a Syriac Catholic Church leader in Bartella, a historically Christian town in Nineva province rebuilding after the defeat of the Islamic State, who said militias “sought to ‘seize and occupy Christian properties’ in an attempt to drive out Christians and alter the religious composition of the town.”

The study identified property damage, assaults, detentions, displacements and killings as examples of physical harassment experienced by religious groups. It highlighted how at least one instance of physical harassment toward a religious group occurred in 145 of 198 countries, marking an increase from the 137 measured in 2021.

Governments used physical force against religious groups in 111 countries, while social groups or private individuals were determined to have engaged in such harassment in the same number of countries.

The most frequent form of physical harassment directed at religious groups was property damage, occurring in 61% of countries. Detentions occurred in slightly less than half (47%) of countries, while the share of countries where physical assaults, displacements and killings occurred were measured at 45%, 26% and 25%, respectively.

According to a detailed appendix accompanying the report, the only countries where absolutely no harassment of religious groups occurred at the hands of the government in 2022 were Cape Verde, Fiji, Grenada, Macao, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Portugal, San Marino, Senegal and Suriname. The United States was listed as one of 110 countries where there was widespread intimidation of religious groups “by any level of government.”

Religious groups in the U.S. found themselves subject to property damage and physical assaults, while no displacements, killings or detentions were recorded. Another adverse experience faced by religious groups in the U.S. involves organized groups using “force or coercion in an attempt to dominate public life with their perspective on religion, including preventing some religious groups from operating in the country.”

PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS ESCALATES AS JESUS RETURN DRAWS NEAR

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Hamas terror attacks on Israel have inflamed Islamic extremist sentiment against Christ followers, said an official with a Swiss-based aid agency.

“Since Oct. 7, 2023, the whole Middle East is on intense fire and might explode any time,” said the official, whose identity is withheld for security purposes. “It seems that all political, social, and human rights achievements in the direction of a possible reconciliation between major foes — Saudi-Iran, or the Israel-Arab world — are now very far away. This of course has direct implications for our persecuted brothers and sisters as they are the most vulnerable and often blamed as being enemies of [the] state.”

The historical suffering of Christians who have converted from Islam in the region has reached a new level, he said. “All accomplished liberal thinking and religious tolerance in the Middle East are now departing, leaving the battleground for fanatism and Islamic radicalization to take over,” the official said.

His agency recently provided aid to a leader of a group of converts from Islam in the Palestinian West Bank. The leader is from a prominent Muslim family, and his sister’s husband, a member of the extremist Salafi branch of Islam, recently discovered he had become a follower of Christ and reported him as an “unbeliever” to his relatives. The leader’s prominent Muslim father threw him and his family out of their house. “He then had to flee and hide with his wife and son in a secret place for his security as the whole situation around Oct. 7th got heated up, and people became more radical,” the official said. “With the funds we received, we helped him to rent a hide-out apartment, and provided some living expenses for his family.”

Tensions have long hit Egypt’s borders. Israel’s military campaign against Hamas has divided opinion among church members in Egypt who are also pining under the devaluation of their currency and rising prices. Atop these difficulties, persecution remains the main challenge for Muslim-background believers like Sara (name changed) — an educated person who loves reading and research. When she; began seeking answers about Islam from her husband and some Islamic experts, they couldn’t give her satisfying answers.

“It is considered blasphemy to ask certain questions, and so her husband and other people around her reacted alertly,” the aid agency official said. “However, Sara felt a strong urge to find the truth and continued asking questions.” She began reading Christian books until she concluded that she wanted to follow Christ, he said. “Her husband discovered a change in her and argued with her until he found out that she became a Christian,” he said. “Sara was pregnant at that time. Her husband beat her so badly that she had to be hospitalized and lost her baby.” When she was able to return home, her husband reported her to police. Sara was imprisoned on false charges.

“After some years she was released but was still punished with having to go to the police station every week, where she had to clean the toilets and sit there for hours,” the worker said. “Our local partner heard of her situation and helped her legally. He also helped Sara to find a safe place to stay and a new place to work.”

