Are we seeing new forms of religious persecution popping up? Did Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sign a law on August 24, 2024 banning the Orthodox Church in Ukraine? Did Rwanda recently shut down over 5,100 churches, including house churches? Was this really about safety or perhaps also politics? Did Rwandan President Paul Kagame state that he is considering implementing a tax on church donations? Did the Nicaraguan government under its President Daniel Noriega change laws on August 22, 2024 that could allow it to impose taxes of up to 30 percent of a church's annual income? Did the Nicaraguan government recently shut down 1,500 non-governmental organizations, including 678 religious associations? Is Burundi causing issues for the churches of God because of some of its rules? Did Jesus prophesy about persecution? Will some Christians be beheaded and others burned according to biblical, as well as Greco-Roman, prophecies? Is economic 666 persecution also prophesied? What should the faithful do? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these matters.

A written article of related interest is available titled 'Religious persecuting policies popping up in Ukraine, Rwanda, Nicaragua, and Burundi'

Youtube video link: New Religious Persecution

Religious persecuting policies popping up in Ukraine, Rwanda, Nicaragua, and Burundi

COGwriter

During COVID, we saw a variety of anti-religious regulations enforced by many governments around the world.

Now with nearly all COVID restrictions removed, we have been seeing another type of religious persecution from various governments around the world.

As reported here Thursday, the Ukrainian Parliament this week voted to ban what has been the largest religious organization in that country (see ‘Ukrainian parliament votes again to ban Russian Orthodox Church’ which was separated and renamed the ‘Ukraine Orthodox Church’ in 2018), basically for political reasons. Today, Ukraine’s president signed that ban into law:

August 24, 2024
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday signed a law banning the Moscow-linked Orthodox Church in Ukraine, according to a decision published on the Ukrainian parliament’s website. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-08-24/news-1wkn1bfm7mM/p.html

That church was formed in 2018 to be separate from the Russian Orthodox Church and it says it is separate, but the government still is banning it.

Politics and the power of the state are being used against religion.

Ukraine is an extreme example, but not the only one.

Another trend, however, is economic pressure and basically persecution of house churches under various pretenses.

Despite them being common in the New Testament (Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 2), economic and regulatory persecutions are popping up against them in nations that have majorities of people who claim Christianity.

Notice a report related to Rwanda:

Rwanda Shuts Down 5,600 Churches Over Safety Violations
August 23, 2024
The Rwandan government has closed thousands of churches, including 100 cave churches, due to safety, health, and regulatory issues, such as inadequate soundproofing and the transactional nature of some worship practices.
According to Usta Kaitesi, Chief Executive of the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), many affected faith-based organizations lacked basic infrastructure, proper hygiene, and safety standards, with some operating illegally. https://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00090124.html
August 23, 2-24
Rwandan authorities announced a ban Thursday on the activities of 43 faith groups across the country effective Aug. 28, weeks after thousands of illegal churches were closed.
A letter issued by the Ministry of Local Government directed districts leaders to enforce the ban, saying an ongoing evaluation found the affected faith-based organizations operating in contravention of existing regulations. …
All preachers were also required to have theological training before opening a church under the law determining the organization and functioning of faith-based organizations in the country. https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/rwanda-announces-ban-on-over-40-religious-groups-3689727

Well, what the above left out is that Rwanda is requiring ALL churches to own land and their own building on it.

Earlier this month, the government of Rwanda shut down one of our house churches there because of that rule. It was not about safety.

Anyway, in order to comply, we had our leader in Rwanda, Moise Nshimiyimana, purchase the following piece of land:

In time, we hope to send some funds for building materials. It is our understanding that 1) the owning rule is in place because the government is concerned about terrorist and/or political groups meeting privately under the guise of religion and 2) that if we do own one building in Rwanda, that we can also have house churches in that nation. We are also looking into ways to ensure compliance with the “theological training” documentation requirement as we had to deal with this elsewhere in Africa before. But that, too, was not a requirement in the New Testament.

