Two comments frequently heard among Christians who suddenly face persecution are “It will never happen here!” and “We never thought it would happen here!” Because our world hates Jesus Christ and His unique claims, it targets His followers for persecution (John 15:20).
The Holy Spirit reveals that those living through persecution are able to teach profound truths to disciples in the “Free World” (2 Cor. 1:3, 4). Thus Adventists in the West need to study in humility the lessons the Persecuted Church has learned so all may be better prepared for the coming global storm. Scripture reveals that in the end times God’s faithful remnant will not be a triumphant, glorious and well-received global movement, but will be a church militant, under severe economic sanction, enduring public and legal disgrace, stripped of its institutions, tax exemptions, grants of land, access to banking, legal, visa and financial instruments, and ultimately facing the death penalty for refusing to accept the Mark of the Beast.
How does Satan attack the Persecuted Church? His attacks come through civic rulers (e.g. the USSR’s Politburo), religious leaders (e.g. imams), business leaders (e.g. pro-LGBTQ corporations), mobs (e.g. anti-Christian riots in Pakistan) and estranged families (e.g. Cain and Abel).
Satan attacks by isolating Christians through arrest, expulsion or enforced dispersion; creating conflict among Christians; religious nationalism; secular humanism; anti-conversion laws; strict controls over approved worship centers; anti-blasphemy laws (often enforced by mobs rather than by authorities); economic discrimination; martyrdom; abductions and forced Muslim marriages for Christian girls; upholding Godless ideologies; neutralizing Christian witness by closing all churches; closing all Christian institutions and ministries; cutting off links with Christians in other countries; forbidding travel by Christians; closing access to financial facilities for Christians; and “re-educating” Christian children.
Satan also isolates disciples and attacks them with fear or discouragement by pointing out their personal sins. He uses false guilt. When persecuted disciples ask, “Why?” Satan is always present with false answers—that their faith was weak and they did not pray enough. Western Christians are particularly attacked through materialism. A church leader from Romania lamented, “In my experience, 95 percent of the believers who face the test of external persecution will pass it, but 95 percent of those who face the test of prosperity fail it.” Like fire, money is a good servant but a destructive master.
How then can Adventists prepare for the coming storm? One option would be to become a “prepper” and develop a bunker mentality, in the process losing any desire to be a blessing to the world. Some may lash out in aggression, seeking via the political processes to enforce a “Christian” morality. Others may smile complacently and say that these things must be, that persecution will shake out the chaff (others) while leaving the true grain (me). And still others will use harsh words toward the lost all around us, when many of the lost are seeking a winning manifestation of God’s love.
A more biblical approach would be to prepare for persecution in three ways: 1) Intellectually—I know I will experience persecution. 2) Practically—I have prepared my family and those I serve for persecution after I am gone. 3) Spiritually—I am ready for persecution.
To learn more, download “Standing in the Coming Storm” at www.afmonline.org/resources/helpful-resources. Let us never forget Jesus’ teaching about earth’s final storm: “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28, NKJV). In a world of gathering darkness, this is good news indeed!