Persecuted Christians are receiving both aid and spiritual care to strengthen their faith in the face of suffering. In Africa, the Islamic extremist terrorism in Nigeria that has displaced both Muslims and Christians for more than a decade drove one woman’s family to a camp for the internally displaced, where she came to faith in Christ under the teaching of the Swiss agency’s aid partner. The suffering she endured in four years of living in and out of the camp had left her cynical and prone to lying and cheating, the official said. “There was no visible change in her behavior — it required a lot of patience, love and wisdom from our partner and her team, and it was a lot of work for her, but over time she grew out of her bad habits,” the worker said. “Through the teachings, the Bible study, the coaching and prayer, she experienced the love of God and discovered what it means to follow Jesus.” She opened her heart so the Lord could transform and heal her, Sara said. “God has given me the biggest gift of my life,” she told aid workers. “He removed me from darkness to light, from nobody to becoming somebody.”

In Laos, village authorities opposed to ten families leaving their ancestral religion for Christ recently drove them out of the community into the wilderness. They were left about 8 miles away, without homes, farmland, food, and schooling for their children. “We worked closely with the local church to help them to find land for these 10 families to build a simple house to live in, and our team helped them to build the well for them to have water to drink, and a tile roof for their house,” the aid official said. “We continue to work with the local church to have worship every Sunday in their house church, and we provide continuous support for their livelihood development.”

The increase in the level of antisemitism around the world since Hamas attacked Israel makes no earthly sense and proves Scripture’s revelation that it is spiritual warfare and that we are living in the last days before Jesus returns to restore righteousness and usher in His Millennial Kingdom.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12

“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

Much of this post was originally published at Christian Daily International 

CHRISTIANS ARE THE MOST PERSECUTED PEOPLE. ONE NATION ACTUALLY HELPS THEM

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Taken from an article in The Washington Stand by Ben Johnson February 14, 2024

Hundreds of millions of Christians suffered religious persecution in 2023, according to a religious liberty watchdog organization, but one European nation is going out of its way to assist “the most persecuted religion in the world.”

One out of every seven Christians worldwide experienced some form of persecution last year, according to the 2024 World Watch List produced by Open Doors — an increase from one in eight in 2021. A whopping 365 million Christians underwent “high levels of persecution and discrimination,” up from 340 million just two years ago. The worst anti-Christian sentiment exploded into violence: 14,766 Christian churches or properties were destroyed, and 4,988 Christians were killed in 2023, the report found.

“We have to just say the facts: Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world,” said Tristan Azbej, Hungary’s secretary of state for programs to help persecuted Christians at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. “In the world, there are more than 360 million people who suffer discrimination, oppression, threats by terrorist organizations or genocidal attacks because of their faith in Jesus Christ.”

That spurred the government of Hungary to form a government agency to assist the persecuted globally. “There are many charities who are working for them. However, the Hungarian government realized that this should not be left only to charities. The international community has to step up, governments have to step up,” Azbej recently told “Washington Watch with Tony Perkins.” “And us, being a thousand-year-old, proud Christian nation who is still courageous enough to say that.”

Azbej’s remarks came as he attended the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C. late last month.

Over the last year, levels of anti-Christian persecution spiked in Africa, where 20% of Christians experienced some form of hostility or oppression based on their faith. The number rises to 40% of Christians in Asia. The world’s most anti-Christian government is North Korea, according to the Open Doors report.

Nearly 90% of all Christians killed worldwide lived in Nigeria. Azbej has noted that “jihadist, Islamist tribes” attacked 20 Christian settlements, killing 200 Christians last Christmas. Despite continued violence and murder in the nation of 230 million people, the Biden administration removed Nigeria from its list of the worst offenders of religious liberty — a policy Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) has called “anti-Christian.”

Fiona Bruce, a Conservative Party member of the U.K.’s Parliament, introduced the International Freedom of Religion or Belief Bill 2022-23 (Bill 373) last October. The bill would require British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to appoint a Special Envoy for International Freedom of Religion or Belief. That government office would document religious persecution of all faiths globally, work with U.K. civil society groups, and prod British and foreign government officials to promote freedom of religion and conscience rights worldwide. As of this writing, the Private Members bill had its first reading but is now stalled in Parliament.

Four of the worst nations persecuting Christians are in Latin America: Mexico (37), Cuba (22), Nicaragua (30), and Colombia (34). Yet the issue receives little attention from U.S. lawmakers.

Tristan Azbej said that due to the dearth of global leadership, “We decided that we will lead by example. Therefore, the Hungarian government established my department, which was the first ever dedicated governmental department for the aid of persecuted Christians in 2016. Right away, we started the Hungary Program, which delivers humanitarian aid to those Christians who have been just attacked by terrorist organizations, which delivers aid and financial assistance to rebuild places like the Nineveh Plains in Iraq, where Daesh/ISIS has committed atrocities against Christians,” Azbej told Perkins. His agency also “offers Hungarian scholarships at Hungarian universities for those Christians in Africa and Asia, who are unable or have no chance to go into the higher education system.”