In addition, Rwanda has made the following disturbing proposal:

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has stated that he is considering implementing a tax on church donations to address the issue of evangelical clerics engaging in extortion and exploitation.
In his first speech following his recent re-election, Kagame strongly condemned religious leaders who misuse their positions to manipulate and extract money from individuals.
“These unscrupulous people who use religion and churches to manipulate and fleece people of their money and other things will force us to introduce a tax, so churches pay tax on the money they get from people,” he said. …
The challenge of regulating preachers is not unique to Rwanda. Uganda announced last week that it plans to release a white paper on regulating worship following reports of extortion by religious leaders. The challenge of regulating preachers is not unique to Rwanda. Uganda announced last week that it plans to release a white paper on regulating worship following reports of extortion by religious leaders. 08/18/24 https://newscentral.africa/kagame-may-impose-tax-on-church-collections-in-rwanda/

The idea of taxing donation is not just something happening in Africa. Notice that it is now in place in Nicaragua:

Nicaragua orders churches to pay taxes in ongoing crackdown
August 23, 2024
Nicaragua ordered churches and religious entities to pay income tax and forced the closure of more than 150 non-governmental organizations, according to an official statement Thursday, in a further crackdown on opponents of President Daniel Ortega.
The resolution to “repeal” the law exempting such organizations from tax was published in the official La Gaceta newspaper, and signed by Ortega.
Now they will have to pay taxes of up to 30 percent of their annual income.
The government also shuttered 151 non-governmental organizations.
The move came three days after Managua closed some 1,500 NGOs, in what the opposition in exile described as an attack against civil society. …
Monday’s announcement was the single-largest targeting of NGOs to date. In total, more than 5,200 civil organizations have been dissolved since 2018. https://politiko.com.ph/2024/08/23/nicaragua-orders-churches-to-pay-taxes-in-ongoing-crackdown/politiko-global/
Nicaragua: Persecution of the Church Continues
In Nicaragua, acts against the Church are continuing systematically, with President Daniel Ortega seemingly determined to extinguish anything that might resemble even the shadow of criticism of his power. …
The news site of the Vatican adds that it is “It is estimated that at least 140 clergy and religious have been forced to leave the country since 2018. In addition, many Church organisations have been expropriated or have had their legal status removed.”08/18/24 https://fsspx.news/en/news/nicaragua-persecution-church-continues-46835
The dictatorship of Daniel Ortega, through the Ministry of the Interior, on Monday, August 19, eliminated 1,500 non-profit organizations (NPOs / NGOs), the largest number of eliminations in a single ministerial agreement through the official newspaper La Gazeta. … Among the NGOs that were dissolved were 678 religious associations of the Catholic and Evangelical denominations, including the dissolved Caritas de Granada. The churches of Bethel, Baptist, Rios de Agua Viva and Principe de Paz were among the most well-known. 08/19/24 https://www.eastafricanewspost.com/ministry-of-interior-cancels-1500-civil-society-organizations-in-one-package/

The trend from certain governments is not good.

Jesus warned of persecutions:

20 If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. (John 15:20)

On a more positive note, Jesus also said:

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Speaking of additional potential tribulation in the world, this week, I was speaking to Aaron Dean of the United Church of God about various matters, including the issues we were facing in Rwanda.

Aaron Dean informed me that Burundi has a law that says that all churches must have at least 500 members. And by that, they mean baptized members. Since the Churches of God do not baptize infants, he said that this means only adults. As it turns out his church does not have 500 adults in Burundi, nor does the Continuing Church of God. He said he spoke to leaders of two other COG groups with a presence in Burundi, one was interested in cooperation on this and the other did not seem to be. Since we in the Continuing Church of God only have a few families in Burundi that came with us this year, I told him we would also be interested in seeing how to cooperate so that our people could continue to worship without governmental intrusions.

There also look to be a variety of financial challenges that may not be feasible for us in Burundi. We will see how that goes, but as Jesus said:

23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. (Matthew 10:23)

We see that persecution is prophesied and sometimes Christians will have to flee geographically because of it.

That said, what we are now seeing in the world will pale in comparison to the persecution that is coming.

