It’s Getting Nasty

Whenever you hear someone say something to the effect that things were harder in their day you probably politely tell them that they were probably right. But inside you’re thinking that it’s always been difficult and every generation has its own challenges. However, in Bible prophecy we’re told that things will get progressively worse leading up the worst time in all of history. Don’t take my word for it. Here is what we’re told by Jesus, Himself about the times we have just ahead of us:

For there will be persecution such as the world has never before seen in all its history and will never see again. 22 “In fact, unless those days are shortened, all mankind will perish. But they will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen people. (Matt 24:21-22, TLB)

A similar prophecy about the last days is found in Daniel 12:1:

At that time Michael, the mighty angelic prince who stands guard over your nation, will stand up and fight for you in heaven against satanic forces, and there will be a time of anguish for the Jews greater than any previous suffering in Jewish history. And yet every one of your people whose names are written in the Book will endure it.(TLB)

This is also directed to Israel, but it is in the future as well and refers to the seven-year Tribulation. We also know that before the Tribulation there will be what Jesus calls birth pangs that lead up to the actual reign of the Antichrist and they are the aspirations of the spirit of antichrist (see Matthew 24:8 and 1 John 4:3). I know some talk about 50-100 years of Christians reigning over the earth now, but these verses all point to things going downhill now. While I’m all for things letting up, I just don’t see it in Bible prophecy.

Recent Examples

And you will be hated (despised) by everyone because [you bear] My name and for its sake. (Luke 21:7, AMPC)

Jesus also wanted His followers to be ready for the hatred for them just before He returns. And if you doubt this hatred exists I’ve got more than a few examples for you. Internationally we learn this from an article on Wikipedia:

The Kasanga massacre occurred on 12 February 2025, when Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants entered the village of Mayba in Lubero Territory, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo and abducted at least 70 Christian civilians. The captives were subsequently taken to a Protestant church in Kasanga, North Kivu, where they were beheaded via machetes. Their bodies were discovered on 14 February 2025.

And then there’s this example from The Times:

Evening mass had just begun when the suicide bomber attempted to rush through the doors of the Saint Elias Greek Orthodox church in Damascus, an AK-47 in his hand. Three young men from the congregation ran towards him, wrestling with the assailant as he jostled forward into the atrium, while a second assailant sprayed the church exterior with bullets. Then, as the bomber was pushed to the ground, he blew himself up. The blast ripped through the congregation of 250, ending the church service that had started just 15 minutes earlier with the roar of the explosion, splintered wood, scything shrapnel and tumbling icons. The dead and the dying fell among the scattered pews, their blood splattering the walls above the altar and pooling across the floor. As the dust and smoke cleared, the cries of the wounded rose from the wreckage. Twenty-five died, a further 63 injured. The casualties included children.

Even In America

One would think that in a nation that has freedom of religion as one of its founding principles we wouldn’t see things like that happening here, but you’d be wrong. The Trump administration created a task force to address Christian political and institutional discrimination as we’re told in a report from the Catholic News Agency:

A new report from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has found that the Biden administration engaged in a “consistent and systematic pattern of discrimination” against Christians, including Catholics. The 48-page document, titled “Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias Within the Federal Government,” is the first issued by the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias established by President Donald Trump in February and chaired by Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The intent is not just to expose such practices:

The task force is charged with ensuring that “any unlawful and improper conduct, policies, or practices that target Christians are identified, terminated, and rectified.”

“The federal government will never again be permitted to turn its power against people of faith,” the report states. “The days of anti-Christian bias in the federal government are over.”

First they do need to assess things:

The report fulfills the first mandate the task force received from Trump to provide “an initial assessment of the harm caused when religious liberty is denied.”

It begins by saying that even though Christianity “has not only inspired individuals and transformed the nation … the political, social, and humanitarian contributions of Christians have been devalued, their beliefs marginalized, and their communities unlawfully targeted by their own government.”

“Where there should have been ‘equal justice under law’ there was unequal treatment — policies and practices that singled out Christian people, Christian houses of worship, and Christian convictions for disfavored treatment,” the report continues.

The report then lists instances of religious targeting from the previous administration:

It goes on to highlight instances of alleged bias across federal agencies during the Biden years.

At the DOJ during the Biden administration, the report found a lack of effort to prosecute anti-Christian bias, instead pursuing “novel theories of prosecution” against individuals demonstrating their faith. A notable example involves the imprisonment of about two dozen Christians, many of them Catholic pro-life activists, under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act for protests outside abortion facilities.

Trump made sure that those targeted were pardoned, but the FBI was also implicated:

Trump pardoned these individuals upon taking office. In contrast, the report asserts that the Biden DOJ failed to apply the FACE Act to protect places of worship and crisis pregnancy centers from similar disruptions.

In addition, the report flags the FBI’s 2023 memo labeling “radical-traditionalist” Catholics as “domestic terrorism threats” as a particularly egregious instance of bias.

What Can We Do?

There are quite a few things we can do starting with realizing persecution will happen as noted in this verse:

Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand]. (2 Tim 3:12, AMPC)

Next, we need to stand our ground:

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV)

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11 ESV)

Then we need to rejoice in suffering:

“They left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” (Acts 5:41, ESV)

That’s a tough one, folks. We need to pray, and then pray some more:

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. (2 Thess 3:1-2, ESV)

We should also remember those who are being persecuted even if it’s not happening to us:

Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.(Hebrews 13:3, ESV)

While under duress or even when not under duress we need to keep evangelizing:

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. (Acts 5:42, NKJV)

Even when persecuted Jesus tells us to have the right attitude about those doing the prosecuting:

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matt 5:44, ESV)

Lastly we need to remind ourselves that this earthly trouble will one day end:

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”(Rom 8:18, ESV)

It’s not fun to be persecuted, not at all. Our attitudes will be tested and so will our patience. But allow Holy Spirit to bring all these verses back to us when things get heated. We won’t be the first to be persecuted and we won’t be the last, but we all share these sage words of advice from the Bible. It got those saints through the touch times and it will do the same for us.