The Hungary Helps humanitarian aid program expanded, thanks to an amendment that took effect at the first of the year.

In the last six years, “I can report to you that we have reached about two million persecuted Christians by extending the solidarity of the Hungarian people towards them,” Azbej told Perkins. “We have run 330 projects for persecuted Christians in more than 50 countries.”

Yet far from receiving the West’s gratitude for filling the need, “When we rebuild the church in the Middle East or in Africa, then I go to a professional diplomatic event in the West, they ask me the cynical question, ‘Why don’t we support something more useful, like hospitals and schools?’” Azbej revealed. “Now, we also support Christian hospitals and schools all around the world. But I can see the ignorance or the cynicism of the question” from Western diplomats, Azbej told Perkins. “The answer to that is that we always ask what is needed. In many cases, our Christian brothers and sisters would choose their church to be rebuilt first before their homes are rebuilt. This is how important their churches are for them,” he said, “and their faith.”

We should not be surprised at the increasing persecution of Christians. Jesus told us this would happen before His return to restore righteousness and set up His Millennial Kingdom.

“As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?… 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 24:3, 9-13

PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS RAMPANT AND INCREASING

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“We live in a world where the violent persecution of Christians and other religious groups is rampant and increasing,” says Ronald Boyd-MacMillan, GCR’s (Global Christian Relief) Chief of Global Strategy and Research. “This database not only helps us track the violence but helps us better understand what persecuted Christians really need from their brothers and sisters around the world.”

The database will be featured at the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 30-31. It will also contribute to the upcoming GCR Global Religious Freedom Index, a comprehensive tool launching this spring, the group says.

According to Aid to the Church in Need, over 4.9 billion people reside in countries with severe violations of religious freedom. These 4.9 billion people live in 61 countries, where the state of religious freedom, as secured in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, looks grim, said an ACN report titled “Religious Freedom in the World Report 2023” that covered the period from January 2021 to December 2022.

“It means that 62% of humanity lives in countries where people are not free to practice, express or change their religion,” ACN said. “Culprits of religious freedom violations range from armed terror groups to authoritarian governments, but the rule continues to be one of impunity for attackers who are rarely if ever, brought to justice or criticized by the international community.”

Of the 61 countries, 28 were marked in red, denoting “hot countries” where persecution is rampant, while an additional 33 were marked in orange, indicating high levels of discrimination.

Read what Jesus told his disciples: Persecution Will Come
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.” Matthew 10:16-25

Moreover, as we approach the time of Jesus’ return to Earth, Jesus told us it will be a time of great tribulation so that we will not be taken by surprise.

“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

JESUS WARNED US THAT PERSECUTION WILL ESCALATE IN THE END TIMES

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A now-viral post by Lizzie Marbach, an Ohio pro-life activist which stated, “There’s no hope for any of us outside of having faith in Jesus Christ alone” was met with criticism and accusations of bigotry from two state lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle.

Elizabeth Marbach (picture from her website), director of communications for Ohio Right to Life, wrote the biblical truth on Aug. 15 after what she called a “long day at work.”

“I have had many upset over my ‘unpopular’ and ‘harsh’ posts I had recently made, and I wanted to show some positivity that we can all unite behind,” Marbach told The Christian Post via email Thursday.

What she didn’t expect was a biting response from Congressman Max Miller of Ohio’s 7th District.

Miller — a Republican whom Politico once described as a “loyalist” of former President Donald Trump — called Marbach’s post “one of the most bigoted” he’s ever seen and told her to delete it, adding, “You have gone too far.”

Shortly after, Miller replied to Marbach, “God says that Jewish people are the chosen ones, but yet you say we have no hope. Thanks for your pearl of wisdom today.”

Around the same time, Rep. Casey Weinstein, a Democratic lawmaker from Ohio’s 34th District, quoted Miller’s post and added, “We may be on opposite sides of the aisle, but I stand right with Max on this. Delete it, Lizzie.”