4 And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:4-8).

Not worshipping the Beast will be a cause of persecution. And being killed is prophesied:

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:11-15)

One of the ways that Christians (and likely others) will be killed will be by being beheaded:

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)

An Eastern Orthodox prophecy points to a public executioner of Sabbath-keepers coming:

Blessed Hieronymus Agathaghelos (1279): … now it is not the end; I see you are being duped…you are hoping in vain; Sabbatism is against the Divine Law … you promote the Hebrew Sabbath at the expense of Christian Sunday, and yet, you will not succeed … before you become an apostate on behalf of the Sabbath…
And lo and behold, an evil assembly of the crafty evening leader, dressed in black mourning apparel, was measuring its strength…taking in a hypocritical manner the most holy name of Christ, by means of their flowering and dissembling speech; these were the men who were concealing their impiety under a mask of virtue; those were the most filthy citizens of Pentapolis…these are semi-godless men, they despise the Divine Law, they are rapacious wolves in sheep’s clothing…they will have to pay the due price before the Public Executioner of the Sabbatians…you, the inventors of the distorted heresies…(Tzima Otto H. The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Scriptural Prophecies. The Verenika Press, Rock Hill (SC), 2000, pp. 127, 132-135, with a partial translation from page 240)

Beheading would be consistent with a public execution of Sabbath-keepers.

The Bible also shows that some Christians will be burned by supporters of the Beast:

33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. (Daniel 11:33)

Let me add that Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies point to those of a small church being burned:

Andrew Fool for Christ (5th century): During the End Times… this King will turn … against them for their blasphemous religion … the remaining ones will be annihilated, they will be burned to death, and they will die a cruel death. (Tzima Otto H. The Great Monarch and WWIII in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Scriptural Prophecies. The Verenika Press, Rock Hill (SC), 2000, p. 113)
Anne Catherine Emmerich (Purification day 1822) “… St. Peter’s was almost entirely destroyed by the sect, but their labors were, in turn, rendered fruitless and all that belonged to them, their aprons and tools, burned by the executioners on the public place of infamy. They were made of horse-leather, and the stench from them was so offensive that it made me quite sick …” (Schmöger Carl E. The Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich, Volume 2. Approbation: Bishop of Limbourgh Peter Joseph. TAN Books, reprint 1976, p.292)

Annihilation and burning certainly are forms of persecution–and are consistent with biblical prophecies.

The Bible further shows that economic persecution will also be used.

Notice:

16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:16-18)

With the moves toward Europe getting a digital currency, we are already seeing steps that will enable that economic persecution in the future.

For now, however, with rulings in Ukraine, Rwanda, Nicaragua, and Burundi, we are seeing governments implementing religious persecution now that, in a sense, may help set a precedent for the coming Beast power who will arise in Europe and will persecute.

Pray, as Jesus said (Matthew 6:10), for the Kingdom of God to come.

Related Items:

Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There are also three video sermons you can watch: Cancel Culture and Christian Persecution, The Coming Persecution of the Church, and Christian Persecution from the Beast. Here is information in the Spanish language: Persecuciones de la Iglesia y el Estado.

Prophecies Showing Persecution of Sabbath Keepers Are Sabbath-keepers going to be persecuted in the 21st century? Are there biblical and non-biblical prophecies that point to this type of persecution?

Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word What is the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28? Who is preparing for it? Will Philadelphian Christians instruct many in the end times? What about modern censoring, censorship, and shadow banning? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: The Short Work. Here is a link to another: Preparing to Instruct Many.

The Spanish Inquisition and Early Protestant Persecutions Was the Church of Rome really responsible for this? What happened? A video of related interest is titled: The Past and Future Inquisition.

Blessing of Children or Infant Baptism? Which does the Bible endorse? Two videos of related interest are available: Infant Baptism Scripture and History and The Blessing of Little Children Ceremony.

Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection. A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?

About Baptism Should you be baptized? Could baptism be necessary for salvation? Who should baptize and how should it be done? Here is a link to a related sermon: Let’s Talk About Baptism and Baptism, Infants, Fire, & the Second Death.

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also watch YouTube video sermons: The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, Why Teach the Kingdom of God, The Gospel of the Kingdom, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.

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