Christianity has been a threat to the world since Jesus Christ walked the earth (or perhaps since GOD gave Moses the Torah). After Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension back to Heaven, Christians became public enemy number one. The LORD even told the disciples (and all who have ears to hear) that the day would come that those persecuting HIS Church would actually believe they were doing GOD’s work. Most astoundingly, Jesus says HIS people will be hated “by all nations” because of our allegiance and faithfulness to HIM (Matthew 24:9Matthew 24:9
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
WP-Bible plugin). What a word!
Yes, Jesus was speaking of the time of the end, and the world has steadily been speeding towards that end since Christ Jesus accomplished the FATHER’s purpose on the Cross. The church fathers and the early Christians experienced this hatred and many confessing Salvation in Jesus Christ and HE alone today are experiencing it.
But Jesus said “all nations” would hate Christians. Do all nations truly despise Christianity today? Not yet, but there is a time promised when Satan will be granted power by GOD over the whole world and the power to persecute Christians (Daniel 11 & Revelation 13). And why would the LORD give HIS people over to persecution? – “To refine them, purify them, and make them white… (Daniel 11:35Daniel 11:35
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. try them: or, try by them
WP-Bible plugin)” And also for HIS own glory, as HE explains in regard to HIS future saving of Israel – “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. 11 For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another. (Isaiah 48:10-11Isaiah 48:10-11
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. with...: or, for silver
11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
WP-Bible plugin).”
There are many brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus being refined and purified today. For example, in Pakistan Christians are being murdered and their homes and churches destroyed by radical Islamists (BBC). In Nigeria, Christians are being murdered by those who want to impose Islam on them. And the death toll is well in the hundreds due to deaths on every side (BP). And most recently here in the U.S., a young Muslim girl fled from her Ohio family after converting to Christianity because she’s convinced her father will kill her for her apparent apostasy (OS). Two women are among dozens of Christians recently rounded up in Iran and imprisoned (CT). Four Christians were beheaded in Somalia for refusing to convert back to Islam (CP). These, of course, are just some very recent examples of Christian persecution going on today — there are dozens of other places and thousands of other situations where Satan is working hard to stomp out the faithful.
And the Devil is slowly working his way West, looking forward to the day when he has convinced the whole world that Jesus’ followers are somehow a global enemy.
So let us remember, when we’re praying to GOD in Jesus’ name for strength and mercy for our persecuted brothers and sisters, that we’re also in a way praying for ourselves. Their present trouble is our future promise. But thank the LORD we all share one very certain hope.
End Times Alert: Pope Benedict XVI Calls For ‘World Political Authority’
Pope Benedict XVI listens during the holy mass of Pentecost Sunday in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican May 31, 2009. (Giampiero Sposito/Reuters)
It has so many names nowadays — one world government, new global economic order and now “world political authority.” This last phrasing is from Pope Benedict XVI who just recently issued his encyclical, which if you have the patience, can be read here. He, too, says the world “urgently” needs a singular global authority, with a moral code… which I suppose he supposes the Holy See should provide.
In chapter five (#67) of his “Charity in Truth” statement, Pope Benedict writes:
I fully recommend reading Pope Endorses “World Political Authority” at Accuracy in Media to understand this “radical document” the pope has penned.
It is rather interesting that not only do we have politicians harping openly for a united world government, we know have the man who thinks he’s some kind of prince or king, the pope, also singing the same tune — openly. It wasn’t long ago that this kind of talk was considered the stuff of conspiracy theorists, now we have governments actively working to facilitate this movement — openly, all thanks to this totally unexpected global economic meltdown. If this is what’s spoken openly, what do they say in secret? Does the pope think the one world government will keep the Roman Catholic Church around for long? Yes, the RCC will be quite helpful in keeping the world deceived by idolatry and false religion, but from what I read in the Book of Revelation, the Holy Roman See, or the harlot that sits upon many waters, will be done away with when the Beast government has tired of her. When the Anti-Christ elevates himself to god-status, the other prince (the pope who sits on the throne who is worshiped adored by a billion people from every nation and tongue) won’t be needed any more .
Holy See:
Landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world’s smallest state; beyond the territorial boundary of Vatican City, the Lateran Treaty of 1929 grants the Holy See extraterritorial authority over 23 sites in Rome and five outside of Rome, including the Pontifical Palace at Castel Gandolfo (the Pope’s summer residence) – CIA Factbook
It amazes me that the Holy See positions itself as the only independent state founded on and ruled by ecclesiastical standards. The thing is, though, it is governed by man-made rules cloaked in religion and positions the pope as king, or god. This seems almost a mockery of the Kingdom Jesus the Christ will establish on the new earth.
Revelation 17:
1And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 2With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 3So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 7And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
… 15And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 18And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Revelation 18 and Jeremiah 51 should also be considered.