In response, Marbach — who admitted she was “completely shocked” by Miller’s post given that his wife, Emily, sits on the board of trustees for Ohio Right to Life — quoted: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6

Marbach said while she wasn’t surprised by such a response, it nonetheless points to a much larger spiritual truth. “I think his accusation of bigotry points to the eternal truth of the Gospel message itself,” she said. “Jesus tells us that the world will hate us because they first hated him. The Gospel message is offensive to those who are not in Christ, and Miller’s response is just the latest example of this.”

“Remember the word that I (Jesus) said to you: A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also.” John 15:20-23

But alongside that spiritual truth, she added, is a political reality in which, said Marbach, Republicans are growing increasingly tone-deaf and even hostile toward constituents who identify as followers of Christ.

It is just another end times sign. The last prophesied seven years prior to Jesus return to set up His Millennial Kingdom is fast approaching. Probably the most significant end times sign happened over 70 years ago. The re-establishment of Israel as a nation.

We are already seeing the move towards a one-world government with the recent announcement by the UN of a proposed Pact for the Future in September 2024. ,

2024 Pact for the Future

An action-oriented Pact for the Future will be endorsed by Heads of State/Government at the Summit, showcasing global solidarity for current and future generations.

This UN Pact for the Future was started in 2015 with the 2030 Agenda. It was agreed by UN Member States as a plan of action for people, planet, prosperity, and peace outlined through 17 Sustainable Development Goals and related targets.

ESCALATING VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN INDIA

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A wave of violence in India’s northeastern state of Manipur has left a trail of death and destruction, with the latest incidents resulting in six fatalities and numerous homes set ablaze. The ongoing unrest, which has already claimed over 180 lives and displaced thousands, has now become a significant factor in a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Three victims, identified as members of the majority Meitei community, were killed in the Kwakta area of Manipur’s Bishnupur district, The Times of India reported, adding that they had been living in relief camps and were killed the day they returned.

Retaliatory attacks ensued hours later, the media outlet said. Armed men targeted the area’s neighboring villages belonging to the Kuki-Zo community, resulting in two deaths and 13 severe injuries on Saturday.

The violence erupted in early May following a controversial court order for the state to consider extending special economic benefits and quotas, previously reserved for the tribal Kuki-Zo people, who are predominantly Christian, to the Hindu Meitei population. It would also give the Meiteis the right to buy land in the hills where the Kuki-Zo people live.

Opposition parties, under the newly formed India National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, or INDIA, have accused Modi of “brazen indifference” to the violence, according to Financial Times, which said they have successfully placed a no-confidence motion against Modi’s government on parliament’s agenda, with a vote expected this week.

Last month, the European Parliament passed a resolution urging the Indian government to urgently restore peace in Manipur. “There have been concerns about politically motivated, divisive policies promoting Hindu majoritarianism, and about an increase in activity by militant groups,” the resolution stated. There are also “accounts of partisan involvement by security forces in the killings have increased distrust in the authorities.”

In response to the resolution, India’s Ministry of External Affairs criticized the European Parliament, saying the issue was entirely an “internal matter.”

This escalating persecution of Christians was prophesied by Jesus and included in the three Gospels so we should not be taken by surprise it only confirms that God is in control of all events on His planet, Earth. He is refining His church before He returns first to rapture His Saints and then to pour out His wrath upon an unrepentant world.

TORBEN IS SUFFERING PROPHESIED END-TIMES PERSECUTION

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ALMOST 1 YEAR APART FROM HIS FAMILY – INTIMIDATED BY IMMIGRATION & CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO SIGN PAPERS – BUT STILL HEARING FROM GOD AND BEING USED BY GOD

Torben Sondergaad realizes that what he is suffering (now almost a year in jail without formal charges) is spiritual warfare and it is preparing him to help others as persecution/tribulation increases in these prophesied end times prior to Jesus’ return. Escalating persecution of Christians is prophesied by Jesus and the prophets. This video will help you understand that we are fast moving towards the last seven years prior to Jesus’ second coming prophesied first by Daniel in the 70 Weeks Prophecy given to him by the Archangel Gabriel.

“Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” Daniel 9:24-27

Daniel had previously realised that Jeremiah’s prophecy that Israel’s time in captivity would be 70 years was coming to an end so he was praying earnestly for its fulfillment. He then gets this amazing further prophecy from the Archangel Gabriel as to when God would put an end to sin and bring in everlasting righteousness. We now know that the prophecy was for 70 weeks of years and that it accurately predicted Jesus first coming. Like so many Biblical prophecies there is an unknown gap of time between Jesus’ first coming and His second coming. There has been a gap between the 69th week and the final 70th week of the prophecy. Daniel was told that the words are shut and sealed until the time of the end.

