A Christian woman is martyred under Nero in this re-enactment (Wikipedia)
Notice this World Watch List 2025 ──
The World Watch List is Open Doors’ annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.More than 380 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith.
According to their stats, more than 4,470 Christians have been murdered in 2025, and more than 7,670 church buildings and Christian properties have been attacked. And,
more than 4,740 professing Christians have been imprisoned because of their faith.
In BriefNorth Korea: The violence score increased even more this year as North Korea re-established its hold on No. 1. Several groups of Christians were arrested and brought to labor camps. …Yemen: moved up to third place on the World Watch List due to an increase in anti-Christian violence. Pressure on Christians also remained at its maximum. Within the context of civil war, Iran-backed Houthi rebels expanded their power, making more of the country increasingly dangerous for Christians. …Kyrgyzstan: … There was a sharp increase in violence against the church, many registered churches and Christian institutions were forced to close, and pressure on Christians increased in almost all spheres of life. …Though fewer Christians were killed for their faith in Nigeria compared to last year, it remains disproportionately deadly for Christians, with 3,100 paying the ultimate price for their faith. … Christians continue to be detained without trial, arrested, sentenced, and imprisoned for following Jesus. In India alone, 1,629 Christians were detained without trial, and another 547 were sentenced to prison.
Brethren, this is most egregious and tragically horrible! No one should be murdered,
imprisoned, or persecuted for their faith.
Our beloved President of the United States, Donald Trump, made a statement related
to this atrocity ──
2 Nov, 2025Trump threatens military action in AfricaUS President Donald Trump has ordered the Department of War to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria, accusing the West African nation of allowing the killing of Christians by Islamist militants.Nigeria, a country split between a Muslim-majority north and a largely Christian south, has long been plagued by violence from groups such as Boko Haram, which is responsible for massacres, kidnappings, and bombings nationwide. The attacks, which have killed tens of thousands and displaced over two million since around 2009, target both Christians and Muslims. Though often seen as sectarian, analysts cite land disputes, resource competition, and ethnic tensions as key drivers of the violence.In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump accused Abuja of failing to protect Christians and warned the US “may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists.”Trump’s threat followed a claim on Friday of “mass slaughter” of Christians in Nigeria and his designation of it as a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act, which is applied to states accused of systematic violations of religious freedom.
If you think that these atrocities are only occurring in places like Central America or
Africa, you’d be wrong. Notice the following report from the Catholic News Agency
──
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 20, 2024Nearly half of the 2,500 anti-Christian hate crimes in Europe were in France, the report saysA recently released report from a European watchdog group has found nearly 2,500 documented instances of hate crimes against Christians living in Europe. Approximately 1,000 of these attacks took place in France.According to the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe (OIDAC) report, which drew on both police and civil society data, 2,444 anti-Christian hate crimes and acts of discrimination and intolerance occurred across 35 European countries from 2023 to 2024.Of these, 232 constituted personal attacks of harassment, threats, and physical assaults against Christians.Most affected countries: France, England, and Germany. …
Yes, sadly, there is great persecution through suppression, shadow-banning (which
we at the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries have come across), implied
threats to a person’s career, etc., for many who dare to proclaim their faith or biblical
morals. Now, in the Western nations – i.e., the United States, Canada, Australia, New
Zealand, the United Kingdom – religious persecution is often more subtle- yet,
any persecution is persecution.
Friend, as we are approaching the very END of this six-thousand year age, Socialism
is indeed taking a foot-hold in the consciousness of our Generation Z! ── and for
those who may not know the definition of what Socialism is ── “any of various
economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership
and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.” 1
Facebook was originally brought about by Mark Zuckerberg for a platform where
the whole world could meet, share interests, EXPRESS FEELINGS AND IDEAS,
and make new friends. Well, what happened? TODAY, Facebook is a perfect example
of Socialism – you get it “free,” the quality is mediocre, you have no say in how it
works, the guy at the top is getting wealthier, there is no real competition, and if you
say anything they don’t like, they shut you up!
Our Lord and Savior, Master and Elder Brother, the living Jesus Christ, foretold
continuing persecution of the Christian faith ──
“And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His
disciples came to Him. … 10) ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11) Blessed are you when
they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My
sake. 12) Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward [from] heaven,
for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’” – Matthew 5:1, 10-12.
“’ You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your
enemy.’ 44) But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good
to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.’” – Matthew 5:43-44.
And, to truly obey His living words here, it takes the very Spirit of God within you
── because it is so easy to just write this down, or post it on your Facebook page,
but to actually obey Him here is much harder ── it requires the very Spirit and
Strength of God!
