This is the eighth article in a series of articles written for the Scofield Prophecy Studies website (www.scopro.org) under the main heading entitled: What In the World Is Going On?
Throughout
the world, our brothers and sisters in Christ are being severely persecuted
because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
They are not just being made fun of or taken to court. They are being beaten, raped, tortured and
crucified.
As
you read the information below, understand that this is real; it’s not some
Hollywood movie with actors and actresses; it’s not some staged scene with just
the right camera angle. These are real
people suffering real pain, sorrow and anguish and NOT giving up their faith in
Christ.
North Korea,
Somalia and Syria
For
the 13th consecutive year, North Korea is ranked No. 1 on the World Watch List
of the 50 countries where persecution is most extreme. The god-like worship of the leader, Kim
Jong-Un, and his predecessors leaves little room for any other religions and
Christians face unimaginable pressure in every sphere of life. Meeting with other Christians is virtually
impossible. Anyone discovered engaging
in unauthorized religious activity is subject to arrest, arbitrary detention,
disappearance, torture and/or execution. Those Christians who attempt to return to
North Korea from China are sentenced to life in prison or executed.
With
no functioning government in Somalia, Christians are targeted by Islamic
terrorists and other clan authorities. As
the government gains more control, state actors are joining the vicious two to
persecute Christians. The only type of
Christianity in Somalia is Christian converts from a Muslim background. Persecution in the country is very severe. Islamic religious leaders maintain publicly
that there is no room for Christianity, Christians and churches in Somalia. Islamic terrorists, in the form of al-Shabaab,
as well as other radical Islamic groups, have intensified the persecution of
Christians.
The
Islamic State introduced the caliphate (strict Islamic leadership) in large
parts of Syria and Iraq at the end of June 2014 and a strict version of Sharia
law was implemented. Since then, most
Christians have fled areas controlled by the Islamic State. Christians are kidnapped out of financial,
political and ideological motives. Many
Christians have been abducted, physically harmed and killed. Amidst all violence and persecution, there are
also sparks of hope, however. Though
many Christians have left the country, a growing number of people are
converting to Christ in the deplorable situation of civil war.
Vietnam: Hired
Thugs Raid College
A
Ho Chi Minh City Bible school that has often been the target of police activity
in recent years was attacked and destroyed for the seventh time on Wednesday,
November 12, 2014, by hired thugs accompanied by the police. The thugs used hammers and metal cutters to
destroy doors, walls, and furniture. Police
then raided the college and arrested nine Christians who did not have proper
paperwork — documents that had been confiscated by police in earlier raids. The Bible school leader, Pastor Nguyen Hong
Quang, said this was the seventh attack on the college since June 2014.
On
the November 12 attack, hired men along with scantily-clad prostitutes gathered
outside the school and begin shouting and screaming in the streets. Witnesses saw police filming the events just
as the mob began damaging the school property. The thugs broke doors and gates that were
broken three days earlier and had just been repaired that day. Police then arrested nine people inside,
including Pastor Quang’s son and two Mennonite pastors.
The
nine Christians were taken to the local police station. After being interrogated for two hours, all
nine were released but were charged for not having ID cards or temporary
residence papers. These documents were
confiscated in earlier raids and never returned, according to church leaders. Without these documents, all nine will face
further police harassment and complications with employment and school
registration.
The
Ho Chi Minh Bible College trains young Christians, mostly from minority tribal
groups and has been the subject of frequent attacks. After large scale attacks in June, the water
and electricity for the school were cut off, and in October, all roads to the
school were barricaded.
Rocks
and rotten eggs have been thrown into the college on more than one occasion. Those who attend worship services or classes
at the school have faced bomb threats and harassing phone calls, and some
members have been followed home and beaten up or had damage done to personal
property.
Pastor
Quang filed a complaint with district police in June and Mennonite church
leaders formally requested lawyers after an attack in June; however, attacks on
the school property have not stopped. But
even with the heavy intimidation, school leaders have continued to operate the
school, and students continue to study faithfully, intent on their mission to
share Christ throughout Vietnam.
How Is
Persecution Defined?
Christian
persecution, as defined by Open Doors, "is any hostility experienced from
the world as a result of one's identification as a Christian. Beatings, physical torture, confinement,
isolation, rape, severe punishment, imprisonment, slavery, discrimination in
education and employment, and even death are just a few examples of the
persecution they experience on a daily basis." Yes, it’s happening on a daily basis.
Iraq: Islamic State turn Christian Churches Into
Torture Chambers
“Islamic
State militants have turned Christian churches into torture chambers. According to the Jerusalem Post, Isis have
been forcing church-goers to convert to Islam, in a bid to 'wipe out
Christianity.'”
Christians
were reportedly being held captive in makeshift torture chambers set up in
raided churches in Qaraqosh, Iraq.