“And I (Daniel) heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.” Daniel 12:7-9

Daniel understood from Biblical prophecy that Israel’s time of captivity was ending and we now also know from Biblical prophecy that the time of Jesus’ second coming is fast approaching. Jesus and the prophets have given us adequate warning of what will unfold so we like Daniel need to get in step with with God is doing and wants to do through us at this time.

https://youtu.be/UsbDWB8Opr

“To be away from my family is truly the hardest. But God is faithful and I believe that there’ll be a great reward soon. And that God will reunite us all again soon. As He has always been faithful in our lives, even though we go through hard seasons sometimes.” Torben Sondergaard

COMPANIES EMBRACE SATAN’S DESTRUCTIVE PLOYS

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On the heels — pun intended — of a disastrous transgender Bud Light marketing campaign, retail giant Target is now selling merchandise from a designer of satanic apparel.

Target’s website is currently selling two items from the brand Abprallen, a British designer which offers various apparel with images of skulls, horned goats, and numerous references to the occult.

Two of the brand’s items for sale on Target.com are an Abprallen messenger bag that reads “Too Queer for Here” and a sweatshirt that reads “Cure transphobia, not trans people.”

Other items for sale on the Abprallen website include products with messages including “Satan respects pronouns,” “Gay as Hell,” and “Join My Gay Cult.”

“Satan loves you and respects who you are. You’re important and valuable in this world and deserve to treat yourself with love and respect,” one product description reads.

Abprallen was started by “Erik-James Carnell,” a biological woman who identifies as a “gay trans man” based out of London.

On March 28, Abprallen shared the “Satan respects pronouns” design on Instagram and wrote that LGBT-identified people are “often referred to as being a product of Satan or going against God’s will, so fine. We’ll hang with Satan instead.”

The caption acknowledged using Baphomet, the goat-headed idol worshiped by Satanists, as the product’s inspiration. Carnell stated: “Satan is hope, compassion, equality, and love. So, naturally, Satan respects pronouns. He loves all [LGBT] people. I went with a variation of Baphomet for this design, a deity that is a mixture of genders, beings, ideas, and existences.”

They reject binary stereotypes and expectations. Perfect.”

The site also features apparel with violent symbols or messaging, including one “all genders” shirt that reads “Homophobe Headrest” with a graphic of a guillotine and skulls — which, for some Christians, could be seen as a possible reference to Revelation 20:4 and those who are “beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God.”

The designer, Carnell, celebrated the Target deal in a May 18 Facebook post which read in part: “Being able to sell my stuff in Target stores is incredibly exciting, knowing that people are seeing it without (necessarily) explicitly seeking LGBT-related stuff is wonderful, and I’m delighted at the thought that young closeted people will see it…”

The Christian Post reached out to Target for comment but did not receive a response as of Tuesday by press time. This story will be updated in the event a response is received.

In order to avoid another “Bud Light situation,” a number of Target stores — located primarily in rural Southern areas — were forced to move the stores’ LGBT merchandise to less prominent areas of the store in response to customer “outrage,” Fox News reported Tuesday.

Other brands faced similar responses from the public, such as Nike, which named Mulvaney its “Woman of the Year” and was hired by the athletic shoe and attire company to promote its women’s Alate trans sports bras and Zenvy leggings.

When sin increases, it’s because there’s no fear of God in the land, or in the people’s hearts, and where there is no fear of God, there is no limit to evil. Jesus said that prior to His return the world will be like it was in Noah’s day. In Noah’s day, the earth had grown so wicked that God had to begin again, with Noah and his family.

“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” Genesis 6:5

In other words, they spent all their time inventing new ways to sin, so it’s no wonder that God judged them.

“the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.” Genesis 6:11-12 

Jesus tells us what, or really, Who to fear, and said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” Matthew 10:28

Before he went to the Cross Jesus told the disciples what the world will be like prior to His second coming so we cannot say we were not warned in advance of what is unfolding in our day.

“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire, and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” Luke 17:26-30

PROPHESIED END TIMES PERSECUTION: 400 CHURCHES WERE BURNED, AND 60 CHRISTIANS KILLED

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The northeastern Indian state of Manipur remains in a tense state of unease weeks after a devastating spate of violence led to the deaths of at least 73 individuals, most of them Christians, and the burning, damage, or destruction of nearly 400 churches.

