JD: These countries that are known for radical ideologies are not the only places where Christians are facing growing persecution. It’s happening more and more in places that have largely been considered Christian in the past.
DJ: This would be through both Europe and Canada and I would say even the United States is beginning to experience some of this. I think part of it has to do with the increasing Muslim influence around the world that they are having a great influence on governments. For example at the end of last month there was a street preacher arrested by police in the London area and he was called a racist for preaching about salvation.
In another article coming
out of Canada, Canada became one of the first countries in the world to
recognize same sex marriage. The article says it’s not premature to speak of
open discrimination against Christians in Canada. And we’ve seen it here in
this country not necessarily in the same forms yet. Things are developing and
they’re moving this way.
JD: Some prophecy teachers argue that the persecution of
Christians throughout history is evidence that the church will not escape
future persecution through a pre-Tribulational Rapture. How would you respond
to that thought?
DJ: It’s very misguided in understanding what is going to happen during Daniel’s 70th week the time we call the Tribulation period.
Satanic opposition against God’s people its happened in every century since the
church came into being. There’s a difference between this persecution at the
hands of men who are being I would say satanically inspired. And what happens
during the Tribulation period? The Tribulation is the wrath of God not the
wrath of man or the wrath of Satan even though God may use Satan to carry out
some of his judgments against the world.
And we are promised that the church
will not be subjected to the wrath of God. Christ said in this world you will
have tribulation. That kind of tribulation is different from the wrath of God
and what we typically call the Tribulation period. The church will be spared
from that and raptured to be in the presence of the Lord as those judgments are
carried out on the earth.
JD: David James with the details on persecution of Christians happening
around the world.
We report this information because it is setting the stage
for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.
Dave’s report helped us to realize that persecution of
Christians is prevalent around the world not only in the Far East and the
Middle East. But this persecution is happening in nations that claim to be Christian
nations. This persecution is a precursor for the events in the Tribulation
period as foretold in Revelation 6:9-11. Remember in the Tribulation period it
is the wrath of God that is used for punishment.