The
Jihadists have stripped the churches of their ancient relics and artifacts, to
be smuggled to Western collectors to help fund their terrorist activity.
The
extremist organizations have made $35.5 million from the sale of stolen artifacts
in Nabaq, Syria, according to the Christian Post.
A
source said, "This is why they are crucifying Christians — which includes
children — destroying churches and selling artifacts.”
"The
reality is, this group will stop at practically nothing to raise funds for its
terrorist mission."
Canon
Andrew White, the vicar of the only Anglican church in Iraq, has warned
Christians that the end of the religion in the country appears "very
near".
Data gathered since January 1, 2015*
Date Country City/State Killed
Injured Description
2/14/2015 Libya Sirte
21
0 Twenty-one
Christians are abducted by
Islamists, forced to
their knees and then
beheaded.
2/5/2015 Syria Damascus 10 50 The Army of Islam
sends rockets into
mainly Christian
neighborhoods, killing
ten residents.
2/4/2015 Iraq Mosul 1 0 A priest is beheaded
by the Islamic State.
1/31/2015
Syria Raqqa 1
0
A Japanese
journalist who converted to
Christianity is beheaded
by caliphate
members in the name of
Allah.
1/23/2015 Nigeria
Bantaje 1 0 Muslim extremists butcher a pastor
and
father of two.
1/21/2015 Syria
New Sabri
2
35 A
Fedayeen suicide bombing takes out
two Christians.
1/17/2015 Indonesia Tamadue 5
0
Muslim terrorists murder five Christians
in two attacks.
1/17/2015 Niger
Zinder
1 0
An angry Muslim mob burns a
church
with one person inside.
1/13/2015 Egypt
Luxor 1
0
A Muslim radical shoots a 38-year-old
Copt to death.
1/11/2015 Kenya
Mombasa 1
0
Terrorists kill a priest during a church
service.
1/6/2015 Egypt
Cairo 2
0
Two men guarding a church are shot to
death by extremists.
1/4/2015 Nigeria Kantoma
2
10 Two people
preparing for church are
shot to death
by Fulani terrorists.
1/2/2015 Nigeria
Ambe-Madaki 15 40
Fifteen villagers are
massacred when
Muslim terrorists
attack a Christian
village.
1/1/2015 Nigeria
Gombe 0
8
A suicide bomber detonates at the
entrance of
a church service.
* Data taken from:
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Pages/ChristianAttacks.htm
Our Lord
Understands
Our
Lord endured the most grievous of all persecution and torture. And though it was planned from eternity past,
that didn’t make it any less real or any less painful. In His humanity, He felt the agony of the
Roman whip upon His back. He knows the excruciating
pain of crucifixion first hand.
He
told His disciples that they, too, would experience the same hatred,
persecution and death on account of their loyalty to Him. God’s Word doesn’t “exempt” twenty-first
century believers from the enemy’s attack.
The Enemy Is
Real
If
you are a believer living in the United States, we have no idea what real
persecution looks like. We can still talk
openly about Jesus; we can still attend church whenever we want with little fear
of armed gunmen opening fire on us; we can still carry our Bibles wherever we
choose; there’s no fear of our wives or children being kidnapped because they
attended an Awana Club or youth group meeting.
But
remember, all believers have an enemy, the devil, and he hates us with an
insatiable and deadly hatred. The
apostle Peter tells us,
“Be
of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your
adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to
devour. But resist him, firm in your
faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by
your brethren who are in the world. And
after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called
you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen
and establish you. To Him be dominion
forever and ever. Amen,” (1 Peter 5:8-12).
The word translated as
“devour” is the Greek word: καταπίeiν (root = katapino), a compound word from kata (down),
and pinō (to drink). In 1 Pet. 5:8 it’s translated “devour,”
speaking of Satan’s activities against believers. The literal meaning would be to swallow. Additionally, it has the meaning: to
cause the complete and sudden destruction of someone or something; to destroy,
to ruin completely. That’s exactly what
our enemy is striving to do through radical jihadist terrorists.
What Now?
It’s
so simple to read the above information and move on to the next thing on your
calendar. Please don’t do that. Remember to pray, daily, for our brothers and sisters in these Muslim
countries. If you can, financially
support those organizations that are actively trying to help persecuted
Christians around the world.
Food for
Thought:
One
day, in God’s time, we will meet the ones who are truly suffering for
Christ. We will stand side-by-side
worshipping and praising God for His wonderful gift of forgiveness and
salvation. I hope we, in America, will
be able to look them in the eye and not feel ashamed because we ignored their
needs.
May
the Lord bless you as you continue to seek and serve Him and His people.
By
His Grace,
Dr.
Gary T. Dromi
NOTE: As I finished
writing this article, a news report has just been released stating that 21
Coptic Christians have been beheaded in Libya by ISIS terrorists (Feb. 15,
2015).