The largely Christian tribals belonging to the Kuki-Zo communities, who reside on the hills of Churachandpur district, say two groups of the predominantly Hindu Meitei community — Arambai Tengoll, also known as “black-shirts,” and Meitei Leepun — were behind the violence. Meiteis are primarily settled in the Imphal Valley.

The violence, which began on May 3, primarily engulfed the Imphal Valley and Churachandpur, causing at least four days of turmoil. The region remains fraught with tension as authorities fear possible reprisal attacks due to the significant accumulation of weapons within both involved communities.

During this period of hostility, the escalating violence has not only claimed a minimum of 73 lives, out of which about 64 were Christian tribals but also left 200 people injured. More than 1,700 residences suffered damage, complete destruction, or saw their homes set ablaze. The turmoil has forced about 50,000 individuals to abandon their homes, of whom roughly 35,000 belong to Christian tribal communities.

The houses of Meiteis in the Christian tribal-majority Churachandpur have also been damaged or destroyed.

A local source informed The Christian Post that the violence and ensuing tensions have caused a complete exodus of tribal residents from the Imphal Valley. Similarly, all Meiteis previously residing or working in Churachandpur, including government and police officials, have fled the area.

According to the source, Christian organizations in the area have recorded the burning, damage, or destruction of 397 churches and six Christian institutions amid the wave of violence. Significantly, these churches primarily served as places of worship for Meitei Christians. It is alleged that these structures were primarily targeted and destroyed by Meitei Hindus.

Archbishop Dominic Lumon of Imphal, whose jurisdiction covers the entirety of Manipur, has launched an appeal for funds to assist those impacted by the violence.

He warns of a “general sense of hopelessness and desperation” throughout the region, acknowledging that all communities, regardless of their affiliation, are affected by the ongoing strife.

Fr. Varghese Velikakam, Vicar General of the Diocese of Imphal, criticized local police for their failure to prevent the attacks and questioned the lack of guards after attempted assaults. Videos of the violence show police looking on or participating in the violence on tribal people.

Despite the apparently targeted nature of these attacks, Fr. Varghese advised the Church to act cautiously, maintain neutrality and promote peace and unity.

Northeast India has had long-standing ethnic tensions. In Manipur, the Meiteis and the tribal communities have long been at odds over issues such as land ownership and affirmative action policies.

After winning the 2017 state election, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, reclassified the majority of tribal settlements as reserved forests, effectively treating them as illegal immigrants. This move, along with the Meiteis’ ongoing quest for recognition as a tribal group, has significantly exacerbated tensions between the two groups.

Manipur’s highest court’s recent instruction to the government last month to consider the Meiteis’ demand for legal recognition as a tribal group has further stirred anxiety among the tribal communities. The recent outbreak of violence was triggered when a tribal student group protested against this demand.

The Hindu Meiteis and Christian tribals each constitute approximately 42% of the state’s population. Despite this balance, the Meiteis have historically held dominance in the state’s political and economic spheres.

Critics also point to Chief Minister Singh’s past orders to demolish churches in Imphal, under the allegation of illegal construction on government-owned land, as a significant strain on inter-community relations.

The widespread violence and targeted attacks against the Christian community have raised concerns about the potential escalation of religious conflict in the region.

As these communities grapple with the aftermath, Manipur remains under a dark cloud of uncertainty, its future dictated by both the government’s ability to quell tensions and the communities’ willingness to engage in peace-building efforts.

Across the world persecution of Christians is intensifying exactly as the Bible prophesied would be the case prior to Jesus’ return to end this period of earth’s history when God has allowed Satan to be Prince over fallen mankind. We are told Jesus appears first in the heavens and the dead in Christ are raised first then the Saints living on earth will be raptured to meet Jesus in the air.

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

God then pours out His wrath upon an unrepentant world with the Trumpet (7) and Bowl judgements (7) prior to Jesus returning to earth with the transfigured Saints, first to destroy the Antichrist, False Prophet, and their army and then to establish Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom on this earth. The Antichrist and the False Prophet are cast into the Lake of Fire and Satan into the Abyss for almost the entire 1000 years.

“Then I (John) saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.” Revelation 20:1-3

“Also, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4-6

To be prepared for the coming Millennial reign of Jesus and the Saints on this earth; go to http://www.millennialkingdom.net