Our Lord Jesus has warned us that a time is soon coming when “’ brother will deliver
up brother to death, and a father his child; and the children will rise up against parents
and cause them to be put to death.’” – Matthew 10:21.
Do you think this is impossible? Notice this report from Aaron Earls of Lifeway
Research ──
Oct 4, 2023The Next Generation Is Leaving the Faith Earlier Than You RealizeWhen church leaders imagine young people turning away from Christianity, they may picture a college student being convinced by an atheist professor or an older high schooler getting a driver’s license and using their newfound freedom to leave church behind. In reality, the secularization of the next generation may look more like a 14-year-old watching YouTube in their room.New analysis published at the Institute for Family Studies (IFS) reveals children born in the 1980s and ’90s never absorbed the faith in their home. And they walked away from it at an earlier age than most parents and leaders suspect. …In the latest study, close to 30% of seniors and sophomores and almost 25% of 8th graders said they didn’t consider religion to have any importance.
Our Lord Jesus speaking primarily about His soon-coming end-time prophets ──
“’ But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils [religious
councils], and you will be beaten in the synagogues [even to a gathering of people
who are seemingly called out of this world by God]. You will be brought before
rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. … 12) Now brother will betray
brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and
cause them to be put to death.’” – Mark 13:9, 12.
And this indeed is what will occur to His end-time prophets ──
“When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit
will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.” – Revelation 11:7.
The Apostle Luke recorded for us the same ──
“’ But before all these things, …’” – what things? The nations that rise against
nations, and kingdoms that rise against kingdoms, the massive and devastating
earthquakes, the famines and the pestilences certainly caused by a world war, and
the fearful sights of asteroids that are heading for earth (?) ── “’ But before all these
things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to
synagogues [again, even to a gathering of people who are seemingly called out of
this world by God] and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My
name’s sake. 13) But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.’” – Luke
21:12-13.
And speaking to all true Christians, our Lord Jesus Christ has warned us, so that we
“’ should not be made to stumble. 2) They will put you out of the synagogue [they
will even put you out of those church groups that seemingly appear to have been
called out of this world by God! – see: “You’re Not Welcome!” ]; yes, the time is
coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3) And these
things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.’” – John
15:1, 2-3.
So, a little bit of history: The first recorded official persecution of Christians on
behalf of the Roman Empire was in AD 64, when, as reported by the Roman historian
Tacitus, Emperor Nero attempted to blame Christians for the Great Fire of Rome.
The most widespread official persecution was carried out by Diocletian beginning
in 303. During the Great Persecution, the emperor ordered Christian buildings and
the homes of Christians to be torn down and their sacred books to be collected and burned. Christians were arrested, tortured, mutilated, burned, starved, and condemned to
gladiatorial contests to amuse spectators. 2 Emperor Constantine I, also known as
Constantine the Great, who claimed to be a Christian ── but was not ── between
the 2nd century AD and the time of his emperorship in the early 4th century,
Christians in the Roman Empire faced periods of intense persecution and were even
executed for their faith. 3 Like the quote from the 1998 movie Armageddon, “It
happened before. It will happen again. It's just a question of when.”
Now, coming back full circle here in the 21st century, professing Jesus Christ and the
truths of His living word, i.e., the Trinity, heaven and hell, God, immortal soul, etc., is considered by many in government groups as dangerous or hate crimes.
The Prophet Daniel, speaking of the time of the end ── inspired by God’s Spirit ──
shows us that persecution is coming from a final “United States of Europe” civic and
military leader, to not only all true Christians, but also the LORD God’s end-time
prophets for 3 ½ years ──
“He [this final end-time European Catholic-led civic and military leader] shall speak
pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High,
And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints [speaking of the end-time
prophets, see Revelation 11] shall be given into his hand For a time and times and
half a time.” – Daniel 7:25.
Now, while many do not want to pay any attention to this vital subject, the reality is that
persecution has existed from the very beginning. And that persecution would come
to those who profess Jesus. Some are quite shocked by certain truths
that we teach (and we are often persecuted by those who profess to be Christian
themselves).
Those of us who Jesus knows belong to Him will always be persecuted. He has
told us, “’ If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19)
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of
the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. … 20) If
they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. …’” – John 15:18-19, 20. □
Sources:
1) Webster, M. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, tenth edition, Merriam-Webster's Incorporated, 1996,
pg. 1114.
2) Bomgardner, D. L. The Story of the Roman Amphitheatre. New York: Routledge, 2000. p. 142.
3) History Skills, Christian martyrdom in the Roman Empire in the 2nd–4th centuries, Retrieved 4 Nov. 2025.
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