Today, most of the people in the Western world believe that persecution is a thing of the past, something that uneducated and unenlightened people did back in the Dark Ages. Many have forgotten that those so-called dark ages were actually not that long ago; that many of the same atrocities committed during the Dark Ages have occurred and still occur in modern times. Have you studied the history of Ireland for the last 200 years? Or of Croatia for the last 100 years? Or of Inter-America and South America for the last 50 years?
The Bible predicts that at the end of time, the history of the past—the persecution of the minority living according to the word of God by the majority living according to the philosophy of the world—will be repeated. (See Revelation 13:11–17.) If you live according to the commandments of God (Revelation 14:12), the time is coming when human law will determine that you will be killed and when (Revelation 13:15).
At the present time, such a law cannot be passed as long as the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States remains unchanged.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
This Amendment expresses the philosophy of the founding fathers that church and state were to be completely separate. The state regulates man’s relationship with his fellow man, but is not to attempt to regulate his relationship with his God. The government is not to prefer any single religion above another nor can it interfere in the free exercise of a man’s religion.
The first step on the road to persecution would be to abolish the separation between church and state, allowing the passage of a law regarding religion. When this happens, oppression will follow for anyone whose religious convictions do not align with the majority. There are national movements right now which are attempting to bring in such a change which are endorsed by elected officials in the highest offices in this country. Such a development will usher in the fulfillment of Revelation 13 which will swiftly bring about the end of the world (Compare Revelation 13 and Revelation 14–20).
Are you ready for the end of the world?