You have been granted power over temptation,
but in its place you will suffer persecution for the name of Jesus Christ.
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12) KJV
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for so they persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is henceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:10—16) KJV
If you do not suffer persecution for the name of Jesus Christ, you are none of His. You will suffer persecution from false brethren and false religious leaders. What do liberal minded people care about what you believe? It is the religious leaders preaching false doctrine that will bring about the persecutions and martyrdom that is going to come upon the world. One should really be aware of the teachings of Jesus Christ before all this starts to happen.
They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. (John 16:2—3) KJV
This preceding passage says that they will put you out of the synagogues. Jewish places of worship were and still are called synagogues. We have since entered into a new realm for places of worship. The greatest threat to people who subscribe to the Way as described by Jesus and His apostles, is our modern day religions. The greatest threat to those who call on the name of Jesus Christ will actually come from mainstream religious communities who will refuse to believe the gospel of God.
Jesus while attending a wedding feast with his family and disciples was urged by His mother to help the master of the feast when the supply of wine ran out. After Jesus changed the water in the water pots to wine the master of the feast took the wine to the bridegroom, bewildered,
And said unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. (John 2:10) KJV
No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better. (Luke 5:39) KJV
Those who have been well indoctrinated into their current religious beliefs will sometimes have a difficult time relinquishing those beliefs. For your own patience and understanding, be reminded that not Jesus, nor any of his disciples, apostles, or followers prescribed violence towards anyone. We are commanded to live quiet, peaceable lives.
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed you do it toward all the brethren which are in Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That you may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. (1 Thessalonians 4:9—12) KJV
I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1—4) KJV
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 14:12) KJV
But them that are without God judgeth. (1 Corinthians 5:13) KJV
It is not the job of people in the true church of God to be judging those who are outside the church. The saints should never be involved in the affairs of this world, nor of striking allegiances with political parties or courts that do the will of man. The Bible teaches us that we should remain separate from them,
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:17—18) KJV
If one faction is inciting rebellion and violence toward anyone, anywhere, know that they are not acting in accordance with what has been taught in the Bible. We are told to be prepared to offer an explanation of those things in which we believe. Our’s is not to attack people with different beliefs. We are told to pursue peace with all men. Anyone who does not hold to this doctrine has nothing to do with Jesus Christ.
The Romans had no intentions of crucifying Jesus. Herod, after examining Jesus, could find nothing in Him that deserved punishment. Pontius Pilate actually tried to convince the crowds and Jewish leaders to release Jesus. All to no avail. The Jewish leaders incited the crowds to have Jesus crucified. Pontius Pilate eventually washed his hands of the entire injustice and allowed the religious rulers to have their way.
Much the same way, as we move into this new modern era, religious groups with political ties will demand that the political entities do their bidding in order for them to take vengeance on the innocent. They will revere a leader who has climbed from the very depths of hell.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you will know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye workers of iniquity. (Matthew 7:15—23) KJV
Notice, “ye workers of iniquity,” these are those who carry on in their sinful lives, proclaiming a doctrine that Jesus will just continually go on forgiving their sins. This is anathema to Jesus and of course God the Father. That doctrine would require that Jesus be repeatedly crucified in order to continue to offer redemption to these misinformed. Jesus has been crucified once to put an end to sin, period. “An end,” meaning an end. Those who continue in their sin filled lives will suffer the consequences of sin, period.
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:4—6) KJV
“Put him to an open shame,” They would put the Son of God to an open shame because by giving in to temptation and sinning, they would be claiming that Christ was incapable of saving them from temptation. There is nothing that can be said of those creatures other than that they will have their moment when they stand before our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. (Proverbs 26:11) KJV
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:6—7) KJV